SUBJECT: BYLAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NORTH TEXAS AREA UNIVERSITIES

APPLICABILITY: TOTAL UNIVERSITY

ARTICLE I - Purpose, Nature, and Scope of the Federation

Section 1:

The Federation of North Texas Area Universities, hereinafter called FEDERATION, was created by action of a special meeting of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, held in Austin, Texas, on December 3, 1968. The major goals of the FEDERATION are (1) to offer fully Federated graduate programs through traditional instruction and distance education technology and (2) to make more efficient use of state resources through interinstitutional cooperation, and (3) effective September 1, 1997, to administer the offering of selected undergraduate and graduate courses and degree programs of the FEDERATION universities through the Dallas Education Center.

Section 2:

The initial Full Members of the FEDERATION shall consist of Texas A&M University-Commerce, Texas Woman's University, and the University of North Texas.

Section 3:

The FEDERATION will be governed by a Council of Presidents, hereinafter called the COUNCIL. The COUNCIL is charged with the responsibility of approving all policies and plans of action for the FEDERATION.

Section 4:

The activities of the Full Members of the COUNCIL and any subsequent members of the COUNCIL shall be governed by the basic objectives of the FEDERATION and by the approved role and scope of each university. Private universities eligible to seek membership must be guided by the same general considerations.

ARTICLE II - Objectives

Section 1:

The specific objectives of the FEDERATION are:

a. To coordinate the recruitment and use of highly trained faculty;

b. To maximize the State's resources by avoiding needless program duplication;

c. To enrich and strengthen educational opportunities for students by facilitating interinstitutional course exchanges;

d. To enhance faculty development through such activities as programs, workshops, seminars, and conferences;

e. To provide programs to enrich the professional development of students and practitioners;

f. To facilitate the sharing of scientific equipment and other technology;

g. To encourage and facilitate joint planning efforts by the faculty; and

h. To develop a mechanism for joint program applications to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Section 2:

The primary focus of the COUNCIL's work will be on providing university-level course work leading to baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees needed to meet the educational needs of the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area.

ARTICLE III - Membership

Section 1:

Accredited senior colleges and universities located in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area may be considered for Full or Affiliate Membership in the FEDERATION.

Section 2:

Eligible institutions desiring to participate in the work of the FEDERATION as members shall apply for the appropriate category of membership through the cooperative efforts of the three initial members and with the approval of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Section 3:

There shall be two classes of institutional membership: Full and Affiliate.

Section 4:

Full Members of the FEDERATION shall be limited to accredited public and private institutions offering baccalaureate, master's, or doctoral degrees. Such members will have FEDERATION degree-granting authority. The chief executive officer of each institution classified as a Full Member will serve as a voting member of the FEDERATION COUNCIL.

Section 5:

Affiliate Members of the FEDERATION shall be accredited public and private senior colleges or universities. Such members will not have FEDERATION degree-granting authority. The institutions having Affiliate Membership may be represented at all FEDERATION COUNCIL meetings but shall not have voting rights

ARTICLE IV - Officers and Staff

Section 1:

The presiding officer at meetings of the FEDERATION COUNCIL shall be known as the Chair. The Chair shall be a voting member of the COUNCIL chosen by the COUNCIL members for a two-year term. Each Chair selected shall serve until his/her successor is selected at the last meeting of the COUNCIL during the second calendar year of his/her term. A Chair may not succeed himself/herself until every other institutional representative on the COUNCIL has served as Chair.

Section 2:

The COUNCIL members shall make provisions for the handling of such operational funds as the normal functioning of the FEDERATION may require. The COUNCIL members shall make special provisions for the acceptance, custody, and distribution of grant funds or gifts made to the FEDERATION for designated purposes other than routine operations.

Section 3:

The COUNCIL members shall provide for whatever staff assistance is necessary to support the activities of the FEDERATION or the COUNCIL. The costs of such assistance shall be prorated among the Full Members of the FEDERATION.

ARTICLE V - Meetings

Section 1:

The FEDERATION shall have at least two meetings each calendar year. Full Members shall be officially represented at such meetings by their voting representatives on the COUNCIL. Affiliate Members shall be officially represented by their DELEGATES.

Section 2:

Meetings of the FEDERATION shall, in general, be devoted mainly to the consideration of matters related to interinstitutional cooperation or of program development.

Section 3:

When necessary, COUNCIL members may be represented at meetings by a proxy.

