About the School - Constitution

Revisions to the Constitution of the School of Nursing were adopted by faculty at meetings on December 7, 1987, September 19, 1988, May, 7, 2003, and on August 15, 2005.

The membership shall consist of the Head of the School of Nursing/Associate Dean, College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences, other administrative faculty of the school and the members of the faculty of Purdue University whose primary academic services are under the administrative jurisdiction of the Head of the School of Nursing, thereafter referred to as the Head.

The voting faculty shall consist of faculty of professorial rank including tenure and nontenure track faculty. Voting faculty shall also consist of those full-time instructors who have completed two years of service in the instructor rank and are not candidates for an advanced degree. Other members of the faculty and professional staff may attend meetings of the faculty with voice but no vote.

Representatives to the University Senate shall be chosen as provided by the bylaws of the University Senate and by the Constitution of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences. Senators representing the School of Nursing shall report to the nursing faculty at faculty meetings.

The jurisdiction of the faculty shall be as designated by the University faculty regulations. The faculty shall be responsible for the nature and quality of the academic programs offered by the School of Nursing and shall have jurisdiction over its own internal affairs, subject to review as specified by the University Code. Powers for discharging these responsibilities are derived from the University faculty, which in turn derives its powers from the Board of Trustees of Purdue University. Powers of the faculty of the School of Nursing shall include, but not be limited to, developing and approving curricula, course content, setting standards for admission, as well as requirements for graduation, promoting and coordinating the School of Nursing clinics for educational purposes, and advising the Head on matters that concern faculty welfare.

The faculty of the School of Nursing shall meet at least once during each academic year. Meetings may be called by the Head or designee of the School of Nursing or on the written request of fifteen percent of the voting faculty. Notification of date, time, place and preliminary agenda shall be distributed to all faculty members at least one week in advance of the meeting, except in cases of emergency. A majority (51%) of the voting members of the faculty less those on leave and those assigned to regional campuses shall constitute a quorum for conducting the business of the school. The Head of the School of Nursing, or a representative designated by the Head, shall preside at faculty meetings. Rules contained in Robert's Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of this body.

Section 1. Standing Committees.

A standing committee is a permanent committee that reports directly to the Head and/or the faculty. The voting faculty shall serve as members of standing committees. Ex-officio members shall serve on standing committees as resources and consultants with a voice but no vote. Standing committees, their purpose, functions, and memberships include:

1. Academic Promotion and Tenure Committee. The purpose of this committee is to nominate faculty members for promotion and/or tenure and to function as the Primary Committee for the School of Nursing.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include reviewing the professional development and progress of each faculty member and providing formal feedback; nominating faculty members for promotion and/or tenure in accordance with University policy; and voting, by secret ballot, on those faculty whose nomination for promotion and/or tenure has demonstrated strength in the areas of learning, engagement, and discovery with demonstrated excellence in one area.
    
   Membership. Before or during the first semester of each academic year, the Head shall convene the primary committee, which is to consist of all tenured full professors and all tenured associate professors in the School of Nursing. Tenured associate professors discuss and vote upon promotion up to and including the associate professor level. The Head shall act as chair of the primary committee.
    
   In case of promotions to full professor, if there are fewer than five tenured full professors on the primary committee, including the Head, additional tenured full professors shall be appointed by the Dean of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences, following consultation with the Head. Clinical/professional faculty at the professor level will sit with the committee in review of documents of clinical/professional faculty being considered for promotion. Associate professors may opt to recuse themselves, without penalty, after the committee has a quorum of five members.
2. Faculty Affairs Committee. The purpose of this committee is to consider matters that pertain to faculty welfare, including, but not limited to, the responsibilities, rights, privileges, and development of the faculty, collectively and as individuals and to conduct the School's elections.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include identifying and facilitating guidelines for academic responsibilities, faculty governance, faculty development needs, and reviewing AACN documents regarding salary compensation and workload. This committee shall nominate faculty for honors and awards given by the School or other organizations and individuals, prepare a slate of faculty candidates for standing committee positions, and conduct elections.
    
   The membership shall include a minimum of five voting faculty members elected by the voting members of the faculty. Faculty members shall serve a term of two years and shall be elected in alternate years to assure continuity. The chair shall be elected annually from the faculty members on the committee by the membership of the committee.
3. Learning: Curriculum Committee. The purpose of this committee is to coordinate and evaluate all aspects of the undergraduate and graduate curriculum to assure high quality educational programs.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include maintaining the integrity of the curriculum, curricular evaluation, and coordinating the accreditation process.
    
   The membership shall include voting faculty members representing each of the following areas: Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and two at large. The Level 4 member shall be a Nurse Practitioner. The voting members of the faculty shall elect these members. Two students, one undergraduate and one graduate, shall be elected by the student body and shall have full voting privileges. Faculty members shall serve a term of two years and shall be elected in alternate years to assure continuity. Student members shall serve a term of one year but are eligible to serve more than one term. The chair shall be elected annually from the faculty members on the committee by the membership of the committee.
4. Learning: Student Affairs Committee. The purpose of this committee is to set standards for progression and retention of nursing students and nominate students for honors and awards.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include developing policies and procedures for admission, progression, readmission, and graduation; and recommending policies concerning student affairs (e.g. disability issues, chemical dependency); and nominating students for honors and awards.
    
