Committee on Teaching and Learning Bylaws

1. Objectives

   1. To ensure that university teaching and learning in all modalities supports the needs and mission
      of Western Connecticut State University.

2. Responsibilities and Powers

   1. To identify the needs of faculty concerning effective teaching and learning, specifically in
      relation to pedagogical and technological knowledge, skills, and training.
   2. To review available pedagogical resources and services for effective teaching and learning,
      course design, and delivery in all modalities, and make recommendations to the relevant
      committees and University Senate.
   3. To promote and support the adoption of evidence-based and innovative best practices that
      support excellence in learning and teaching.
   4. To determine the need for and types of administrative support for effective teaching and
      learning and make recommendations to the University Senate.
   5. To serve as a primary and ongoing resource in an advisory capacity to CELT; provides
      consultation on programs and services, and assists the Director, who is appointed by the
      Provost/VP AA. Final decisions about programming and resources shall be made by the Director.
   6. To review issues of governance where teaching and learning are concerned and to make
      recommendations to the University Senate.
   7. To establish ad hoc or standing subcommittees as needed.

3. Membership

   The Committee shall consist of fourteen (14) members, to include:

   1	Academic Dean (Ex officio/Appointed by VPAA annually)
   1	Information Technology & Innovation (Ex Officio/Appointed by Chief Information Officer)
   1	Instructional Designer (Ex Officio/Appointed by the Director of Library Services)
   1	Director, AccessAbility Services (or representative  appointed by the Director)
   1	Director, Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, or designee
   7	Teaching Faculty (2 at large, 1 from each school and 1 librarian): Elected by Teaching Faculty, overlapping for three-year terms
   1	Administrative Faculty (Elected by Administrative Faculty for three year term)
   1	Provost Appointed Faculty (two-year term)
   1	Student appointed by the SGA

    

4. Conduct of Business

1. 1. Meetings
      1. At meetings of the Committee, a majority of the members (at least 4 of whom are elected)
         shall constitute a quorum. Unfilled positions shall not count toward the quorum.
      2. Attendance and participation for meetings may occur either when members are physically
         present or via audio/web conferencing or a combination of the two.
      3. At the first meeting of the academic year, the Committee Chair will distribute the Committee bylaws for review.
      4. A call to meeting accompanied by an agenda shall be presented to each member at least one week before each meeting.
      5. Concerned parties may attend, or be invited to attend, to discuss specific items.
      6. Decisions of the committee are made by majority vote of those members present.
      7. If all members are physically present for the meeting voting will occur verbally. If meetings
         are held via audio/web conferencing or if there are some members on audio/web conferencing and others physically present, a roll call vote will be conducted. In the event a vote is required between meetings an e-mail vote will be conducted and the motion and results of the voting will be recorded in the next meeting minutes.
      8. Meetings shall be held at least monthly during the regular academic year, as called by the
         chairperson, or in the absence of the chairperson, by a quorum of the committee.
   2. Officers
      1. The Chairperson for the following year shall be elected at the last meeting of the academic
         year from and by the voting members of the following year. In the absence of a Chairperson,
         the President of the University Senate shall designate a member to convene a meeting, of the Committee, for the purpose of electing a Chairperson.
      2. The position of secretary shall be filled by each member in turn on an alphabetical rotating
         basis, unless otherwise agreed to by the committee.
   3. Reports and Recommendations.
      1. The committee, through its chair, shall report all recommendations to the University Senate.
      2. The committee shall submit an annual report to the University Senate.
      3. The committee shall refer to other University-wide standing committees matters appropriate to their function.
      4. The committee shall refer for action to the University Senate recommendations for university
         policy change which is outside the responsibility of any standing committee.
   4. Minutes
      1. Minutes of all meetings shall be distributed and posted as appropriate.
      2. The annual report will be completed by the chair and submitted to the University Senate at
         the end of the academic year. It will be distributed and posted as appropriate.
   5. Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of members present at any regularly
scheduled meeting at which there is a quorum and by the approval of the University Senate and
the President of the University.