ARTICLE VI - Committees

Section 1:

The Vice Presidents for Academic Affairs and/or Graduate Deans of the Federated universities shall meet regularly as a standing committee to recommend academic policies for COUNCIL action and to make operational decisions on implementing academic policies established by the COUNCIL.

Section 2:

The COUNCIL shall from time to time establish such ad hoc committees, study groups, and consultancies as may be needed.

Section 3:

All reports of committees, study groups, and consultants shall be presented in written form to the COUNCIL for appropriate action.

ARTICLE VII - Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1:

Amendments to the Bylaws of the FEDERATION may be adopted by vote of at least a two-thirds majority of the COUNCIL; provided, however, that no amendment may be adopted unless it has been submitted in writing to all COUNCIL members at least thirty days in advance.

Section 2:

Copies of the proceedings of the FEDERATION as a whole and copies of the Minutes of the COUNCIL shall be furnished promptly after each meeting to the Commissioner of Higher Education in order that the Commissioner may furnish current information about the deliberations of the FEDERATION and the actions of the COUNCIL to the members of the Coordinating Board.

Section 3:

Adequate records of all financial transactions of the FEDERATION shall be kept and shall be subject to annual audit.

Section 4:

Neither the FEDERATION nor the COUNCIL nor any members thereof shall in the name of the FEDERATION or the COUNCIL support or oppose any political cause. Further, no such member may in the name of the COUNCIL or the FEDERATION act as proponent or opponent of proposals for basic changes in existing laws, whether local, state, or federal.

Section 5:

All cooperative agreements should be formalized in writing, with copies provided to all concerned parties.

Section 6:

The FEDERATION as a whole or any combination of member institutions may make joint efforts to seek grants or other funding to support the objectives of the FEDERATION.

Section 7:

The participating institutions shall develop ongoing policies, procedures, and agreements to insure appropriate reimbursement for all student enrollments.

Section 8:

Cooperation in undergraduate and graduate programs not involved in FEDERATION approval shall be encouraged.

Section 9:

The members of the FEDERATION will work cooperatively within the framework of individual university policies and the policies of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to develop proposals for new degrees. The same process will be followed to make modifications in programs or to alter an institution's participation in a particular degree program.

Section 10:

Degrees may be offered jointly by two or more member institutions.

Section 11:

Undergraduate and graduate programs offered through the FEDERATION at the Dallas Education Center may be either Federated or non-Federated. Each Federated degree program will manifest the following common elements of a fully Federated program:

a. A common program description in the graduate or undergraduate catalog of each participating school, including a statement on the purpose of the Federated program, a listing of all program faculty, a common list of degree requirements, a full listing of available courses at all participating institutions, and application procedures and admission standards.

b. An integrated course schedule and cross listing of courses in the major area in the class schedule of each participating institution.

c. An integrated core curriculum, including specification of which courses will be taught by faculty from each participating institution.

d. Specification of common admission standards and a unified admissions process.

e. For doctoral programs, the following provisions shall be met:

f. For unconditional admission to a Federated doctoral program a GRE equal to 1000 with the opportunity to appeal to 900, plus use of a sliding scale that uses both the GRE and GPA.

g. A joint admissions committee made up of faculty from each participating institution.

h. Representatives of each degree-granting institution on doctoral committees.

i. Implementation of common entrance and exist exams.

j. Cooperation in faculty hiring.

k. Program oversight by one of the Graduate Deans.

Section 12:

Each approved Federated program will establish a standing Program Committee. The FEDERATION will maintain current policies concerning the size, appointment procedures, responsibilities, and other matters relating to these committees.

Section 13:

Enrollment in FEDERATION Programs

a. Students desiring to enroll in Federated programs will apply at the university from which they plan to graduate. This university will be known as the HOME INSTITUTION. Undergraduate applicants will apply to the HOME INSTITUTION through the usual undergraduate admissions procedures. Applicants to the Federated graduate programs will apply to the graduate school of the HOME INSTITUTION. After insuring that the student has met minimal graduate school requirements, the Graduate Dean of the HOME INSTITUTION will send the application to the appropriate Federated Program Admissions Committee. This committee will send its recommendation concerning the applicant back to the HOME INSTITUTION.

b. Students accepted into a Federated program will abide by the university policies and undergraduate or graduate school policies at the HOME INSTITUTION and by the policies and guidelines of the FEDERATION in regard to structure of the advisory committee and other committees, conduct of examinations, and all other aspects of their programs of study.

Section 14:

The operational guidelines for the FEDERATION will be reviewed annually and updated as necessary. Changes will require unanimous consent of member institutions.