   The membership shall include a minimum of four voting faculty members elected by the voting members of the faculty. Faculty members shall serve a term of two years and shall be elected in alternate years to assure continuity. The chair shall be elected annually from the faculty members on the committee by the membership of the committee.
5. Learning: Admissions Committee. The purpose of this committee is to participate in the admissions and readmissions of all students with the exception of beginning generic students.
    
   The functions of the committee shall include reviewing applications for the second-degree baccalaureate program, the masters program, and the doctoral program, and readmission of students.
    
   The membership shall include the Assistant Head for Academic Affairs, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the Director of Graduate Studies, Coordinators for the Graduate Clinical Tracts, and the Director of Student Services. One at-large faculty member shall be elected to serve a term of two years.
6. Learning: Instructional Support Committee. The purpose of this committee is to enhance the instructional resources of the School of Nursing and to promote acquisition and dissemination of academic materials and information.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include recommending and prioritizing acquisition of professional books and journals for the library collection, audiovisual materials, computer hardware and software, and other adjuncts to the educational functions of the School and identifying other means to provide academic support to the instructional staff and students.
    
   The membership shall include three voting faculty members elected by the voting members of the faculty. Two students, one undergraduate and one graduate, shall be elected by the student body and shall have full voting privileges. Faculty members shall serve a term of two years and shall be elected in alternate years to assure continuity. Student members shall serve a term of one year but are eligible to serve more than one term. The chair shall be elected annually from the faculty members on the committee by the membership of the committee.
7. Discovery: Research Committee. The purpose of this committee is to promote the development, implementation, and utilization of nursing and multidisciplinary research within the School, university, and community.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include facilitating the development of research and extramural funding to the School of Nursing, serving as and/or facilitating a review mechanism for grant proposals, fostering collaboration, disseminating research and promoting its utilization.
    
   The membership shall include three voting faculty members with a history of funded research elected by the voting members of the faculty. Faculty members shall serve a term of two years and shall be elected in alternate years to assure continuity. The chair shall be elected annually from the faculty members on the committee by the membership of the committee.
8. Engagement: Development Committee. The purpose of this committee is to plan, coordinate, and implement fund-raising programs with School of Nursing students, alumni, parents, friends, corporations, and foundations.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include planning, implementing, monitoring, and continuously improving donor relations and gift stewardship systems and processes; providing stewardship reports for requested accounts; and generating gift acknowledgement letters for donors.
    
   The membership shall include up to five faculty and/or staff appointed by the Head. The chair of the committee shall be the Development Director or the Head of the School.

Section 2. Special Committees.

A special committee may be either an ad hoc committee or an advisory committee. An ad hoc committee is constituted for a circumscribed purpose or task. The ad hoc committee reports to the Head and/or the faculty of the School of Nursing, and the committee is disbanded at the completion of its task. An advisory committee is constituted to offer counsel, guidance and expertise on a specific aspect of the educational program, clinical practice, or on the program as a whole.

1. Engagement: Practice Management Advisory Committee. The purpose of this committee is to promote the nurse-managed services operated by the School of Nursing; assure compliance with state and federal regulations; identify or create opportunities for expansion of services; coordinate use of the clinics for educational purposes; and identify and foster funding sources for the clinics.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include planning for the educational utilization of the School's nurse-managed services, and acting as evaluator/advisor for quality control issues and future services.
    
   The membership shall include three voting faculty to serve two years and elected in alternate years to ensure continuity; one representative from each nurse-managed center; the administrator responsible for clinic services; and a representative from the business office. The chair shall be elected from the members of the committee by the membership of the committee. Any faculty member, project director or faculty researcher who utilizes the nurse-managed clinics is accountable to this committee.
2. Engagement: LifeLong Learning Advisory Committee. The purpose of this committee is to assist and support the Director of Lifelong Learning in the development of continuing education opportunities for faculty, nurses, and other health care professionals.
    
   The functions of this committee shall include assisting the Director to formulate a plan for providing continuing education activities in response to identified needs of the faculty and the nursing community; establishing priorities for educational activities; evaluating the effectiveness of the individual educational activity; evaluating the overall effectiveness and quality of the program; collaborating with other professionals in related fields to develop continuing educational activities; and reviewing and updating the purpose, goals, and resources of the continuing education program.
    
   The membership shall include the Director of Lifelong Learning, one faculty member, and appropriate support staff.

Section 3. College of Pharmacy, Nursing and Health Science Standing Committees

• Grade Appeals. The purpose of this committee is to hear and act upon appeals governing academic grades according to University policy and procedure.
   
  The membership of the committee shall be as dictated by the Constitution of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences.
• Grievance. The purpose of this committee is to consider and act upon complaints of academic personnel in accordance with University procedures.
   
  The membership of the committee shall be as dictated by the Constitution of the College of Pharmacy, Nursing, and Health Sciences.

Amendments to this Constitution may be made by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting members of the faculty. Copies of the proposed amendments must be distributed at least thirty days prior to the meeting.