Applied Mathematics

Applied Mathematics Program Bylaws

1. Program Membership

The Program is always pleased to recruit new members who could become research advisors to Program students and participants in other Program activities. University of Arizona faculty interested in joining the Program should submit an application directly to the Steering Committee. The application should consist of a detailed resume and a letter stating (i) how their research and training interests relate to those of the Program and (ii) ways in which they may have already interacted with the Program (e.g. given Applied Mathematics seminars, sat on a student's committee, or supervised an independent study of an Applied Mathematics student). Involvement in Program activities prior to a formal application for membership is not required, but is strongly encouraged. Potential applicants are also encouraged to discuss their application with Steering Committee members.   University faculty can join the Program as either "Members" or "Affiliate Members" according to the criteria given below. Non University faculty may be eligible to become "Professional Affiliates". In most case University faculty join the Program as Affiliate Members but in some cases they may have fulfilled the criteria necessary to be Members. The guiding principles of the membership structure are:

• The separation into Members and Affiliate Members is not one of first and second-class citizenship, but a means of honestly identifying an individual's current level of involvement in the Program.
• Affiliate Membership is intended to identify faculty who have, as approved by the Steering Committee, a strong interest in applied mathematics and are qualified to be research advisors or co-advisors for students in the Program.
• The designation as a Member is intended to recognize periods of substantial faculty involvement in the Program. Only Program Members may vote on Program issues when a matter requiring a vote arises.
• The distinction between Members and Affiliate Members is carefully explained to all Program students to ensure that they understand that faculty in either category are potential research advisors.
• Every opportunity will be given to Affiliate Members (as well as Members) to have access to Program students through the appropriate Program activities.
• The membership criteria will be explained to all Deans and Department Heads as needed. It will be emphasized that that the category of Member identifies (their) faculty as being substantially involved in the Applied Mathematics Program, and that their efforts should be rewarded as such.
• The Program fully recognizes that its faculty will have different levels of involvement in the Program at different times. Faculty affiliation is reviewed periodically by the Steering Committee and appropriate adjustments to Program member's listed designation are made.

1.1 Criteria for Affiliate Membership An individual is appointed as an Affiliate Member if in the opinion of the Steering Committee:

• They have a demonstrable record, and strong interest, in applied mathematics.
• Are qualified to advise or co-advise a Program student's dissertation research.
• Have engaged in some level of Program activity, e.g. given Applied Mathematics seminars, sat on a student's committee, or supervised an independent study of an Applied Mathematics student.

1.2 Criteria for Membership An individual is listed as a Member if he or she is engaged in any of the following activities:

• Currently advising a PhD student. Here "advising" means the committed direction of research as embodied by the faculty officially chairing or co-chairing of the student's dissertation committee.
• Has graduated a PhD student in the last three years.
• Taught a core course in the last three years.
• Puts a research grant through the Program.
• Has a 'partnered-hire' or 'buy-out' position in the Program.
• Serves on the various Graduate Working Groups overseeing Recruitment, Examinations, and Curriculum.
• Serves on the Steering Committee.

1.3 Criteria for Professional Affiliates The Program is pleased to recognize the significant contributions of members of the scientific community not affiliated with the University of Arizona. Criteria to be a Professional Affiliate include:

• Official co-advising of Program students in keeping with Graduate College policy.
• Supporting Program students through research grants, scholarships, and fellowships.
• A proven record of significant ongoing research collaborations with Program faculty.

Professional Affiliation may be obtained by invitation from the Steering Committee or by nomination from a Program Member (or Members). Nominations for Professional Affiliates will not be accepted from Affiliate Members. A nomination should include a letter from the nominator explaining the nature, and significance, of the nominee's involvement with the Program, the nominees CV, and a letter from the nominee stating the benefits, to the Program, of his or her affiliation with the Program.   The Professional Affiliation will be monitored in two ways. Each year, the Professional Affiliate will be sent a letter asking if they wish to renew their status, and every two years the Steering Committee will review the relationship to ascertain that the Professional Affiliation criteria have been met. If this is not the case, the Affiliation will be ended. 1.4 Steering Committee powers with regard to membership issues The Steering Committee has the following powers:

• Approve Affiliate Membership or Membership of new applicants to the Program.
• Grant Professional Affiliate status to non-University members.
• Periodically review the affiliation of all Program faculty and to make appropriate adjustments to their membership status as either Members or Affiliate Members.

2. Steering Committee Membership This advisory committee plays a key role in promoting the best interests of the Program: advising the Head on major issues such as hiring, strategic planning, and Program policy; and dealing with such matters as applications for membership in the Program, post-tenure review, etc. Committee members are active members of the University faculty, well connected and respected on campus, who are able and willing to lobby on behalf of the Program at a high level and to act as its "eyes and ears". Furthermore, the Steering Committee membership should provide a balanced representation of the different Departments and Schools/Colleges with which Program faculty are affiliated. In keeping with University procedure, new Steering Committee members are formally appointed by the Dean of the Graduate College on the recommendation of the current Steering Committee. The policy for membership of this committee is as follows.

• Both Members and Affiliate Members may serve on the Steering Committee.
• The Steering Committee will consist of eight members in addition to the Head.
• Faculty will serve a four-year term. Terms can be renewed, but no more than two consecutive terms can be served. In some cases, circumstances (e.g. a sabbatical leave) may permit a three-year term.
• Committee membership will be rotated at the rate of up to two members a year.
• When vacancies on the Committee appear the entire Program membership will be solicited for recommendations for new members. The slate of possible candidates will be considered by the current Steering Committee who will then pass on their recommendations to the Dean of the Graduate College.

3. Post-tenure Review and Promotion and Tenure policies. University policies and procedures with respect to the role and weight that participation in interdisciplinary programs plays in Post-tenure review, and Promotion and Tenure cases, is continuously evolving. The Program will make every effort to assist its members as needed in these matters in the following ways:   The Program will endeavor to maintain a database of the contributions that its Members and Affiliate Members make to the Program; e.g. membership of student committees, supervision of independent studies, core courses taught, seminars given, and other such activities that are coordinated through the Program. Program faculty are nonetheless encouraged to maintain their own records including activities that are not ordinarily tracked by the Program staff and/or activities that they consider to be especially significant.

1. On request the Program will provide its faculty, or an official University Committee or person assessing that faculty member, with this information.
2. On request the Program Head will provide a letter describing the level of a faculty member's activity in, and value to, the Program to whichever administrative person or committee is relevant to the case at hand.
3. On request the Program Head will meet with whichever administrative person or committee is relevant to the case at hand to detail the faculty member's contributions to the Program.

The above Bylaws were first adopted in the Fall of 1992 and revised in December 2006.