Department of Psychology By-Laws
I. Institutional context.
The Department of Psychology resides within the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), is the flagship institution within the University of Tennessee system, a land-grant university for Tennessee. As the state's most comprehensive university, and the only state-supported "Research I University," UTK offers undergraduate and graduate education, supports research in many fields, encourages scholarship by its faculty, and offers service to the public. In keeping with these broad goals and objectives for the University, the Department provides service courses at the undergraduate level for many disciplines, offers an undergraduate major in psychology (including Honors), graduate education at the master's and doctoral levels, encourages and supports research and scholarship by its faculty, and provides service to the public.
The Chief Executive Officer of UTK is the Chancellor, and the most direct line from the upper level administration to the Department is through the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs. The Head of the Psychology Department reports to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; the Department's budget is allocated by the Dean, with the advice and consent of consultants and faculty committees. Recommendations for appointments of faculty, awards of tenure and promotion, and similar proposals are submitted to the Chancellor through the College of Arts and Sciences.
II. Statement of principles.
The faculty indicate their commitment to full participation in the academic governance of the Psychology Department by their endorsement of these Bylaws. The faculty seek, through the exercise of the decision-making responsibilities recognized herein, to organize their resources as a community of scholars in order to serve the Department of Psychology and the larger academic community.
The faculty of Psychology subscribe to the highest ideals of excellence and ethics in pursuit of scholarship, pedagogy, and service. Therefore, in conducting their affairs, the faculty and Department Head seek to pursue their activities in accordance with University and State regulations and policies, as well as relevant guidelines and norms of the discipline and the profession. These Bylaws are written in accordance with the Faculty Handbook and the By-Laws of the College of Arts and Sciences.
In keeping with our tradition and organizational structure, any decisions reached by the faculty of the Department, or a unit of the Department, are made in the form of a recommendation to the Department Head. The Head has the option of forwarding the recommendation with endorsement, forwarding the recommendation without endorsement, or returning the recommendation to the origination group. Actions taken regarding promotion and tenure decisions, appointment or termination of faculty, lecturers, adjuncts and staff, and salary increases are made as recommendations to the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Dean of that College may further recommend the action to the Chancellor.
III. Department officers.
- The Department Head. The Department Head is appointed by the Chancellor of UTK, but serves at the pleasure of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The Head may be appointed from within or without the faculty, following a search for a Department Head. When the current Head requests to be relieved of these duties, the Dean appoints a Search Committee. Chaired by a Department Head within the College of Arts and Sciences, this committee includes members from the Department and from units that have a relationship with the Department. The process of searching for a Department Head will be described below.
The Department Head is first and foremost a member of the Psychology Department's faculty, with responsibility for teaching, scholarship, and service common to all faculty, with appropriate adjustments in the distribution of these responsibilities. In addition, the Department Head is given administrative responsibilities by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences including responsibility for budgetary planning and allocation, faculty development, academic planning, administration and development, resource acquisition and allocation, and recommendations to the Dean and other University Administrative Officers regarding promotion, salary increases, and faculty, lecturer, adjunct, staff and student appointments. The Department Head may delegate to specific faculty, staff, or committees a portion or all of these administrative responsibilities.
Except as noted below, recommendations to the Department Head by the faculty are not considered binding on the Department Head. When such recommendations only affect policy within the Department, the Head can review such recommendations and approve them, refer them to review by the Executive Committee, or refer them to the full faculty. Recommendations that affect substantive changes in a degree program, the addition or deletion of a program, and recommendations for disposition of students in a program must be presented to the full faculty for discussion, review, and, when appropriate, vote.
The faculty of the Department strongly endorse the concept of shared Departmental governance. This is accomplished through communication by the Department Head to the Faculty, or their representatives, such as the Executive Committee, Program Directors, and Program committees, on matters of importance at the Departmental, Collegiate, and University level. In addition, the full Faculty, or their representative groups, will be involved in the decision-making process. It is the responsibility of the Head to seek and ensure adequate deliberation and consideration of all major Departmental issues. When this advice takes the form of a clear majority vote on a Regular Faculty meeting agenda item, the Head is expected to act in accordance with that vote. Should additional material become available that has an important bearing on a previously taken Faculty vote, the Head will bring that material to the Faculty for their consideration, when time and circumstances permit. Where the situation does not permit this process, the Head is entrusted to make judgments and to act in the best interests of the Department. The Head is obliged to explain to the Faculty any action he or she takes which is at variance with a full Faculty vote.
