UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

Academic

COLLEGE CONSTITUTIONS
Adopted: April 8, 1994
Amended: July 12, 2006; March 12, 2010
Supersedes: (see end of policy)

COLLEGE CONSTITUTIONS

This policy governs the creation and review of college constitutions, which, with other University policies, guide educational and administrative actions within a college.

Subd. 1. Guiding Principle. College constitutions establish the internal governance structure and embody the authority of colleges to govern their own educational and administrative affairs.

Subd. 2. Definition. For the purpose of this policy, college shall mean an academic unit that is:

(a) directly responsible for recruiting and hiring faculty and recommending them for promotion and tenure;

(b) regarded by its faculty as their primary academic appointment home, either in one of the college's departments or directly within the college itself;

(c) organized around a discipline or group of related disciplines; and

(d) directly responsible for providing instruction for students that leads to an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree or certificate.

Subd. 3. Delegation of Authority. The president or delegate shall approve collegiate constitutions and any subsequent amendments.

Subd. 4. Consistency with Board of Regents Policies and Other University Policies. College constitutions must be consistent with all Board of Regents (Board) and other University policies and procedures. To the extent that any provision of a college constitution conflicts with a Board or other University policy or procedure, the Board or other University policy or procedure shall govern.

Subd. 5. Relationship to Employment Contracts. College constitutions are not intended to be and are not part of the contract terms or the conditions of employment for any University employee.

SUPERSEDES: COLLEGIATE CONSTITUTION POLICY DATED JANUARY 11, 1991; AND RELATION OF COLLEGE CONSTITUTIONS TO CONTRACTS DATED MARCH 13, 1987.