AGNR Plan of Organization

Purpose
The purpose of this plan of organization is to provide astructure for shared, balanced governance of the College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources, giving due regard to rights,responsibilities, and participation of the entire Collegecommunity.
Mission
The mission of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resourcesat the University of Maryland, College Park, is to provideeducation and conduct research related to agriculture, naturalresources, and environmental biology; to provide service to thecampus, agricultural professional community, state and localgovernments, and to the citizens of the State. Research is intendedto expand basic knowledge, to analyze important issues, to createand transfer new technology, and to help provide solutions topractical problems and critical issues. Educational programs areprovided for undergraduate and graduate students as well as othercitizens both on and off campus.
College Units
The following units?academic and nondegree-granting?comprise theCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources:
1. Academic Units
  Department of Biological Resources Engineering
  Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics
  Department of Natural Resource Sciences and LandscapeArchitecture
  Department of Animal and Avian Sciences
  Department of Nutrition and Food Science
  Institute for Applied Agriculture
  Department of Veterinary Medicine
2. Maryland Cooperative Extension (MCE)
  Region I
  Region II
  Region III
  Campus Faculty
3. Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station(MAES)
4. Maryland Campus of the Virginia-Maryland RegionalCollege of Veterinary Medicine
Administration
1. Dean. The Dean is the chief executive officerof the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The Dean hasoverall responsibility for the College's facilities, budget,academic affairs, research operations, programs, operations, andpersonnel matters. The Dean also serves as Director of MarylandCooperative Extension and the Maryland Agricultural ExperimentStation. The Dean has statewide responsibility for articulating themission and goals of the College. The Dean is appointed byauthority of the President of the University of Maryland uponrecommendation of the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairsand Provost, following a search involving substantial participationby faculty, staff, students, and constituents of the State.
2. Associate and Assistant Deans/Directors and Assistantsto the Dean/Director. The Dean may appoint Associate andAssistant Deans/Directors and Assistants to the Dean/Director whoserve at the Dean's discretion. Associate or AssistantDeans/Directors may be appointed for each of the majorresponsibility areas of instruction, research, extension, andinternational programs. Each of these shall assist the Dean toadministrate College operations. Appointments shall be made withsubstantial input from College faculty, staff, and students. AllUniversity procedures with regard to appointments and/orreappointments will be followed.
3. Unit Heads. Each unit of the College shall beadministered by a chairperson, center director, or regionalextension director. Unit heads are responsible for their unit'sbudget, program direction, welfare, and personnel matters,including recommendations for appointments, tenure, promotions, andsalaries, in concert with procedures of the University. Each chairor unit head will be appointed by the Dean following a searchprocess with substantial involvement of faculty, staff, and studentclients of the unit. All University procedures with regard toappointments will be followed.
Governance Structure and Organization
The overall current structure for the College is attached (seeattachment). The Dean shall communicate with and be advised by theAdministrative Council, the Faculty Advisory Council, the StaffAdvisory Council and the Agriculture and Natural Resources StudentCouncil. The Dean and/or Director shall be responsible for theappointment of the College's standing committees and other advisorycouncils.
1. Administrative Council
  1. Purpose: The Administrative Council shall consider and advisethe Dean in all matters of the College, including academic,budgetary, and personnel matters.
  2. Membership: All department chairpersons/associatedeans/assistant deans, RED's, and key academic/administrativeleadership are members of the Council.
  3. Meetings: Meetings shall be called by the Dean at least twice ayear.
2. Faculty Advisory Council
  1. Purpose: The Advisory Council shall advise the Dean.
  2. Membership: Membership on the Council shall include thefollowing:
    1. Elected College Park faculty senators of the College
    2. One faculty representative from each College unit not entitledto a campus senator
    3. One faculty extension assistant
    4. One research associate
  3. Organization: The Advisory Council shall establish its ownorganizational structure and elect a chairperson and an executivecommittee. The Advisory Council may convene a meeting of theCollege Assembly.
  4. Meetings: The Advisory Council shall meet on a regular basis,at least once per semester, when called by the chairperson of thecouncil.
3. Agriculture and Natural Resources StudentCouncil
  1. Purpose: It shall be the objective of this council tocoordinate the activities of various clubs and organizations withinthe College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; to promoteagriculture and natural resources public relations throughout theUniversity; to foster the spirit of unity, friendship, andsociability among the students and faculty members of the Collegeof Agriculture and Natural Resources; and to promote participationin extracurricular activities of the College of Agriculture andNatural Resources.
  2. Membership: Active members of organizations and clubs in orrelated to the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources areeligible for membership in the council. Examples of clubs includeAlpha Gamma Rho, Alpha Zeta, and the American Society ofAgricultural Engineers.