The Department Head shall supply a biennial "State of the Department" report to the faculty.
- The Associate Department Head. The Department Head is assisted in his or her performance of duties by the Associate Department Head. The Head may delegate duties to the Associate Head as he or she deems appropriate. The Associate Department Head is appointed, following a recommendation by the Department Head to the Executive Committee.
IV. The Faculty
Regular Faculty. The Regular Faculty are those faculty who are appointed with an unlimited term and/or who are on a tenure track. Regular faculty normally hold full-time appointments for the academic year; however, any continuing, part-time faculty member appointed on the academic year at 51% or more of full-time will also be designated as Regular Faculty. All reference to the term “Faculty” appearing in these By-Laws indicate Regular Faculty unless otherwise specified.
- Lecturers, Adjuncts and Post-doctoral Research Associates. Lecturers teach undergraduate courses. The normal load for full-time lecturers is four courses per semester. Lecturers may also teach part-time or on an as-needed basis. Adjuncts are part-time and typically teach one or two graduate courses per semester (including supervision). Adjuncts may also have honorary appointments, which do not usually provide any remuneration. Post-doctoral Research Associates are hired for research purposes. Such appointments are typically full-time and salaries are provided by extramural research grants. All appointments at these levels (except those involving supervision only) require initial review by the Executive Committee. If the committee votes in favor of the appointment, it will be presented to the full faculty for a vote. A favorable faculty vote leads to a request for the position to the Dean and Chancellor. When the appointment clears Human Resources, it is then official. Full-time appointments are reviewed by the Executive Committee yearly. The Head reviews all other appointments yearly and brings to the Executive Committee any that may need discussion.
- Non-tenure-Track Part time Clinical Faculty. Non-tenure track part time clinical faculty are hired to perform professional services and to provide instruction to students in a clinical setting. They have completed a doctoral degree in Psychology and are licensed to practice in the state of Tennessee. Non-tenure track part time clinical faculty are evaluated and considered for reappointment annually. Occasionally, they may also provide instruction in a classroom setting.
- Emeritus(a) Faculty. Emeritus(a) Faculty are those faculty who were Regular Faculty over an extended period of time at the time of their retirement, and who had a distinguished record of research and/or service. Emeritus(a) Faculty are normally assured of retaining that status indefinitely. Requests for Emeritus(a) status must be initiated by the retiring faculty member, and endorsed by the Head, Dean and Chancellor.
- Post-retirement Faculty. Post-retirement Faculty are those faculty who have retired as Regular Faculty and have arranged with the Head , Dean and Chancellor to provide teaching and/or service for a contracted period (typically 1-4 years) for partial salary. These faculty may also have Emeritus(a) appointments.
V. Recruitment of New Faculty
- Tenure-track faculty.
Search process. When a new tenure-track position becomes available or is announced, the faculty will meet to discuss what area(s) represent our most pressing needs, in terms of teaching, research area and graduate program. After the wording of the position is finalized, in collaboration with the faculty and Executive Committee, a request to search is forwarded to the Dean and Chancellor. The Head requests volunteers to serve on the Search Committee. The Head appoints a Search Committee Chair, two or three additional faculty, and a student representative. Following administrative approval, the position announcement is distributed nationally. The committee reviews all applications and seeks to present the faculty with the best 10-30 applications, which the faculty then review and rate. The committee then compiles a list of primary and alternate candidates, as described in UT Search Procedures from the Office of the Chancellor. Following candidate visits, both faculty and students rate candidates and results are summarized by the Search Committee. At a subsequent full faculty meeting, the Search Committee makes its recommendations and the Head invites faculty discussion. Faculty then rate candidates on a printed ballot. These data are summarized and serve as advisory to the Head. The Head will then make an offer to a candidate. Should negotiations break down, the next candidate will be contacted. Issues of salary, startup, research space, teaching load, etc., are negotiated between the candidate and the Head, and, if necessary, the Dean and upper administration. The formal offer comes from the Chancellor.
