Policies and Procedures
Article 1: Mission Statement
The Department of Communication and Journalism is committed to an educational environment that inspires intellectual exploration and professional proficiency in a variety of communication forms and mass media. Faculty members participate in scholarly and creative activities that promote contemporary expertise both in the classroom and through meaningful outreach projects.
Article 2: Administration
(Revised 15 August 2006)
The Department of Communication and Journalism uses a department chair system. The chair serves as the chief executive officer of the department.
The chair is elected by a majority of the department's tenure-track faculty in accordance with the following guidelines:
1. Only tenured full or associate professors will be eligible for consideration as the chair.
2. The chair will be elected during the spring semester. Only tenure-track faculty members are eligible to vote.
3. The results of the election will be forwarded to the dean of the College of Liberal Arts for action. According to the Auburn University Faculty Handbook (Chapter 2, Article 5, Part B): "Appointment of department heads/chairs are made by the President, upon recommendation of the Provost."
4. Any eligible faculty member who wishes to be considered as the department chair should express her/his interest in writing to the department’s executive committee by the end of the preceding fall semester.
5. Chairs will be elected to serve one three-year term. A faculty member may serve more than one term as chair; however, no chair may serve more than two consecutive terms. The re-election of the chair for a second three-year term will follow the election guidelines as stated above. At least three years must pass before an individual may be considered for another term as chair.
6. The department faculty may express their displeasure with a chair's performance with a "no confidence" vote at any time during the chair's term. Such an action can be accomplished only with a called meeting of the department's tenure-track faculty. Any member of the department's tenure-track faculty may call this meeting and make a motion to take a vote of "no confidence." If a two-thirds majority of the department's tenure-track faculty vote in favor of the motion, the results of the vote will be sent to the dean for action.
7. If no eligible department faculty members express interest in serving as chair, then the department's executive committee can consider alternatives, such as an external search, and will consult with the dean to resolve the matter.
Once elected the department chair will have a wide range of responsibilities in the areas of governance and leadership, instruction, faculty affairs, student affairs, external communication, budget and resource management, office management, and other contingent matters. The following list closely follows the College of Liberal Arts department chair evaluation criteria. The department chair, in conjunction with the department's executive committee, shall be responsible for:
1. Coordinating and maintaining the balance of the department's research, instructional, and service programs.
2. Formulating long-range plans for the department.
3. Enhancing the image and reputation of the department.
4. Fostering diversity and a collaborative environment.
5. Scheduling courses, managing enrollments, and guiding curriculum development.
6. Recruiting faculty and fostering their professional development.
7. Conducting annual reviews of faculty and making recommendations for salary increases (merit, equity, etc.).
8. Organizing and implementing policies and procedures for the promotion and tenure recommendations of faculty members.
9. Allocating faculty responsibilities, including committee assignments, administrative appointments, advising, and teaching responsibilities.
10. Facilitating teaching, research, and outreach activities.
11. Overseeing admission, recruitment, and advising of undergraduate and graduate students.
12. Hearing and acting on student complaints.
13. Facilitating relationships with students, faculty, staff, other administrators, university councils and committees, alumni, professional organizations, and other appropriate groups.
14. Maintaining and supervising liaisons with related offices, such as the Office of Admissions and Records, the Graduate School, and Library.
15. Communicating policies and expectations of the higher administration to the department.
16. Advocating the needs of the department to the deans, provost, and others in the central administration if needed.
17. Managing all department resources, including personnel (faculty and staff) operating funds, gift accounts, office space, support equipment, and instructional equipment.
18. Supervising professional staff, coordinating their efforts, and fostering their development.
19. Conducting annual reviews of staff and making recommendations for salary increases (merit, equity, etc.).
20. Maintaining records of departmental activities and reporting these upon request.
21. Carrying out teaching, research, service, outreach responsibilities, or other special projects.
Article 3: Committees
(Revised 21 August 2006)
Executive Committee
The responsibility for the governance of this department rests with the Executive Committee. Committee members are the tenured members of the faculty, program coordinators, one member of the untenured faculty (elected annually by the untenured faculty), and the department's university senator. The department chair serves as the chair of this committee. The functions of this committee include: advising the department chair on administrative decisions; setting departmental goals and priorities; reviewing and approving the departmental budget and the allocation of departmental resources; and assisting in other matters as requested by the department chair or the chair of a standing committee.
CMJN Standing Committees
Each standing committee is expected to meet at least once per semester. Meetings must be announced and an agenda published in advance. Such announcements should be sent by the committee chairs to the department's e-mail address book (CLA_CMJN). Minutes of the committee meetings will be filed with the department chair. All committee chairs should seek consensus whenever possible. Whenever consensus or compromise is not possible, votes should be taken. All standing committees report to the Executive Committee. The committee chair, in consultation with the program directors/coordinators, shall appoint the remaining committee members in keeping with the committee descriptions.
