Constitution
Mathematics and Science Teaching Institute
University of Northern Colorado
Preamble
The following Constitution outlines policy and procedures for operation of the Mathematics and Science Teaching (MAST) Institute. The MAST Institute is an organization formed by faculty from the sponsoring programs of Biological Sciences, Chemistry & Biochemistry, Earth Science, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics in the College of Natura and Health Science. Membership also includes faculty from the College of Education and Behvaioral Sciences and local and regional area public schools. The intent of the MAST Institute is to provide participating departments and faculty an integrated, interdisciplinary base for promotion of excellence in content-based science and mathematics education. The avenues for achieving this goal are varied, including pedagogical research, instruction, grant writing, and outreach education assistance to school districts, teachers, and other interested publics. The Institute also fosters cooperative projects with other institutions of higher education. To facilitate operation and management of the MAST Institute, standard rules of order of the University will be used and the following Articles are adopted.
Article I
Name of the Organization
The name of this organization shall be the Mathematics and Science Teaching (MAST) Center. This Center, representing a collaborative initiative by participating departments and faculty of the University, is a unit of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Article II
Goals/Objectives
The goals of the MAST Center are to:
- Provide service and outreach to mathematics and science teachers at the elementary, middle, secondary, and university levels.
- Promote excellence in mathematics and science instruction at the elementary, middle, secondary, and university levels.
- Promote excellent science and mathematics teaching in classrooms throughout Colorado.
- Increase the participation of underrepresented groups in mathematics and science, especially females, minorities, and physically challenged.
- Improve teacher education in mathematics and science at both pre-service and in-service levels.
- Explore innovative ideas for mathematics and science instruction, including those based on effective use of technology and on implications from emerging research on science/mathematics learning.
- Facilitate dialogue among all education and non-educational entities in Colorado on common needs of mathematics and science education.
- Initiate, facilitate, and provide opportunities and information for university faculty in instructional strategies and techniques through the offering of inservice workshops and seminars.
- Promote research in science and mathematics education at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
- Obtain grant resources for projects whenever possible and work cooperatively with the project directors.
Article III
Membership
Membership in the MAST Center shall be open to any public entity who wants to subscribe to the goals and objectives of the organization.
Article IV
Administrative Officers
Administration of the MAST Center requires at least half time (0.5 FTE) and is assigned to one Director or to a Director and an Associate Director. These individuals are appointed for three-year terms by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from tenured or tenure- track faculty in one or more of the sponsoring departments or by a university search committee composed of members approved by the MAST Advisory Board. The remaining portion of these individualís assignments will be in one of the four science departments or the Mathematical Sciences Department. Under unusual circumstances the remaining portion may be a special assignment by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, subject to the approval of the MAST Advisory Board.
- Director. Administrative duties include acting as liaison for the MAST Center to the Dean of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education, the Research Corporation, and school systems throughout Colorado. The Director coordinates the activities of an interdisciplinary group of faculty from the sciences (Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, and Physics), the department of Mathematical Sciences, and various education disciplines which are working to improve the quality of science and mathematics education in elementary, middle, and secondary schools throughout Colorado. The Director is expected to maintain scholarly activity and to pursue grants and contracts in support of MAST Center projects.
- Associate Director. An Associate Director of the MAST Center may be appointed by the Dean of Arts and Sciences. The duties of the Associate Director include those responsibilities specified by the Director and the assumption of the duties of the Director in her/his absence.
Article V
MAST Advisory Board
The purpose of the MAST Advisory Board is to approve ongoing operations of the MAST Center, including non-routine budget expenditures. The specific responsibilities of the Committee are outlined in the Bylaws to the MAST Center Constitution, page 1.
Membership (9):
Voting Members (7):
- Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics department chairs or their designee in the chairís absence(5).
- A representative from the College of Education appointed by the Dean of the College (1).
- A science or mathematics representative from the Laboratory School (1).
Non-voting Members (2):
- A representative from the College of Arts and Sciences Deanís Office appointed by the Dean (1).
- A science or mathematics representative from an area school (1).
