This document outlines the rights, responsibilities, and procedures by which faculty participate in the academic governance of the Consortium for Critical Diversity in a Digital Age Research (CEDAR) at Michigan State University. If specifications or omissions place these Bylaws in conflict, in any manner, with College or University policies, as enacted in their Bylaws, the latter will take precedence. Questions about the conduct of business shall be referred to these Bylaws or to the revised Robert’s Rules of Order as necessary.
1. Function & Objectives
The Consortium for Critical Diversity in a Digital Age Research (CEDAR) is a research collaborative that serves as an interdisciplinary catalyst for MSU human-centered digital scholarship and public engagement that seeks to promote a diverse future. CEDAR’s work is critically and culturally engaged. We are dedicated to working with and for our communities and publics. As a result, our digital practice is human-centered and ethically grounded. Together we seek to engender empathy and respect for multiple perspectives by considering the lessons of our pasts, presents, and futures.
CEDAR is based in the College of Arts and Letters but works across the colleges and units of the university. CEDAR is a participating unit of DH@MSU as defined in the DH bylaws.
1.1. People.
CEDAR also represents the faculty, staff, and students who comprise its membership as articulated in section 2.
1.2. Goals.
Reclaiming: using digital methods to locate, present, and engage with texts, practices, and media productions that for various historical, cultural, and socioeconomic reasons have been neglected, underappreciated, or ignored;
Preserving: promoting the use and creation of digital archives and other sites with attention to how knowledge is produced and valued in the first place; engaging issues related to form, aesthetic, and material transformations, reception, access, and dissemination;
Interconnecting: building and fostering participatory networks through innovative modes of digital practice and engagement that create enriching publics, advance knowledge, and orient our efforts toward questions of historical oppression and contemporary social justice.
2. Membership & Participation
The membership of CEDAR is composed of Core Faculty and the Advisory Board.
2.1. Core Faculty.
2.1.1. The Core Faculty shall initially consist of all persons hired to collaborate in the work of the CEDAR initiative. As a research collaborative, CEDAR is directed by the Core Faculty.
2.1.2. Application for Core Faculty Status.
2.1.2.1. The Core Faculty will solicit application letters from members of the MSU community whose position allows them to participate in research collaboratives to join the Core Faculty of CEDAR.
2.1.2.2. The Advisory Board will review the applications and vote on the applicants’ eligibility for Core Faculty status, as defined by these Bylaws.
2.1.2.3. Applicants will be informed by email and by a formal letter of their relationship to CEDAR.
2.1.2.4. Core Faculty status may be reviewed as requested by the faculty member or the Advisory Board.
2.1.3. Rights and Duties of the Core Faculty.
2.1.3.1. The Core Faculty support the activities of CEDAR and assist in developing and implementing its programs and projects. To facilitate these services, the resources of CEDAR shall be put at the disposal of the Core Faculty.
2.1.3.2. Each Core Faculty member shall have a vote in the deliberations of the Core Faculty meetings.
2.2. Advisory Board.
2.2.1. The Advisory Board shall consist of persons appointed by Core Faculty in consultation with the Digital Humanities Director. To the extent possible, membership should be representative of all programs/departments in the College. The purpose of the Advisory Board is to have representation and input from across the college to support and give counsel to the Core Faculty regarding CEDAR programming and activity.
2.2.2. The Director of DH@MSU will hold an ex officio role on the CEDAR Advisory Board.
2.2.3 Application for Advisory Board Status.
2.2.2.1. The Core Faculty will solicit application letters from faculty and other eligible members of the MSU community to join the Advisory Board of CEDAR.
2.2.2.2. The Advisory Board will review the applications and vote on the applicants’ eligibility for Advisory Board status, as defined by these Bylaws. 2.2.2.3. Applicants will be informed by email and by a formal letter of their relationship to CEDAR.
2.2.2.4. Eligible applicants who are admitted to the Advisory Board may apply for Core Faculty status in subsequent years.
2.2.2.5. Advisory Board status may be reviewed as requested by the faculty member or the Core Faculty.
2.2.4. Rights and Duties of the Advisory Board.
2.2.3.1. The Advisory Board supports the activities of CEDAR and assists in developing and implementing its programs and projects.
2.2.3.2. Advisory Board members are expected to attend all Advisory Board meetings and participate fully in consultation and discussion.
3. Organization and Governance.
3.1. Structure.
CEDAR is organized for academic governance through the following officers and bodies: a Core Faculty and the CEDAR Advisory Board.
3.2. Core Faculty Meetings.
3.2.1. A formal meeting of the Core Faculty shall be held once per semester. Additional meetings of the Core Faculty may be called as needed. Agendas shall be circulated one week before the date of the meeting. Emergency meetings shall be convened as needed.
3.2.2. A quorum is necessary for the conduct of official business at any meeting of the Core Faculty. A quorum shall be defined as fifty percent of the eligible Core Faculty.
3.2.3. Minutes of the Core Faculty meetings shall be archived and made available.
3.3 Advisory Board.
3.3.1. A formal meeting of the Advisory Board shall be held once per year. Additional meetings of the Advisory Board may be called as needed. Agendas shall be circulated one week before the date of the meeting. Emergency meetings shall be convened as needed.
3.3.2 Any Advisory Board member may schedule a matter for discussion at Advisory Board meetings with the review and approval of the Core Faculty.
3.3.3 Typically, no votes will be taken at such meetings. Matters requiring a vote will be referred to the next meeting of the Core Faculty.
3.3.4 Minutes of the Advisory Board meetings shall be archived and made available.
4. Bylaws
4.1. Initial Approval.
The CEDAR Bylaws will become effective on approval by a majority vote of the Core Faculty and the approval of the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters.
4.2. Interpretation.
The Core Faculty will be the final authority with regard to the interpretation and implementation of these Bylaws.
4.3. Amendment.
4.3.1. Amendments to these Bylaws are a shared responsibility of and require shared agreement between the Core Faculty. If shared agreement is not achieved, then final approval of changes to the Bylaws rests with the Director of Digital Humanities.
4.3.2. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed in writing to the Core Faculty members of CEDAR. The Core Faculty shall review proposed amendments and, where deemed necessary, call a meeting to discuss them.
4.3.3. Proposed amendments shall be voted on at a Core Faculty meeting (held in person or online) subsequent to the one at which they were introduced. Amendments to these Bylaws shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members present, physically or electronically.
4.3.4. Upon approval by a two-thirds majority vote, the amendment becomes a part of the Bylaws.
4.3.5. If, in any manner, these processes are in conflict with College or University policies, as enacted in their Bylaws, the latter will take precedence.
4.4. Review of Bylaws.
In accordance with the provisions of the University Bylaws for Academic Governance, the Core Faculty will review the Bylaws at regular intervals not to exceed five years. The Core Faculty will have the responsibility of ensuring that these reviews are carried out and will have the delegated authority conferred by the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters and the Provost to establish the procedures for the review and amendment of these Bylaws.