Criteria for retention. During the first year, the retention vote is typically taken after the faculty member has only been on campus for a few months. It is expected that retention will be automatic in this instance. In subsequent years, tenure-track faculty will be asked to provide the Head with a current CV, copies of all papers published in the current calendar year (including those officially in press), a brief research progress statement for the current year, copies of all course syllabi for the current calendar year, and student evaluations for the last available semester. These materials will be available for tenured faculty review at least seven calendar days before the retention vote by the tenured faculty. The vote will be presented to the Dean in accordance with policies of the College and the Office of Academic Affairs.
Criteria for promotion. For promotion to Associate Professor, it is expected that faculty will publish an average of two or three articles in peer-reviewed journals per year. However, other criteria, such as external funding, research complexity, journal impact factors, etc., will be taken into account. Assistant Professors are expected to submit for extramural funding and the tenured faculty expect a favorable review of their proposal, though funding is not a prerequisite for promotion and tenure. Faculty are expected to be excellent teachers, and both peer and student evaluations, as well as course syllabi, sample tests, etc., will be utilized in evaluating teaching. Finally, although some service is expected, the emphasis for promotion to Associate Professor will be research and teaching. Annual reviews will also form an important component of the dossier for promotion.
For promotion to Professor, the full professors expect national visibility, a steady rate of publications in quality, peer-reviewed journals, quality teaching, and substantial service, especially at the national level, to the profession. Service to the university is also expected. These qualities should be reflected in annual reviews, which will form an important component of the dossier for promotion.
For promotion both to Associate and full Professor, procedures will follow those detailed in the Manual for Faculty Evaluation from the Office of Academic Affairs. In Psychology, a secret ballot is taken at a faculty meeting of the appropriate group (tenured or full professors).
- Non tenure-track faculty. Lecturers are expected to provide quality undergraduate instruction. Both peer evaluation and student evaluations will be utilized in determining whether to retain Lecturers. Criteria for the evaluation of other non tenure-track faculty are determined by the role the faculty member is filling in the department. This could be part-time teaching, supervision of Clinical or Counseling graduate students, serving as Director of the Psychological Clinic, etc. The Head will rely on input from the appropriate Program Director and program faculty in evaluating these non tenure-track faculty.
VI. Faculty Workload
- Workload for full-time faculty and lecturers is four courses per semester. As faculty take on increasing responsibilities above those for Lecturers, their teaching workload is reduced. Given the load that faculty are expected to carry for research, research training, professional presentations at national and international meetings, and service to the department, college, university, community and profession, the normal workload is two courses per semester. In instances where tenured or tenure-track faculty are not providing expected levels of research, service, etc., the Head may redistribute workload. In most instances, a Needs Improvement or Unsatisfactory annual review will serve as the trigger for consideration of a change in workload.
VII. Faculty Development
- Procedures for faculty development of the Department of Psychology are based on the POLICIES GOVERNING ACADEMIC FREEDOM, RESPONSIBILITY, AND TENURE of The University of Tennessee (Appendix A) and The Faculty Handbook of The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. All regular faculty members of the Department shall have yearly Annual Performance-and-Planning Reviews. Faculty are expected to provide an updated vita and a description of accomplishments in research, teaching and service during the previous calendar year, as well as a brief discussion of plans for the upcoming year. Evaluation of faculty performance will be conducted in accordance with the procedures detailed in Appendix B, which are consistent with the policies of the Board of Trustees and also described in The Faculty Handbook. Documents summarizing the review will be presented to each faculty member for factual corrections. A final copy will be provided to each faculty member for signature. Plans generated from annual reviews shall be individualized, recognizing the unique strengths and interests of the particular faculty member within the spectrum of Departmental responsibilities for teaching, research/scholarship, and service. Faculty performance evaluations of Exceeds Expectations for Rank, Meets Expectations for Rank, Needs Improvement, and Unsatisfactory shall be based on evidence of performance with respect to the faculty member’s contributions in research, teaching and service. All evidence considered in determination of performance evaluations shall be documented and retained in the faculty member’s personnel file. If a faculty member takes exception to the summary document from an annual review, the faculty member should address his or her concerns directly to the Department Head. In any case in which such direct discussion is not successful in producing a summary document with which the faculty member agrees, the faculty member can appeal to the Associate Dean.
