Constitution
Article 1: Name
The name of this organization shall be the Special Professional Faculty of the University of Notre Dame.
Article 2: Objectives
The objectives of the Special Professional Faculty shall be to promote high professional standards among members of the SPF and to advance the welfare of the SPF.
Article 3: Membership and Privileges
Members of the Special Professional Faculty are professionals who make a direct and significant contribution to the educational process at the University through teaching, research, or administration.
Persons with a regular faculty appointment to the Special Professional Faculty are members of the Notre Dame Faculty, with full rights and voting privileges, and shall have such powers granted in this Constitution and accompanying Bylaws that are not in conflict with the Academic Articles of the University of Notre Dame. In case of conflict, the Academic Articles shall have precedence.
Article 4: Officers and Election Procedures
The officers shall be a Chair, the immediate Past Chair, Chair-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer, each one a member of the Special Professional Faculty who shall be elected singly by secret ballot according to procedures established by the Nominations and Elections Committee. These officers shall be members of the Executive Committee.
Article 5: Meetings
Section 1
The Special Professional Faculty shall hold at least one general meeting each semester.
Section 2
Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall also call a special meeting at the written request of 25% of the members of the Special Professional Faculty.
Section 3
The Chair of the Executive Committee shall preside over the meetings of the Special Professional Faculty. In the absence of the Chair, a member of the Executive Committee shall be appointed by the Chair to preside.
Article 6: Amendment of the Constitution
Any member of the Special Professional Faculty may propose changes in the Constitution Proposed amendments to the Constitution must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee. The Committee will distribute the proposed amendment to each member of the SPF two weeks in advance of a general meeting, at which the proposal will be discussed, presented, and acted upon according to Robert’s Rules. Amendments must be approved by two-thirds of the membership.
Article 7: Enactment
This Constitution and Bylaws shall become effective upon the approval of a majority of the properly returned ballots of the Special Professional Faculty.
Bylaws
Article I. Standing Committees
The Standing Committees of the Special Professional Faculty (SPF) shall be an Executive Committee, a Committee on Faculty Affairs, and a Committee on Nominations and Elections. Elected members may serve consecutive terms.
Section 1: Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chair (one-year term), the immediate Past Chair (one-year term), the Chair-Elect (one-year term), the Secretary (two-year term), the Treasurer (two-year term), and SPF members elected to the Academic Council and the Faculty Senate (terms to coincide with their representation), as well as the Chairs of the other standing committees. Under the direction of the Chair, the Executive Committee shall
A. fix the date, time, and place of the meetings of the Special Professional Faculty.
B. establish and distribute the agenda for all meetings of the SPF. The agenda for general meetings shall be distributed to all members between seven and fourteen days prior to the meeting date Any SPF member may recommend agenda items to the Chair at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
C. ensure that a current copy of the minutes of the meetings of the SPF and the written reports of all the standing committees are on file with the Chair and made available to any member of the SPF.
D. address issues of concern to the Special Professional Faculty and represent the SPF to the Notre Dame Administration and other relevant bodies.
Section 2: Faculty Affairs Committee
The Facuity Affairs Committee shall be chaired by a member who is elected from the SPF to a two-year term and who will form a committee of no fewer than three total members approved by the Executive Committee to two-year terms. The Committee shall be empowered to receive or initiate, study or formulate any proposal dealing with the status and welfare of the SPF. The Committee has the right of agenda to the SPF meetings.
Section 3: Nominations and Elections Committee
The Nominations and Elections Committee shall be chaired by a member who is elected from the SPF to a two-year term and who will form a committee of no fewer than three total members approved by the Executive Committee to two year terms. The Committee shall be empowered to solicit nominations and organize all elections for
SPF committees and for SPF representatives to any University Committees. The Committee has the right of agenda to SPF meetings.
Article II. Meetings
The presiding officer shall ensure that the minutes are taken and distributed by the Secretary to the Special Professional Faculty no later than ten days following the meeting.
Article III. Quorum
A quorum for a general meeting shall consist of at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee, and from the general membership a number to equal at least twice the total number of the Executive Committee, plus one.
Article IV. Notification of Meetings
The Executive Committee will announce all general meetings in writing at least twenty- one days prior to the announced date.
Article V. Ad Hoc Committees
Ad hoc committees may be established by the Executive Committee, which shall be responsible for appointing members, presenting them with their charge, and fixing a date for completing their duties and dissolving the committees.
Article VI. Rules of Order
The manual of parliamentary law commonly known by the name of Robert’s Rules of Order will guide the deliberations of the SPF, except in the case of a conflict with these Bylaws. The Chair may at his or her discretion appoint a Parliamentarian.
Article VII: Amendment of the Bylaws
Any member of the SPF may propose changes in the Bylaws. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws must be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee. The Committee will distribute the proposed amendment to each member of the SPF two weeks in advance of a general meeting, at which the proposal will be discussed, presented, and acted upon according to Robert’s Rules. Amendments must be approved by a simple majority of the voting members.