Charter for the Center for Nuclear Research
Preamble
The purpose of the Charter for the Center for Nuclear Research (CNR) is to outline the structure and operation of the CNR as it affects faculty and students. This Charter shall become effective upon its approval by the Graduate Faculty of the Department of Physics and the establishment of the CNR by the University.
The policies, regulations, and procedures outlined in this Charter shall apply in all cases where Departmental, Collegial, or University policies, regulations, or procedures do not apply. Should a conflict arise, Department, Collegial, and University policies, regulations, and procedures shall take precedence over policies, relations, and procedures of the CNR. Department, Collegial and University policies, relations, and procedures are included in, but not limited to, the University Register, College policy documents, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and the Physics Department Handbook.
1. Purpose
The purpose of the Center for Nuclear Research shall be to support, enhance, and promote the academic activities in the Nuclear Physics program conducted by the faculty, staff, research associates, and graduate students of the Kent State University Physics Department. The objectives of the CNR are:
a. To enhance the visibility of the Nuclear Physics program on a national and international level;
b. To attract quality graduate students in sufficient numbers;
c. To strengthen the academic environment through a visiting scholars program in Nuclear Physics;
d. To coordinate and strengthen collaborations with scientists at institutions throughout the world;
e. To foster extramurally sponsored research.
2. Membership
Membership in the CNR shall be open to faculty, staff, research associates, graduate students, and visitors at Kent State University who are engaged in research in Nuclear Physics.
3. Executive Committee
The CNR shall be governed by an Executive Committee consisting of all members of the CNR who are regular, full-time, Kent Campus faculty members in the Kent State Physics Department with the Department Chair serving, ex-officio, without vote. The Executive Committee may enlarge its membership to include additional members of the CNR if two-thirds of the current members of the Executive Committee are in agreement; the status of these additional members of the Executive Committee shall be reviewed annually.
The Executive Committee shall determine and review policy and budget for the CNR and shall make all decisions regarding staff for the CNR.
4. Director
The CNR shall be managed by a Director, selected by the Executive Committee from among its tenured members; this selection must be approved by the Department Chair, the Collegial Dean, and the Vice President and Provost. The Director shall serve for a two-year term beginning in an even-numbered year. The Director is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the CNR including management of the staff of the CNR.
The Director shall be accountable to the Executive Committee for his management decisions. The Director shall bring all major management decisions to the Executive Committee for approval and shall make recommendations regarding staff to the Executive Committee. The Director will normally preside over meetings of the Executive Committee.
With the concurrence of the Executive Committee, the Director may appoint a member of the Executive Committee as an Associate Director to act in the Director's absence from campus and to assist with the management of the activities of the Center including preparation of reports and proposals, and monitoring of budgets. The Associate Director appointment must be approved by the Department Chair.
To facilitate professional management and conduct of the activities of the CNR, a work load equivalency of up to 3 credit hours per semester will normally be assigned by the Department Chair to the Director and may be shared with the Associate Director.
5. Meetings
Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by either the Director or his designate.
6. Reviews
The performance of the Director may be reviewed annually, or more often should circumstances warrant.
7. Vacancies
Should the Director be unable to complete the two-year term of service due to illness, retirement, sabbatical, leave of absence, or other reasons, the Executive Committee shall select a replacement to serve the remainder of the two-year term.
8. Amendments
Amendments to this Charter may be adopted by action of the Executive Committee. Such action normally requires a reading of the proposed amendment at one meeting followed by a two-thirds vote at a subsequent meeting. The Graduate Faculty of the Department of Physics are to be consulted on such amendments at a Graduate Faculty meeting before endorsement is sought from the Department Chair, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Vice President and Provost.
The initial Charter was approved at the establishment of the Center by resolution of the Board of Trustees, June 22, 1988. The Charter above is the amended version approved by the Department Chair, the Collegial Dean, and the Provost, May 14, 1999.