The Department, College and University have several programs to enhance faculty development. The Department reduces the teaching load of all new faculty during the first year, as long as program needs can be adequately covered. The typical load in the first year is three courses. The Head can also provide one pre-tenure year with a reduced teaching load of two courses. In return, the pre-tenure faculty who receives this release is expected to devote extra time to research in the form of doing extra experiments, submitting extra articles for peer review and/or submitting an extramural grant.
For tenured faculty, the Department provides a one course per year release for journal editors and a one course reduction for faculty who are providing an unusual commitment to professional service. The procedures for this latter reduction are described more fully in Appendix C. The College has a program for a one course release in the social sciences. The request for applications is issued yearly. It is expected that an extramural grant application will result from the released course. Finally, the Chancellor has a program for a two course release in a given academic year, which can be taken in one semester or spread across the whole year. Again, an extramural grant application is expected. The College and University have numerous other award programs that recognize quality teaching, research and service.
VIII. Faculty Meetings and Voting.
- Faculty Meetings. The Regular Faculty will meet monthly during the academic year, except during December. The Department Head will chair these meetings; when unable to do so, the Associate Head will chair the meeting. The faculty will be explicitly involved in discussion of and adoption of major policy decisions, program changes or additions, student progression, and departmental examinations.
The Agenda for the Faculty Meeting will be prepared by the Head, with assistance from the Executive Committee. The Agenda will be distributed in writing to all Regular Faculty at or before a regularly scheduled meeting, and final action will be taken only on those items of business that appear on the Agenda. Individual Regular Faculty, a Program Committee or a Program Director, and the Executive Committee may request that items be placed on the Agenda. The Head, with the Executive Committee's advice and consent, will determine the Agenda.
Unless otherwise noted in the Bylaws, decisions shall be made by a simple majority of the Regular Faculty members attending the meeting. For purposes of taking final action, a quorum consists of a majority of the Regular Faculty who are not on leave. Written proxies, submitted in advance of a meeting, may be accepted by the faculty at a given meeting if (1) the faculty member has a valid reason, as determined by faculty agreement, for missing the meeting, (2) the Chair of the meeting agrees to accept proxies, and (3) the faculty at the meeting vote to accept proxies.
Minutes of the meetings will be taken and distributed to Regular Faculty, in writing, prior to their final approval. Normally, the Minutes will be circulated to the faculty at the following month's meeting for review and approval. Once approved, Minutes will be maintained in a file which is open for review by any interested faculty member. However, when personal matters are discussed, as when students are evaluated, for example, this discussion will not be included in the public Minutes.
Full-time Non-continuing Faculty may be invited to attend any Regular Faculty meeting by the Head, with advice and consent of the Executive Committee. When attending a meeting, Full-time Non-continuing Faculty may contribute to the discussion, but may not vote. Student representatives may be added to any faculty committee or meeting as the faculty deem appropriate. However, when matters involving specific students are to be discussed, the faculty will go into an Executive Session where only Regular Faculty may attend.
Faculty meetings will be run in accordance with procedural rules as adopted by the faculty (currently Keesey's Modern Parliamentary Procedures). Regular Faculty meetings shall last one and one-half hours or less, except in the case when a motion is made and approved to set aside these Bylaws in order to continue discussion on a serious issue.
- Special Faculty Meetings. Special faculty meetings may be called to consider specific issues when time does not permit during a regular faculty meeting, to continue discussion which was not concluded at a regular meeting, or to present important information to the Faculty. The Department Head and/or the Executive Committee may call a Special meeting; in addition, students and faculty may petition the Executive Committee to call a Special Faculty Meeting and suggest items for discussion.
