Bylaws
1. Bylaws:
These bylaws contain the principles by which the Institute has chosen to govern itself. They should be read in tandem with the Handbook of Operating Procedures of the University of Texas at Austin, which regulates university-wide practices. The present bylaws amend the bylaws that were approved at a meeting in Spring 2010.
2. Amendment:
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by any Core Member of the Institute. The recommendation will be presented for discussion to the Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) for review. The FAC will formulate appropriate language and refer the amendment(s) to the Institute membership at large. The Institute will vote on the amendments at a meeting, notice of which must be given at least one week in advance. The approved amendments will be ratified by a vote of the FAC.
3. Access:
The bylaws shall be posted on the Institute website and be accessible without restriction. At the beginning of each academic year, the Director will be responsible for distributing a copy of the bylaws to each voting member of the Institute. In addition, a copy of the bylaws shall be kept in the Director’s office.
II. Institute Membership
1. Membership Categories:
The Institute shall have three categories of membership: Core Members, Faculty Affiliates, and Extramural Affiliates.
2. Core Members:
Faculty members who regularly conduct research on or teach about South Asia shall comprise the Core Members of the Institute. The Faculty Advisory Committee, under the guidance of the Director, shall update and ratify the list of Core Members early each fall semester. New faculty members may apply to become Core Members by contacting the Director and filling out a form. The Director has discretion over designating the applicant a Core Member. Once so designated, the faculty member will continue in that status until separated from the University.
If you are interested in becoming a Core Member of SAI, please complete the Faculty Affiliate / Core Membership Form.
3. Faculty Affiliates:
Any UT-Austin faculty member who is interested in South Asia may apply to become a Faculty Affiliate. The Faculty Advisory Committee, under the guidance of the Director, shall update and ratify the list of Faculty Affiliates early each fall semester. Faculty members may apply to become Faculty Affiliates by contacting the Director and filling out a form. The Director has discretion over designating the applicant a Faculty Affiliate. Once so designated, the faculty member will continue in that status for five years.
If you are interested in becoming a Faculty Affiliate of SAI, please complete the Faculty Affiliate / Core Membership Form.
4. Extramural Affiliates:
Faculty members at other universities and colleges may apply to become Extramural Affiliates of the Institute by contacting the Director and filling out a form. Applicants for this status must be approved by the Director and the Faculty Advisory Committee. Extramural affiliation does not entail appointment by the University, nor does it include borrowing privileges through the University Libraries. Once so designated, an extramural affiliate will retain this status for five years.
If you are interested in becoming an Extramural Affiliate of SAI, please complete the Extramural Affiliate Form.
III.Voting Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities
1. Voting Rights:
Core Members and Faculty Affiliates will be eligible to vote, and their votes shall be counted equally. Extramural Affiliates are not eligible to vote.
2. Privileges of Institute Membership:
Core Members and Faculty Affiliates shall be listed on the Institute’s website and named in applications for funding and reports. They shall participate in Institute activities, assist in their planning, and take part in its governance.
3. Responsibilities:
Core Members and Faculty Affiliates are responsible for providing updates on their academic activities and publications when so requested by the staff of the Institute. They shall also serve as liaisons to other South Asia interested faculty, graduate students, and staff in their Departments or Colleges.
IV. Governance
1. Director:
The Director shall be responsible for day-to-day administration, operations, and planning at the Institute.
2. Faculty Advisory Committee:
The Faculty Advisory Committee, an elected body, shall provide advice and consultation to the Director on a regular and timely basis. The FAC shall oversee elections, membership, and governance, including amendments to the bylaws.
3. Meetings:
The Faculty Advisory Committee shall meet with the Director at least once per semester.
V. Faculty Advisory Committee
1. Membership:
The Faculty Advisory Committee will consist of six elected members and two appointed members. The Committee will be convened by the Director and shall include at least one staff person to serve as recording secretary and as many other staff people as necessary to provide relevant information to the Advisory Committee. The Director and staff will not have a vote during committee deliberations, except in the case of a tie, when the Director may cast the deciding vote.
2. Eligibility:
All Core Members may stand for election or appointment to the Advisory Committee.
3. Election:
Of the six elected members, at least one will be from Asian Studies, one from other departments in COLA, and one from departments outside COLA. No more than three may be based in any one of these constituent units. For those holding joint appointments in two of these units, their unit will be reckoned to be their “home” or “disciplinary” department. At least one member will be tenured (either a Full or an Associate Professor) and one untenured (either an Assistant Professor or a Lecturer with at least two semesters of experience at UT).
4 Voting:
All qualified voters will have six votes. Qualified voters should vote for at least one candidate in each unit and one in each of the two ranks described above. A single vote can satisfy both the “unit” and the “rank” requirement. Remaining votes may be cast at will. If someone casts less than six votes that ballot is still valid.
5. Directorship:
If an elected member of the committee is nominated for the directorship, she or he will not participate in discussions involving that nomination, but will be replaced by the highest vote-getter on a “runners up” list composed of those who received the most votes without being elected. If someone who is recused in this way is the only committee member representing a particular unit or rank, she or he will be replaced by the next highest vote-getter in that unit or rank.
6. Ballot:
The voting will be conducted by means of an anonymous electronic ballot.
7. Term:
The normal term of service will be two years.
8. Timing:
Elections will normally be held towards the end of each spring semester, to take effect on September 1.
9. Appointed Members:
As stated above, the Director will appoint two Core Members to the Advisory Committee. The Director may use these appointments to ensure that the membership of the Advisory Committee is both representative.