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Architecture Program

Committees and By-Laws

DoArch Committee Structure

The Department operates through a series of standing and ad-hoc committees that are formed and exist within the culture areas specified in the DoArch Bylaws. Committees can be formed by a majority faculty vote or assembled by the Department Head. The Department Head may form part of every committee in accordance with Department needs. The primary responsibility of committees is to develop policies and procedures associated with the operation of the Department.

The following cultural areas and the list of corresponding Department committees include, but are not limited to, the list outlined below. Additional Department committees may be formed according to Department needs.

  • Procedural Culture: Curriculum committee, Academic Affairs committee (includes graduate admissions, teaching assistantships, transfer credits, honors, awards and scholarships, grade disputes), Faculty and Student Advisory committee (includes the SAB)
  • Design Culture: Facilities and Technology Committee
  • Research and Outreach Culture: Travel Study committee.

DoArch By-Laws

The purpose of these by-laws is to provide a governance framework for the conduct and operation of the Department of Architecture within the School of Design, and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science at South Dakota State University. The Department of Architecture establishes these by-laws to provide a mechanism for faculty to participate in the formulation, modification and implementation of the Department’s policies, procedures and practices. The Department recognizes that it is bound in its actions by University regulations and that these by-laws are supplementary to these regulations. Additional regulations and expectations are outlined in the School of Design and College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science by-laws as well as the University Faculty Handbook.

These by-laws are to be reviewed regularly, and at least every two years per Article 5 so as to ensure:

  1. Efficient and equitable participation and responsibility of all participants.
  2. Transparent and clear structures and procedures for basic activities of the Department.
  3. Promotion of the mission and vision of the Department.

Article 1. Department Structure

1A. Faculty, student and administrative constituencies

  • Faculty - The faculty of the Department of Architecture consists of all persons teaching within the Department who have all or a portion of their appointment assigned to the Department of Architecture. This definition includes the Department Head in accordance with their teaching role. Faculty ranks are defined according to the SDSU Faculty Handbook.
  • Students - Students shall consist of all individuals who are admitted to and enrolled in any of the degree programs offered in the Department of Architecture.
  • Administration - The administrative officer of the Department of Architecture is the Department Head, appointed in accordance with existing University regulations. Other administrative assistants and staff are hired by the Department Head in accordance with University regulations.

1B. Voting membership

Voting members of the Department will be full-time faculty. This includes tenured, tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty. Adjuncts do not vote but are encouraged to participate and provide input and advice on topics of concern to them and to the general well-being of the Department. In the case of issues concerning Department business requiring a vote, a quorum will be reached by a majority of the voting members of the Department, except in the cases of hiring, tenure and promotion. Voting can take place by show of hands, secret ballot or email. Email voting can occur only after an in-person discussion at a faculty meeting. All meetings will be conducted following Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article 2. Department Operations

2A. Organization

The operation of the Department is organized into three areas of cultural focus. Each one of these culture areas reinforce the mission of the Department and establish the framework for the formation of committees and the development of policies that formalize the culture and operation of the Department. The Department Head is responsible for the nomination of a faculty member responsible for the leadership and coordination of each culture area. Selection of culture area leaders will be done through a majority faculty vote. Each faculty leader is expected to serve for a minimum of one academic year. In addition to a faculty leader, each of these areas will consist of a series of faculty coordinator roles assigned to represent the interests of the Department.

The following cultural areas and their corresponding liaisons and faculty coordinators include, but are not limited to, the list outlined below. Additional coordinator roles may be assigned according to Department needs.

2A.1. Procedural Culture

Faculty and Student Recruitment Coordinator, Library Liaison, Student Advising Coordinator;

2A.2. Design Culture

Pre-professional Studies Coordinator, Extra-curricular Events Coordinator, Digital Media Coordinator, Shop Media Coordinator;

2A.3. Research and Outreach Culture

AIA SD Liaison, Licensing Advisory Education Coordinator, Professional Mentorship Coordinator, Community Design Coordinator, Environmental Stewardship Coordinator;

2B. Meetings

The Department shall be operated with regular or at least monthly meetings of the faculty. Meetings will be called and presided over by the Department Head for the purpose of conducting ordinary and recurring Department business, for making special announcements, and for reasons not otherwise indicated in these by-laws. All meetings of the Department shall require at least 7 days prior notice to the membership. Department-wide items may be placed on the agenda of a regular meeting by any voting member of the faculty. Such agenda items should be submitted to the Department Head by 5 p.m. of the Monday of the week prior to the scheduled faculty meeting. Meeting minutes will be recorded during each faculty meeting. The Department Head will assign a faculty member to record meeting minutes and submit these minutes for review the Monday following each meeting.