- Faculty Meetings Concerning Appointments, Renewal of Appointments, Consideration of Tenure, and Recommendation for Promotion. For recommendations for promotion, all Regular Faculty with rank higher than that of the person or persons being considered will meet to discuss the records of each person being considered. This meeting will be chaired by the Department Head; in the unlikely event that the Department Head is an Associate Professor when a candidate for Professor is being considered, the meeting will be chaired by the faculty member with the most years at the rank of Professor. A formal secret ballot will be taken and the results announced to the faculty. The Department Head has the responsibility of completing the appropriate materials for submission to the Dean, which includes a statement of the actual vote, adding his or her own vote and recommendation. The procedures for this process are included in The Faculty Handbook and the Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs prepares materials annually describing the process to be followed by each Department.
For consideration of tenure, all Tenured Faculty shall meet to discuss the record of each person being considered. The Department Head will chair this meeting; in the unlikely event that the Department Head is not tenured, the meeting will be chaired by the most senior, tenured faculty member. Following discussion, a formal secret ballot will be taken, and announced to the faculty. According to current University policy, only full-time, regular faculty can earn tenure. The Department Head has the responsibility to prepare the necessary materials to accompany a recommendation regarding tenure.
For meetings to consider promotion and/or tenure, a quorum consists of two thirds of the number of appropriate faculty. Faculty on leave may vote in absentia. The Department Head is not bound by the vote of the appropriate faculty group, and may recommend for or against promotion or tenure. However, it is considered the responsibility of the Head to explain to the appropriate faculty any recommendations at variance with the vote of the faculty. In such cases, a dissenting report may be included in the recommendation packet.
For meetings called to discuss the appointment of one or more persons to the Regular Faculty, all Regular Faculty may attend and vote.
IX. The Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Head, the Associate Head, the Directors of the three graduate programs (Clinical, Counseling, Experimental), the Director of Undergraduate Studies, and three elected members (one from each program), each of whom will serve a two-year term. In the event that a member-at-large resigns the position or leaves the University, the Head will recommend a Regular Faculty member to complete the unexpired term. The Department Head is the Chair of the Executive Committee, but does not normally vote except to break a tie. Decisions are usually made by consensus rather than by formal vote, unless a vote is called for by a member of the Committee or the Head wishes to have a record of a vote appear in the Minutes.
The Executive Committee will meet weekly during the Academic Year, unless there is no business or fewer than two-thirds of the members are present. As with faculty meetings, the Executive Committee will adopt a set of procedural rules.
The Head is assisted by his or her staff in preparing the Agenda, other materials for the Executive Committee, and in keeping the Minutes. The Minutes of each meeting are circulated unapproved to Committee Members at the next meeting for review, amendment, and approval. The approved Minutes are circulated to all faculty, and a copy is placed in an open file. The Head will also utilize email to apprise the Executive Committee of issues that warrant dissemination and/or discussion. Email will be the preferred method of communication during the summer months.
The duties of the Executive Committee are to assist and advise the Department Head on matters of implementing policy, following administrative practice, recommendations by Program Directors, scheduling of courses, setting the agenda of Faculty meetings, budgetary matters, and the relationship of the Head to the Executive Committee.
X. Instructional Programs and Committees.
The instructional programs of the Department include the Undergraduate Program, which offers undergraduate courses to introduce students to the discipline and provides both service courses for programs that use our courses and courses for Psychology Undergraduate and Psychology Honors majors, and the Graduate programs in Clinical, Counseling and Experimental Psychology. Research training is a significant part of graduate education and, therefore, is supported, in part, with Departmental resources, because of its role in the instructional programs. The various instructional programs are overseen by a Director with a committee of relevant and interested faculty to assist the Director.
- The Undergraduate Program. The Director of Undergraduate Studies is appointed by the Department Head with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee and the faculty. The term of office shall be five years, and the Director may serve additional five-year terms. The Head will consult with the Executive Committee and the faculty when considering reappointment.
