Constitution

Revised – Revised August 2015: Approved October 2015

Name. The name of this society is the University of Arkansas Teaching Academy.

Purpose. The purpose of the Academy is to promote and recognize effective teaching and learning at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

Organization.

Article 1. Membership A. Charter Members. The Charter Members of the Academy shall be those University faculty members who, prior to June 30, 1988, have received either the Burlington Northern Outstanding Teacher award or the Alumni Association Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for teaching or for teaching and research, and who commit themselves to the continuing responsibility which the Academy’s purpose requires.

B. Membership. 1) In addition to Charter Members, the members of the Academy shall be those faculty members elected to Academy membership at a called meeting of the Academy by not less than a two-thirds vote of the members present.

2) No more than eight new members may be elected to the membership each year. University faculty members who are not Teaching Academy members and, during the previous academic year, received either the Charles and Nadine Baum Faculty Teaching Award or the Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship are automatically nominated for membership. Faculty must be nominated by Academy members or Deans of the academic Colleges and Schools, recommended by the Membership and Nominations Committee, and approved by not less than a two-thirds vote of those members present at a duly-called meeting of the Academy.

3) The Membership and Nominations committee will solicit and screen nominations and make recommendations to the Academy for consideration of membership. a) Nominations presented to the Committee which are not recommended to the Academy for that year will be reconsidered the following year.

4) New members will be inducted annually at a regular meeting or banquet of the Academy and presented with an “Award of Excellence” for teaching at the University of Arkansas.

5) Members of the Academy are considered “Fellows” of the Academy.

Article 3. Officers and Operations

A 1. Officers. The officers of the Academy shall be the Past-President, President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and two Directors.

B. Executive Committee: The six officers of the Academy shall together constitute an Executive Committee charged with directing the Academy’s affairs.

C. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall call an annual business meeting of the Academy membership in the spring semester. Other meetings shall be called when requested by formal petition from 10 or more members of the Academy, or when the Executive Committee deems them appropriate to the Academy’s purpose. The Executive Committee itself shall meet at the call of the President, but at least twice in each semester.

D. Duties of officers. The President, or President-Elect in the absence of the President, shall preside at all meetings. The Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare minutes for each meeting of the Academy and of the Executive Committee, and shall distribute copies to all Academy members. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also administer the Academy’s funds, with disbursements to be authorized by the Executive Committee.

E. Committees. The standing committees of the Academy are to be the Executive Committee, the Membership and Nominations Committee, and the Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship (Imhoff Award) Selection Committee. The Executive Committee shall identify the need for other standing and ad hoc committees and shall formulate statements of charge for such committees. Committee members shall be appointed by the President, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee unless prescribed below.

1). Executive Committee: The composition and duties of the Executive Committee are described in (A2.B) above.

2). The Membership and Nominations Committee. The Membership and Nominations Committee shall have two purposes; 1) to make recommendations to the Academy for membership into the Academy, and 2) to present a slate of officers for consideration by the Academy. The committee shall consist of the three most recent Past Presidents plus additional members as necessary to have a representative from the Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, the College of Engineering, the College of Education and Health Professions, the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Walton College of Business, the School of Architecture, and the School of Law. The college and school representatives shall be jointly appointed by the President and the Chair of the Membership and Nominations Committee. The most recent Past President will serve as Chair. The Membership and Nominations Committee shall determine the means of receiving, reviewing, and recommending all nominations.

3.) The Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship (Imhoff Award) Selection Committee. The responsibilities of the Imhoff Award Selection Committee shall be to: (a) issue an annual call for Imhoff Award nomination letters, (b) evaluate all nomination letters and select three finalists, (c) invite each of the three finalists to prepare and submit a complete application packet, (d) select the Imhoff Award recipient from among the three finalists, and (e) inform the President of the names of the Imhoff Award winner and the two Award finalists. The two most recent Imhoff Award winners who are also Teaching Academy Fellows shall serve as co-chairs of the selection committee. Three additional at-large members, each from a College or School different from the co-chairs and from each other, will be appointed by the President in consultation with the co-chairs. The Imhoff Award Selection Committee shall determine the means of receiving, reviewing, and selecting the Imhoff Award winner and the two Award finalists subject to the award criteria as stated below.

The Dr. John and Mrs. Lois Imhoff Award for Outstanding Teaching and Student Mentorship recognizes faculty members at the University of Arkansas who have demonstrated consistent and committed excellence in teaching, instruction and mentoring, all qualities central to the mission of a student-centered institution. The recipient must have been nominated by peers, including a member of the Teaching Academy. The nominee must instruct an introductory or entry-level course that introduces students to their discipline or acquaints students with a discipline. The nominee must demonstrate excellence in classroom teaching. The nominee must demonstrate excellence in student advising and mentoring, including formal academic advising, informal advising, student group or club advising, special project or research instruction and advising, and professional mentorship.

F. Election of officers. Except for the President, officers will be elected to two-year terms at the annual meeting of the Academy in even years. Upon completion of such two-year, the President-Elect shall succeed to the office of President for a two-year term. In turn, the President shall succeed to the office of Past-President for a two-year term. Nominations will be presented by the Membership and Nominations Committee and accepted from the floor at the time of the election. Election of one Director will be held annually. Officer elections will be decided by a majority vote of those present.

G. Vacancies. The President-Elect shall become President in the event of a vacancy in the latter office. The President, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, shall fill any other vacant Cabinet positions by appointment.

Article 3. Bylaws and Amendments
A. Bylaws. The Cabinet shall adopt such bylaws as it considers appropriate to the Academy’s purpose. The implementation of any bylaw may be stayed by a petition signed by at least 10 members of the Academy. Otherwise, bylaws will become effective two weeks after adoption has been reported to members of the Academy by distribution of the pertinent meeting minutes.

B. Amendment. These Articles may be amended by not less than a three-fourths vote of those present at a duly-called meeting of the Academy. The meeting call shall include notice of the proposed amendment(s) and the substance of the proposal(s).

C. Voting.  Member voting in all cases unless specified otherwise shall be by members of the Academy by voice, paper, electronic, or other means as determined by the President.