  3. Organization:
    1. Each organization or club shall have two representatives on thecouncil elected by the active members of that organization or clubduring their annual elections.
    2. Representatives shall serve on the council for a term of two(2) semesters and may serve for an unlimited number of terms.
    3. Representatives can serve as voting council members for onlyone organization or club.
    4. Member clubs shall be responsible for appointing alternaterepresentatives on a temporary basis should the need arise. In theevent of a representative not returning to school or resigning, thevacant position shall be filled by a special election conducted bythe organization or club concerned.
    5. Officers of the council will not represent any individualorganization or club.
  4. Meetings: Council meetings shall be held at least once everyother week during the fall semester and once a week during thespring semester.
4. Staff Advisory Council
  1. Purpose: To function as an advisory board to the Dean of theCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources (the Dean), andprovide a mechanism for input on issues and concerns of campus andnon-campus staff.
  2. Membership: The Council membership shall consist of one electedstaff representative from each of the following units/departments:CMREC/WMREC, WREC/LESREC, CITO, IGS/FCS/4-H, NRSL, ANSC, AREC,ENBE, IAA, NFSC, VTMD, Region I, Region II, Region III, Dean'sstaff, and any additional members appointed, or units recognized bythe Dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
  3. Organization:
    1. Elections will be held in each department/unit approximately 4months prior to the end of the current members' term, and must becompleted prior to the last quarterly council meeting of theterm.
    2. Terms of membership will be for two years, beginning January 1of the Calender year following election to the Council. There shallbe no limit to the number of terms an individual may serve.
    3. Whenever a mid-term vacancy occurs on the Council, it will befilled by special election to complete the remainder of theterm.
    4. CHAIR. The chair shall call and preside over Council meetings,maintain communication with the Dean regarding Council activitiesand issues needing attention.
    5. CO-CHAIR. The co-chair shall provide written notice of councilmeetings to all members, and assume the duties of the chair inhis/her absence.
    6. The chair and co-chair shall be elected from the Councilmembership by the Council members at the last quarterly Councilmeeting of the calender year.
    7. Committees may be assembled by the Chair, Co-chair or Dean ofthe College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, for specificpurposes with specified completion dates.
  4. Meetings: The Council will meet a minimum of four times a year.Special meetings may be called by the Dean of the College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources or the Chair of the Council.Written notice of quarterly meetings shall be provided to allmembers of the Council. Notice of any special meetings shallinclude the purpose for which the meeting is being held. A quorumis required to conduct any business needing a vote by the Council.A quorum shall consist of at least 2/3 of the membership eitherpresent or by proxy. At all meetings, each member present, or byproxy shall be entitled to one vote. A majority vote is requiredfor passage of motions. Members may also cast votes by physical orE-mail at the direction of the Dean of the College of Agricultureand Natural Resources or Chair of the Council. The Chair, or inhis/her absence, the Co-Chair, shall preside at all meetings. Inthe absence of both the Chair and Co-Chair, the Council may selectany member to act as Chair of the meeting.
College Assembly
1. Composition: The Assembly of the College of Agriculture andNatural Resources shall include all faculty and staff.
2. Purpose: The purpose of the assembly is to foster involvementof faculty and staff in College affairs. The Dean shall report tothe assembly. The assembly shall conduct the business of theCollege, receive reports, and stand as the forum for recognition ofCollege personnel achievements.
3. Membership: All faculty and staff members shall belong to theAssembly. Undergraduate and graduate students may be invited toattend on an ad hoc basis.
4. Meetings: There shall be at least one assembly meeting eachacademic year called by the Dean. The Dean shall present a state ofthe College address at one assembly each year. If formal businessis to be conducted, it will be done in accordance with Robert'sRules of Orders Newly Revised. A majority of the membership shallbe considered a quorum.
5. Organization: The assembly shall be chaired by the chairpersonof the Faculty Advisory Council. Assembly organizational rulesshall be established by the assembly.
College Committees
College committees are established at any time by the Dean inconsultation with the Faculty Advisory Council. An ad hoc committeeon Strategic Planning shall be appointed by the Dean as needed.When an ad hoc committee is to be established, a clear statementmust be made concerning the nature of the committee charge and themaximum time for its existence. In addition to any ad hoccommittees, there are two standing committees:
1. Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure (APT)Committee
  1. Purpose: The APT Committee shall advise the Dean onappointments and promotions proposed by College units. The APTCommittee may also advise the Dean on procedural and policy mattersrelated to appointments, promotions, and tenure. Policies andprocedures established by the APT Committee shall at all timesconform to approved policies of the campus and of the University.Specific policies of the College process shall be written and madeeasily available to all interested parties.
