Bylaws of the Faculty of the School of Information Sciences

These Bylaws are instituted by the School of Information Sciences as directed by the College of Communication and Information. The School’s Bylaws are supplemental to the College Bylaws, the Faculty Handbook and the Manual for Faculty Evaluation, and the regulations of the University in general; in the event of conflict, the latter will prevail.

Purpose

• Promote the mission, goals, and objectives of the School of Information Sciences as stated in the current Graduate Catalog of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
• Provide an operational framework for democratic and collegial interaction among the members of the Faculty to discuss and to determine academic and professional policies, standards, and procedures.
• Promote the mission of the University of Tennessee, which includes excellence in instruction, research, and public service.
• Further a commitment to diversity and equal opportunity for all since diversity and fairness are the foundation that unites the School’s faculty, staff, students, and the larger information sciences community.

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Administrative Committee

The Administrative Committee advises the Director. This committee helps formulate and implement departmental procedures and personnel matters not delegated to other committees or to the faculty at large. The committee shall help set School priorities by providing input to the Director on committee charges. This committee also assists with planning. In addition, the elected faculty representative brings forward to the Committee any issues that faculty would like discussed related to administration.

Assignments:
• Carol Tenopir (Chair)
• Rachel Fleming-May (Director of Graduate Studies – fall)
• Ericka Patillo, (Director of Graduate Studies – starting spring 2021)
• Carolyn Hank ( Interim Director of Undergraduate Studies)
• TBD, DUS effective July 2022

Assessment and Awards Committee

The assessment and awards committee is responsible for creating and maintaining processes for ongoing evaluation and assessment of the program, including learning outcomes. Responsibilities also include data analysis and reporting, and administration and management of capstone projects for the graduate (e.g., comprehensive exams, ePortfolio, thesis) and undergraduate programs. This committee will also manage the SIS student awards program, and advise and assist the Director with nominations of faculty, student and alumni for awards.

Assignments:
• Paused for AY 2020-2021
• Evaluation of MSIS Exit Requirement will be conducted by Master’s Program Committee

Diversity and Inclusion Officer

The Diversity and Inclusion Officer’s role is to monitor and advocate for diversity and inclusion within the School of Information Sciences, the College of Communication and Information, and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. View our current D&I Officer. 

Director’s MSIS Student Advisory Council

The Director’s MSIS Student Advisory Council advises the Director on matters of concern to MSIS students and provides a forum to work with students on various initiatives and projects.

This council will consist of the leaders of the MSIS student organizations, plus 2-3 first-year students. This council will feature a mix of DE and on-campus students.

Director’s Research Advisory Council

The Director’s Research Advisory Council advises the Director on how to promote and support research and scholarship within the school, including how to better enable and support student research.  This council will work with the Director to plan research colloquium and other events that increase the School’s and College’s awareness of research in the field of the information sciences.

Assignments:
• Paused for AY 2020-2021

Faculty and Doctoral Student Affairs Committee

The Faculty and Doctoral Student Affairs Committee reviews and recommends policies and procedures relating to workload equity, faculty evaluation, hiring and review of lecturers and adjunct professors, teaching issues (e.g.; team teaching, introducing new instructional technology), and faculty development/training needs and priorities. This committee will also assist CCI in managing IS PhD students and the program, including the admissions process.

This committee will assemble and manage the Tenure and Promotion Committee as needed. The Tenure and Promotion Committee consists of all tenured faculty for persons being considered for promotion from assistant professor to associate professor, and all full professors for persons being considered for promotion from associate professor to full professor. The chair of the Faculty and Doctoral Student Affairs Committee serves as the chair of the Tenure and Promotion Committee.

Assignments:
• Dania Bilal (Chair)
• Peiing Wang
• Wade Bishop
• Vandana Singh (fall)/ Awa Zhu (spring)

Master’s Program Committee

The Master’s Committee is responsible for assisting the Director of Graduate Studies in the administration and management of the MSIS program. This includes admissions, curriculum review and revision, and scholarship/GTA selection.

Assignments:
• Rachel Fleming-May (Chair)
• Ericka Patillo (Co-chair in spring)
• Cindy Welch
• Brian Dobreski
• Tanya Arnold

Clinical Assistant Professor Search Committee (BSIS)

• Devendra Potnis (Chair)
• Suzie Allard
• Dania Bilal
• Jiangen He
• Vandana Singh
• Iman Tahamtan (PhD Student Rep)
• MSIS or BSIS Student Rep TBD

Professor of Practice Search Committee

• Cindy Welch (Chair)
• Ericka Patillo
• Brian Dobreski
• Ben Horne
• Joseph Winberry (PhD Student Rep)
• MSIS Student Rep TBD

Undergraduate Program Committee

The Undergraduate Committee is responsible for assisting the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the administration and management of the BS program. This includes curriculum development, review and revision, and any other routine activities that become instituted around this program (e.g., admissions, scholarships).

Assignments:
• Carolyn Hank (Chair)
• Devendra Potnis
• Jiangen He
• Ben Horne

UTK Library Liaison

• Rachel Fleming-May

UTK Library Liaison for Juvenile Collections

• Cindy Welch

Faculty Advisors to Student Organizations

• ALA/TLA: Wade Bishop
• ASIS&T: Peiling Wang
• SAA: Carolyn Hank
• SLA: Awa Zhu
• SIS SLS: Cindy Welch