Governance and Operating Procedures

I. Eligibility for Participation in the Biology Major
All faculty in the Biological Sciences Division and faculty in other divisions who are actively involved in research and teaching in the life sciences are eligible to advise students after appropriate training. Academic Staff active in life sciences or involved in teaching or advising of students in life sciences can also be advisors. All advisors shall constitute the Biology Major Council.

II. Governance
The governance of the Biology Major shall be vested in an Executive Committee elected by the Council and approved by the Deans of CALS and L&S. No School or College can have more than five members on the Executive Committee. The Biology Advisor is a voting ex officio member of the executive committee. Additional voting ex officio members will be added to represent tracks within the major. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once per semester.

III. Co-Chairs
Co-Chairs are selected from among the Executive Committee by the Deans of CALS and L&S (one Co-Chair from each college) based on a preference ballot by the Executive Committee conducted in the Spring semester. While preference ballots shall be cast annually, it is anticipated that Co-Chairs will serve for three years and may serve two consecutive terms for a maximum of six years.

IV. Executive Committee
A. The Executive Committee is composed of nine advisors within the major elected to three year terms plus the permanent, voting, ex officio Biology Advisor and additional voting ex officio members representing the tracks in the major. The terms of the elected members are staggered so that three members are elected each year. Nominations for the Executive Committee shall be solicited from among the Council and a slate selected from among the nominees. In selecting nominees the Executive Committee shall consider the interests of the candidates to work toward breadth of the Executive Committee. Advisors can serve up to six consecutive years and thereafter can be reelected after being off the Executive Committee for three years.
B. The executive committee will carry out the quasi-departmental functions associated with the Biology Major. These include periodic re-evaluation of curriculum requirements and courses appropriate for item 5 (Intermediate/advanced courses); handling of special cases, appeals and exceptions; recruitment of advisors; and so on.
C. The executive committee will also consult with existing or proposed programs, such as the Molecular Biology Major or the Neurosciences initiative, that might wish to establish themselves as "tracks" with the Biology Major. Proposals for such tracks within the Biology Major would then be referred to the CALS and L&S colleges for evaluation and approval.

V. Committees
The Executive Committee may set up committees as needed such as a curriculum committee, committee for tracks within the major, an honors committee, and a committee to approve exceptions to requirements in the major. Chairs of committees shall be drawn from the Executive Committee but other members need not be from the executive Committee.