Governance

Bylaws

Background:

The PPOL Governance Committee was formed in the fall of 2008, with membership selected by the Department Chairs with involvement in the Interdisciplinary Public Policy Program. Nominations were approved by the relevant College Deans. The Governance Committee met regularly and presented ideas on program reforms to the PPOL faculty in the fall of 2009 and worked with an Ad Hoc Committee to develop planning goals for the PPOL program in the spring of 2010. The Governance Committee was also responsible for evaluation of the PPOL Director in 2008, 09 and 10. Given the absence of written procedures, in the fall of 2010 the governance committee developed a set of operating standards and rules. Purpose: In accordance with the by-laws of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, every interdisciplinary program is to have a steering committee. The PPOL Governance Committee serves as this steering committee, and “advises the program director on all matters pertaining to the program’s business” (CLAS By-Laws). More specifically, the PPOL Governance Committee helps determine long range goals and objectives for the PPOL program, assists in formulating rules and procedures governing the educational structure of the PPOL program (i.e. core classes, electives, examinations, student admissions, student retention, student advising and mentorship), and assists the PPOL Director in all facets of program development, including resource acquisition and external support. Membership: Members of the PPOL Governance Committee must be full time faculty in the PPOL program. Criteria and expectations for PPOL faculty members have been spelled out in a document approved in the Fall of 2008 titled “Faculty Involvement in the Interdisciplinary PhD program in Public Policy.” Members should have been involved with the PPOL program and familiar with its operations (by teaching courses, assisting with examinations, or Chairing a Dissertation Committee). Membership will reflect those colleges and departments involved in the PPOL program (currently Criminal Justice, Economics, Geography and Earth Sciences, Philosophy, Political Science, Sociology, and Health Services Research). Members are nominated by their respective Departmental Chair, and approved by the Dean of that department’s college. The PPOL Director will also nominate either a graduate student, and/or an alumni, to serve on the committee; this member will be approved by the Governance Committee. Membership term is for 3 years, with a possibility of reappointment. Members can serve more than one term, but no more than two consecutive terms (members must sit off the Governance Committee at least 2 years before being re-appointed)1. The Governance Committee shall elect a Chair, who will serve a term of two years. The Chair may serve two consecutive terms. The primary function of the governance committee chair is to spearhead the evaluation of the Public Policy Director and to serve in the Director’s place in the case that the Director can no longer serve (as indicated in the succession memo filed with CLAS).

Committees:

In addition to the Governance Committee, PPOL has one standing committee, Admissions and Marketing. At the beginning of each academic year, the Program Director and Governance Committee appoints the members of the Standing Committee for that year. The Governance Committee will also establish ad-hoc committees as needed. Sub-committees will consist of a minimum of three members, and a maximum of five members. Membership across all committees should reflect the diversity of programs and faculty involved in the PPOL Ph.D. program.

Committee Charges:

The Admissions committee will review student applications to the Public Policy PhD Program and advise the Director about students to recruit. In addition, the Admissions committee, in reviewing the applicants’ records, will further advise the director about noted deficiencies that applicants will need to correct in order to be best positioned for success in the PPOL program. Admissions will also engage in marketing. In the future, a separate committee will develop a strategic plan for marketing PPOL to the larger community of academics for purposes of recruiting and hiring students. Consistent with our Mission, PPOL needs to have greater visibility and identity. Creating this visibility and identity might include developing materials to publicize our program at conferences (there are some funds in the budget to do this), adding content to our web page, creating events that introduce us to various stakeholders. This proposed committee will meet and make recommendations to the director and help implement some of their recommended strategies. 1 The PPOL Governance Committee originally selected to serve are as follows: Criminal Justice: Beth Bjerreguaard, term ended Fall 2010 and replaced by Paul Friday. Economics: Peter Swartz; Geography: Harry Campbell; Philosophy: Rosie Tong; Political Science: Suzanne Leland; Sociology: Teresa Scheid, Elected Chair in 2010. Health Services Research: James Laditka, term ended Fall 2010 and replaced by Laura Talbot; Alumni Member: Dustin Read.