An Undergraduate Program Committee will be established by the Head and the Director with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee. The Undergraduate Program Committee will include faculty and full-time Lecturers who have demonstrated an interest in undergraduate education, and may consist of graduate and undergraduate students. The membership of the Committee may be changed annually. The Committee is concerned with students who are in the standard major in Psychology, and in special programs such as Honors, the College Scholars and Individualized Programs.
The Director is expected to monitor the Psychology Major program, the advising process, scheduling of undergraduate courses, and the College's undergraduate curriculum. When a periodic review of the curriculum leads to suggestions for change in this program, such recommended changes are to be submitted to the Department for placement on the agenda of the Executive Committee and the faculty before any such changes are implemented. In addition, the Director recommends appointment to the Dean's Student Advisory Committee and students to be Peer Advisors.
The Director will consult with the Head on matters involving advising, curriculum, and activities to enhance the Undergraduate Program, and report to the Faculty at duly scheduled Faculty Meetings on the committee's activities. Finally, the Director will advise the Psi Chi major honor society, subject to Psi Chi approval, or recommend an appropriate advisor to the Head.
- The Doctoral Programs.
- The Experimental Psychology Program. The Director of the Experimental Graduate Program will be appointed by the Head with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, Program Faculty and Departmental faculty. The term of office shall be five years, and the Director may serve additional five-year terms with the consent of the Program Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Head.
The Experimental Program Committee will ordinarily consist of all those regular faculty who have received their training in one of the areas of experimental psychology, although others may become members of the Committee where appropriate. The Director may solicit names of graduate students from the faculty to attend these meetings, ensuring communication to and from the students. The student members shall not vote, and whenever individual students are to be discussed, the Committee will go into Executive Session.
The duties of the Director and Program Committee are to solicit high quality applicants, review applications for admission and make recommendations for admission to the Department Head, evaluate the graduate course offerings for breadth and frequency, evaluate student progress and report that evaluation to the full faculty, participate in the award for assistantships, develop materials to announce the specialties offered by the Department, and other business as the Committee deems relevant.
The Director will schedule meetings as needed with at least one meeting each semester during the academic year. Graduate students in the program and the Committee members may request a meeting to consider a specific issue or issues. Any recommendations for changes in policies affecting the program, changes in admission procedures, evaluation of student performance, and termination of students must be submitted to the full faculty for approval of such recommendations.
- The Clinical Psychology Program. The Director of the Clinical Graduate Program will be appointed by the Head with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee. The term of office will be five years, and the Director may serve for additional five-year terms with the consent of the Program Committee, the Executive Committee and the Head.
The Clinical Program Committee will ordinarily consist of all those regular faculty who have received their training in the specialization of Clinical Psychology. The Director may solicit names of graduate students from the faculty to attend these meetings, ensuring communication to and from the students. The student members will not vote, and will not attend meetings when individual students are to be discussed by name and evaluated.
The duties of the Director and Committee are to solicit high quality applicants, review applications for admission and make recommendations to the Department Head, evaluate the graduate course offerings for breadth and frequency, evaluate student progress and report that evaluation to the full faculty, participate in the award for assistantships, develop materials to announce the specialties offered by the Department, arrange for placements for students to receive practicum training, monitor the progress for obtaining internships, provide annual and other relevant documentation to the American Psychological Association related to the professional program, and other business as the Committee deems relevant.
The Director will schedule meetings as needed, with at least one meeting each semester during the academic year. Graduate students in the program and the Committee members may request a meeting to consider specific issues. Any recommendations for changes in policies affecting the program, changes in admission procedures, evaluation of student performance, and termination of students must be submitted to the full faculty for approval of such recommendations.
- The Counseling Psychology Program. The Director of the Counseling Graduate Program will be appointed by the Head with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee. The term of office will be five years, and the Director may serve for additional five-year terms with the consent of the Program Committee, the Executive Committee and the Head.
The Counseling Program Committee will ordinarily consist of all those regular faculty who have received their training in the specialization of Counseling Psychology. The Director may solicit names of graduate students from the faculty to attend these meetings, ensuring communication to and from the students. The student members will not vote, and will not attend meetings when individual students are to be discussed by name and evaluated.