  2. Membership: The APT Committee shall consist of one tenuredfaculty member selected from each College unit granting tenure.Unit heads will be asked by the Dean for nominations to thecommittee, and appointment to the committee will be made by theDean, in conformance with campus policies regarding inclusivenessand distribution of academic rank. The term of membership on theAPT Committee will be staggered and will be for two years.
  3. Organization: The APT Committee will elect its own chairpersonand establish its own organizational procedures that conform withcampus policies and procedures.
  4. Meetings: The APT Committee will meet at the discretion of theDean and committee chairperson.
2. Programs, Curricula, and Courses (PCC)Committee
  1. Purpose: The PCC Committee reviews and makes recommendations tothe Dean concerning the establishment, modification, or terminationof College programs, curricula, or courses leading to academicdegrees or certificates; the creation, abolition, or reassignmentof departments of instruction, bureaus, centers, institutes, orother units whose purpose includes academic instruction leading toa UM degree or certificate. The PCC Committee also reviews andmakes recommendations, through the Dean, to the Campus SenateGraduate and Undergraduate Committees on Programs, Curricula, andCourses.
    The committee shall be especially concerned with thethoroughness and soundness of all proposals, with their role inmeeting the mission of the College of Agriculture and NaturalResources or of the College Park campus, the need for the proposal,its effect on available resources, appropriateness of thesponsoring group, and conformity with existing regulations.
  2. Membership: The PCC Committee shall consist of one member ofeach academic unit of the College, with the exception of IAA. Unitheads will be asked by the Dean for nominations to the committee.Appointments to the PCC Committee will be made by the Dean from thelist of nominations. The Associate Dean for Academic Programs shallserve as an ex-officio member of the PCC Committee.
  3. Organization: The Dean shall appoint a chairperson for the PCCCommittee from the committee members.
  4. Meetings: Meetings will be held as needed to complete the PCCCommittee charges in a timely manner.
Unit Organizations
Each unit of the College shall establish a plan of organization.Unit plans of organization shall conform with the Campus Plan ofOrganization. Unit plans should be revised as needed.
College Senators
The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources shall set up anelection committee to elect College senators composed of facultyrepresentatives of the units and population within the College. TheCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources shall appoint anelection committee to conduct the election. The committee shall bemade up of not less than five and not more than seven facultymembers. Nominations shall be taken for each unit's senator and theat-large senators. The election committee shall conduct electionsas needed to fill senate vacancies in each unit and at-largeseats.
1. Election of Faculty Senators. The electioncommittee shall coordinate with each unit to conduct electionswithin the units and shall conduct the election for at-largesenators. The faculty in each unit conducting elections areeligible to nominate colleagues to fill the unit's senate seat aswell as the College's at-large senate seat(s). The electioncommittee shall make every effort to ensure that every eligiblefaculty member has the opportunity to submit nominations.
2. Apportionment of Faculty Senators. For thepurposes of apportionment, all units, academic and nonacademic,shall be treated alike.
  1. Senators shall be elected from a unit and from at-large.
  2. Each unit shall have no more than one senator representing thatunit solely.
3. Election of College of Agriculture and NaturalResources Graduate Senators. The College shall select oneor two graduate candidates to run in the at-large election. TheCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources' Advisory Councilshall appoint a nomination committee composed of graduate studentsto choose nominees. Eligibility and term of office are determinedby the Senate's "Plan of Organization."
4. Election of College of Agriculture and NaturalResources Undergraduate Senators. The College ofAgriculture and Natural Resources' Advisory Council, withparticipation from the Agriculture Student Council, shall appointan election committee to conduct an election of the undergraduatesenator(s). Eligibility and term of office are determined by theSenate's "Plan of Organization."
By-Laws
By-Laws to this plan may be established by anyone named in thisplan and shall be in accordance with this and other Campus Plans ofOrganization.
Amendments
Proposed amendments to this Plan of Organization should bepresented in writing to the chairperson of the Faculty AdvisoryCouncil. The Faculty Advisory Council chairperson shall scheduleproposed amendments for discussion and action at the next regularor special meeting of the college assembly. The chairperson willnotify faculty and staff in advance of the meeting, through unitchairpersons or directors, that these proposals will be considered.An amendment shall be adopted with a majority assenting vote ofthose present at the assembly meeting. The vote will be by secretballot.
Adoption
This plan shall be adopted upon approval by the College ParkCampus Senate and with majority approval of the faculty of theCollege of Agriculture and Natural Resources voting on thisplan.

For more information, contact Eileen Barnett

Last updated: 03/10/2009