Academic Program Committees
The undergraduate degree programs within the department will be managed by a committee comprised of the faculty within that degree program (COMM, JRNL, PRCM, RTVF). The program coordinator/director for the respective degree program will serve as the committee chair. All matters related to each academic program (e.g., curriculum changes) will originate with its respective committee.
Ad Hoc Committees and Task Forces
As the need arises, the Executive Committee may establish ad hoc committees or task forces to undertake special charges which do not fall within the purview of the department's standing committees. These ad hoc committees and task forces shall observe the same operational procedures as specified for standing committees. Ad hoc committees expire automatically one year after the date of their formation. The Executive Committee may vote one-year extensions to the life of an ad hoc committee or task force.
Assessment & Accreditation Committee
The committee chair is appointed by the Executive Committee. The members include one tenured representative from each undergraduate program including the chair. These four members also cover assessment for the graduate program. Responsibilities include gathering assessment data for SACS, AEJMC accreditation reports, and the university's academic program review.
Curriculum & Academic Standards Committee
The committee chair is appointed by the Executive Committee. The members include one representative from each program (elected by the program faculty), and the graduate program officer. This committee reviews curriculum proposals to ensure high academic standards.
Diversity Committee
The committee chair is appointed by the Executive Committee. The membership is one faculty member from each of the undergraduate programs and a graduate student representative elected by the graduate students. This committee functions to ensure diversity issues are at the forefront of the department’s initiatives.
Enrollment Committee
The committee members are the program directors, the graduate program officer, and the undergraduate advisor. The position of committee chair will rotate among the committee members on a yearly basis. The committee members will review and evaluate department enrollment data in order to make recommendations to the department chair on matters pertaining to enrollment management as well as the recruitment, admission and retention of exceptional and diverse students.
Graduate Committee
The committee chair is the graduate program officer. Members are the department’s graduate faculty. Responsibilities include admission/screening of prospective students; recommending graduate course/program changes, deletions and additions to the Curriculum Committee; and acting in other capacities as needed to coordinate and promote the graduate program as directed by the Executive Committee or the Graduate School.
Peer Evaluation & Teaching Effectiveness Committee
The chair is appointed by the Executive Committee. Members include one tenured faculty member from each undergraduate program and the graduate program officer. Responsibilities include classroom visits and written evaluations of individual faculty as they request or as requested by the chair. The committee may utilize other non-committee tenured faculty members to assist in the peer reviews.
Public Relations Committee
The committee chair is appointed by the Executive Committee. Membership includes one faculty member from each undergraduate program. Responsibilities include coordinating the production of promotional materials, such as brochures and videos, and coordinating departmental representation at promotional events on and off campus.
Public Speaking Committee
The committee chair is the director of the basic course. The membership of this committee includes one tenured faculty member, one basic course instructor, one first-year graduate teaching assistant, and one second-year graduate teaching assistant.
Research & Creative Development Committee
The committee chair is appointed by the Executive Committee. The membership includes one tenured faculty member from each of the undergraduate programs, the graduate program officer, a representative from the full and part-time instructors (elected by the instructors), and a graduate student representative (elected by the graduate students). Committee responsibilities include: planning and directing department colloquia; planning and directing other initiatives and activities that promote research and creative work; disseminating knowledge and expertise throughout the department; and coordinating data collection among faculty and graduate teaching assistants in order to minimize redundancy and facilitate ease in collection.
Scholarships & Awards Committee
The committee chair is appointed by the Executive Committee. The membership includes one representative from each of the undergraduate programs. Responsibilities include promoting scholarships and awards to students and selecting recipients.
Graduate Awards Subcommittee
This subcommittee shall consist of five tenured graduate faculty members within the department, one of whom must be the graduate program officer. The committee elects the chair.
Search Committees
The committee chair and members are appointed by the Executive Committee. The committee chair must be tenured. Any untenured faculty members must have completed a minimum of three years as tenure track faculty at the university. Responsibilities include seeking applicants for all vacant faculty positions, recommending to the department chair those applicants to be invited for interviews, coordinating and scheduling activities of visiting applicants, and assisting in preparation of required forms and documents.
Technology Committee
The committee chair is the department's technology coordinator. Responsibilities include ensuring that the department utilizes the most appropriate technology possible, especially in the classroom. The membership is composed of one member from each of the undergraduate programs and the basic course director.
Tenure Committee
The department chair serves as the chair of this committee. Members are the tenured members of the faculty. Committee responsibilities are described in the Faculty Handbook and may include other matters as requested by the chair.