The faculty will also hold an in-person meeting during the week prior to the beginning of each semester and the week following the completion of each semester. Faculty members are expected to attend both of these meetings.

2C. Committees

The Department operates through a series of standing and ad-hoc committees that are formed and exist within the culture areas specified in Article 2A. Committees can be formed by a majority faculty vote or assembled by the Department Head. The Department Head may form part of every committee in accordance with Department needs. The primary responsibility of committees is to develop policies and procedures associated with the operation of the Department.

  • CHAIRPERSON - The chairperson of standing and other committees shall be a member of the faculty. Exceptions may be made in cases of searches, third year T&P reviews and other situations when an external opinion or leadership is needed. The committee will internally select a chairperson.
  • MEMBERSHIP - Members may be selected from the faculty, the School of Design, students, alumni, faculty from other units or others appropriate to the role of the committee.
  • REPORTING - Committees shall report and consult to appropriate entities, such as the entire faculty, College committees, Department Head, etc. Committees should regularly report progress to the faculty.

The following cultural areas and the list of corresponding Department committees include, but are not limited to the list outlined below. Additional Department committees may be formed according to Department needs.

2C.1. Procedural Culture

n/a

2C.2. Design Culture

n/a

2C.3. Research and Outreach Culture

n/a

2D. Faculty Scholarship, Research and Service

Public Works, Collaborative Practices and the Building Arts are the three threads of scholarship and research in the Department. The Department supports faculty research in accordance with the expectations outlined in faculty appointments and their corresponding workload documents.

Faculty is expected to develop course content in support of the Department’s mission and vision as well as corresponding NAAB (National Architectural Accrediting Board) criteria. Faculty teaching Building Shop courses will be provided a stipend to support building and representation technology research. Additional course budgets should be referenced in the Department budget.

The Department supports faculty travel when this travel is done to disseminate scholarly work (papers, posters, articles, projects) accepted at local, national and international conferences and events. For out of state travel procedures and protocol refer to faculty handbook. Approval of Departmental financing of travel and expenditures will be done by the Department Head.

Service expectations will be outlined according to specific faculty appointments, department, college and university needs. These expectations will be specified in faculty workload documents.

2E. Faculty Evaluation

Faculty evaluation is performed across all ranks and appointments. Completion of the Faculty Annual Review Form (FAR) is required by University regulations. Faculty members (tenure, tenure-track and non-tenure) are required to fill and submit their FAR form to the Department Head. Additional peer review and teaching evaluation will be performed following studio design reviews. All faculty members are expected to attend and participate in design reviews organized by colleagues. The process and the composition of the Tenure and Promotion committee are included under the Policy and Procedures for Tenure, Promotion and Reappointments document for the School of Design.

Article 3. Budget

The Department’s budget will be discussed at a faculty meeting at the beginning of each academic year. The Department Head is responsible for discussing and communicating the Department’s budget with the rest of the faculty. Budget allocations and expenditures will be communicated to faculty coordinators and corresponding committees.

Article 4. Grievances

The Department of Architecture establishes the following procedure to hear grievances arising within the Department. To start the grievance process, the complainant must submit a written grievance to the Department Head. The complaint shall contain a statement of the facts underlying the complaint and specify the provision(s) of the Faculty by-laws, or policies that are allegedly violated. The complaint shall also indicate the witnesses or other evidence relied on by the complaining party and copies of any documents relevant to the complaint shall be attached to the complaint.

Article 5. Amending the By-laws

The by-laws can be amended by a majority vote. Proposed amendments and revisions of the by-laws must be made part of the agenda of an upcoming faculty meeting. Discussion and voting on the amendments will occur at that specified faculty meeting. A decision to delay or postpone voting may also be made.