The duties of the Director and Committee are to solicit high quality applicants, review applications for admission and make recommendations to the Department Head, evaluate the graduate course offerings for breadth and frequency, evaluate student progress and report that evaluation to the full faculty, participate in the award for assistantships, develop materials to announce the specialties offered by the Department, arrange for placements for students to receive practicum training, monitor the progress for obtaining internships, provide annual and other relevant documentation to the American Psychological Association related to the professional program, and other business as the Committee deems relevant.
The Director will schedule meetings as needed, with at least one meeting each semester during the academic year. Graduate students in the program and the Committee members may request a meeting to consider specific issues. Any recommendations for changes in policies affecting the program, changes in admission procedures, evaluation of student performance, and termination of students must be submitted to the full faculty for approval of such recommendations.
- The Experimental Psychology Program. The Director of the Experimental Graduate Program will be appointed by the Head with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, Program Faculty and Departmental faculty. The term of office shall be five years, and the Director may serve additional five-year terms with the consent of the Program Committee, the Executive Committee, and the Head.
- The Masters Program in General Psychology. Graduate study leading to the M.A. degree in psychology is available in Experimental Psychology. This program is appropriate for students who specifically desire a Master's degree, for doctoral students who would like to obtain a Master's degree as part of their progress, or for those who wish to compliment a degree in a different field.
- The Psychological Clinic. The Psychological Clinic is a research and training arm of the Clinical Psychology Program, and its Director is selected by the Clinical Program Faculty with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee and Head. The Director of the Clinic will be a member of the regular faculty or an adjunct, and will be appointed for a five-year term with the option to serve additional five-year terms. Administratively, the Clinic Director reports to the Director of Clinical Training, and a close working relationship will be maintained between them and the Head.
The Psychological Clinic will operate as a not-for-profit mental health facility for students and members of the community without discrimination with respect to ability to pay. Student trainees shall be assigned cases and supervised by regular or adjunct faculty in accordance with the Policies and Procedures for the Clinic.
XI. Departmental Committees.
Much of the work of the Psychology Department is conducted by committees. It has been the practice of the Department to form several Regular Committees which have responsibilities for various on-going activities of the Department. To augment and supplement the activities of Regular Committees, Ad Hoc Committees are created to deal with specific, time-limited issues as identified.
- Regular Committees. There are several Regular, Departmental Committees that are delegated specific responsibilities. These Committees are Space & Equipment, Human Subjects, Diversity, and Undergraduate Studies. The list of Regular Committees is not fixed within these Bylaws; the Committee structure is evaluated annually by the Department Head and the Executive Committee, at which time committees may be deleted or added as needed. The responsibilities delegated to a Regular Committee will be developed by the Department Head with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
- Ad Hoc Committees. Ad hoc committees are formed periodically to accomplish some specific task (e.g., search committees, promotion and tenure committees, etc.) or to review and develop proposals with respect to departmental programs and activities. The responsibilities delegated to an ad hoc committee will be developed by the Department Head, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
- Formation and Appointment of Committees. The main principle for determining committee membership is self-selection. Committee chairs may be consulted by the Head for selection of members. Each fall semester the Department Head will prepare a list of regular and ad hoc committees for the academic year. Each Committee is responsible for devising and arranging for staff and/or student participation, as appropriate. At other times, ad hoc committees may be formed by the Department Head with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
XII. Adoption, Review, and Amendment.
The initial adoption of these bylaws requires a two-thirds majority vote of the faculty. These bylaws will be reviewed as needed by the Executive Committee to determine whether they are being followed and/or if changes are needed.
Amendments to these bylaws can be suggested by any member of the regular faculty, the Executive Committee, the Associate Department Head, or the Head. In all cases, amendments will be reviewed by the Executive Committee before being presented to the faculty at a duly called meeting.
XIII. Statement of Adoption.
Bylaws for the Department of Psychology were first adopted in 1975, and were extensively revised in 1985, 1994, and 1999. Current revisions were adopted in February 2007.