The MAST Center Director(s) shall serve as Chair of the MAST Advisory Board and vote only when there is a tie. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the voting members of the MAST Advisory Board. Meetings are open to any public entity interested in the betterment of science and mathematics education.
Article VI
Committees
Standing Committees
Standing committees may be appointed or dissolved by a majority vote of the MAST Advisory Board.
Ad Hoc Committees
The MAST Director(s) may appoint Ad Hoc committees and their chair as deemed advisable by the MAST Advisory Board.
Article VII
Budget
- Annual budget requests for the MAST Center and the MAST Hotline shall be prepared by the MAST Director(s), presented to and approved by the MAST Advisory Board. Once budget requests are approved by the MAST Advisory Board, they shall be forwarded to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for approval.
- The MAST Director(s) shall prepare an annual report on the activities and financial status of the MAST Center for the MAST Advisory Board and present preliminary reports as requested by the MAST Advisory Board.
- The MAST Director(s), in consultation with the MAST Advisory Board, shall determine resource distribution.
Article VIII
Meetings
The MAST Advisory Board and standing committees shall meet at least once each semester. Additional meetings may be called at the request of the committee chair, MAST Director(s), or three members of the MAST Advisory Board. All meetings are open to those interested in MAST activities.
Article IX
Bylaws
Bylaws may be authorized by the MAST Advisory Board.
Article X
Amendments to the Constitution
- A proposed amendment to the Constitution, supported by at least one-third of the voting members of the MAST Advisory Board, shall be presented in writing to the MAST Director at least 15 days prior to a scheduled meeting of the MAST Advisory Board.
- An amendment shall become effective upon approval of two-thirds the MAST Advisory Board and approval of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Article XI
Dissolution
In the event of dissolution or termination of the MAST Center, title to and possession of all MAST Center property shall pass forthwith to the respective departments who held membership in the MAST Center. The Arts and Sciences Deanís Office will appoint a committee to oversee the equitable distribution of such property. Final decisions will be made by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Bylaws to the Constitution
Mathematics and Science Teaching Center
University of Northern Colorado
Purpose and specific duties of the following entities:
MAST Advisory Board:
The purpose of the MAST Advisory Board is to review the mission of the MAST Center, provide direction for MAST Center activities and programs, and approve ongoing operations of the MAST Center, including non-routine budget expenditures. Specific duties of the MAST Advisory Board are:
- Annual review of the mission of the MAST Center.
- Review and make recommendations regarding proposed activities/projects for the MAST Center.
- Review MAST budget requests.
- Approve expenditures and disbursements from the MAST Research Incentive and UNC Foundation accounts.
- Review reports and request action from the standing committees.
- Make recommendations for consideration to Director and/or committee(s).
- Review annual report and formative plan submitted by the MAST Center Director(s).
- Complete annual evaluation of the MAST Director(s), to be reported to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Standing Committees:
Science and Mathematics Education Coordinating Committee (SMECC): The purpose of SMECC is to assist departments in coordinating courses in teacher education and graduate programs in mathematics and the sciences and to function as an advocate for mathematics and science education in the University. Specific duties of the Committee include:
- Coordinating interdepartmental and intercollege science and mathematics education courses.
- Addressing teacher licensure, standards based initiatives, and other teacher preparation reforms.
- Coordinating and collaborating with the Office of Professional Services for student teacher placement and supervision.
- Coordinating input on science education staffing and budget needs.
- Making recommendations for undergraduate major programs and professional teacher education programs (PTEPs) for prospective teachers.
- Overseeing advertising and selection for interdepartmental science and mathematics teacher education scholarships (e.g., McCracken, Selberg, and Sund).
- Coordinating science and mathematics teacher enhancement activities.
- Reporting to MAST Advisory Board upon request.
- Other duties as approved by the MAST Advisory Board.
Membership:
SMECC is composed of representatives from the departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics who instruct teacher education courses and/or SCED courses and representatives from the College of Education. Each department will identify those individuals. The MAST Director, or an appropriate individual appointed by the MAST Director, will chair the committee.
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