Article I

Name

The name of this New Mexico State University (NMSU) committee shall be the General Education Course Certification Committee, hereafter referred to as GECCC. 

Article II

Role and Purpose

"The General Education Course Certification Committee is recognized as a standing university board within the definition of RPM 2.30. It serves as an advisory body to the Office of the provost and chief academic officer. Its primary charge is to review the courses submitted for inclusion in the General Education curriculum in light of the applicable state or university criteria, and to provide its recommendations to the Office of the provost and chief academic officer. The committee also develops or reviews proposed procedural guidelines for the General Education course certification process, for consideration by the Office of the Provost and Chief Academic Officer." NMSU ARP 4.65.2.A

Article III

Composition

Section 1. Membership

"The General Education Course Certification Committee shall be comprised of one faculty member and one alternate faculty member from each academic college and the Library, to be selected by the appropriate dean; two community college faculty members and one alternate community college faculty member, to be selected by majority vote of the community college chief academic officers; and one member and one alternate member from the Faculty Senate. A representative from the University Student Records Office and from the Outcomes Assessment office shall also serve on the committee...[as] an ex-officio [member]." NMSU ARP 4.65.2.B

Section 2. Chair

GECCC Chair shall be a NMSU faculty member appointed by the NMSU Provost. Length of the chair term is at the discretion of the NMSU Provost. Hereafter, the GECCC Chair shall be referred to as Chair. The Chair is also considered a Regular Member

Section 3. Regular Member

Per Section III.1 above, regular members are identified as one faculty member from each academic college and the Library selected by the appropriate dean, two community college faculty members to be selected by majority vote of the community college chief academic officers, and one Faculty Senate representative selected by the Faculty Senate Chair. Regular Member membership terms shall be in staggered rotation to ensure committee legacy memory. The length of Regular Member term is three years with the option to renew for a second term. Regular Members shall not participate for more than two consecutive terms. 

Section 4. Alternate Members

Per Section III.1 above, Alternate Members are identified as one faculty member from each academic college and the Library selected by the appropriate dean, one community college faculty member to be selected by majority vote of the community college chief academic officers, and one Faculty Senate representative selected by the Faculty Senate Chair. The length of an Alternate Member term is three years with the option to become a Regular member with a vacancy. Alternate Members may participate in multiple consecutive terms.

Alternate Members have the right of voice during regular committee meetings but not to vote, unless the member they are an alternate for is not in attendance.

Section 5. Ex-Officio Members

Permanent, ex-officio, non-voting members shall include

1. NMSU Provost
2. NMSU Senior Associate Provost
3. NMSU Office of Institutional Analysis representative
4. NMSU Office of Intuitional Effectiveness representative

Section 6. Additional Members

One-year, temporary, non-voting ex-officio members may be appointed by the NMSU Provost or the Chair of GECCC as needed. Appointment can be renewed.

Article IV

Reporting Structure

“The committee reports directly to the provost and chief academic officer, who will appoint a representative from the Office of the provost and chief academic officer to serve as Chair. The Office of the Provost and Chief Academic Officer shall provide the committee with necessary administrative support.” NMSU ARP 4.65.2.C.

Article V

Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings

“The committee shall meet a minimum of one time per semester. The Chair or the provost and chief academic officer may call additional meetings as often as necessary for the committee to perform its charge.” NMSU ARP 4.65.2.D.

Meetings shall be held once per month during the fall and spring semesters. Meetings may occur virtually, face-to-face or a combination of the two. The schedule of meetings for each semester shall be approved at the first meeting of the semester by majority 50% plus one vote.

Section 2. Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by the Chair or formal request from GECCC Regular, Alternate, or Ex-officio Members. These formal meeting requests shall result in a meeting scheduled by the Chair to begin within 15 business days of request.

Section 3. Quorum

A quorum shall consist of a majority 50% plus one voting membership.

Section 4. Passing Action

A majority 50% plus one of voting members present is sufficient to pass a motion or act introduced by GECCC, except as otherwise specified herein.

Section 5. Voting

1. Voting in face-to-face meetings shall be by a show of hands.
2. Voting in virtual meetings shall be by counting appropriate indicators as determined by the Chair. 
3. Voting in combination of face-to-face and virtual meetings shall be by show of hands for those who are attending face-to-face and by appropriate indicators as determined by the Chair for those members attending virtually. 
4. There may be occasions with voting by email is required. Email votes require the appropriate passing threshold to be met of total voting members on GECCC to pass, regardless of the total number of votes cast. If this passing threshold is not met, the vote is null and item will be added to the agenda of the next meeting. 

Article VII

Positions

Section 1. Chair

The GECCC Chair shall coordinate all activities of GECCC, shall impartially enforce the Bylaws, shall serve as the official representative of GECCC for NMSU and New Mexico Higher Education Department’s (NMHED) New Mexico Curriculum and Articulation Committee (NMCAC), shall submit an annual committee report to the NMSU provost each spring, shall govern all proceedings during regular and special meetings of GECCC, and shall call regular or special meetings when necessary.

Section 2. Regular Members

Regular GECCC members shall conduct GECCC business and vote during regular or special meetings when necessary. Each Regular Member of the GECCC, including the Chair, shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 3. Alternate Members

1. Alternate members shall take part in GECCC business during regular or special meetings but may not vote when their Regular Member is present. 
2. In the event that a Regular Member from any academic college, the Library, or the Faculty Senate is absent from a voting session, the Alternate Member designated for that college, Library, or Faculty Senate shall have the authority to cast a vote on behalf of the absent member. 
3. Otherwise, Alternate Members have all the rights and responsibilities of ex-officio members. 

Section 4. Ex-Officio Members

Ex-officio members may participate in GECCC business, but they are not eligible to vote during GECCC business.

Section 5. Registration from the Committee

Any member may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the Chair. The resignation becomes official upon formal acknowledgement by the Chair.

Section 6. Filling vacancies on the Committee

Any vacancies shall be filled by prompt requests to the appropriate individuals described above. Preference shall be given to replace Regular Members with their Alternate Member.

Article VIII

Subcommittees

GECCC has no standing subcommittees. Special subcommittees may be formed and dissolved by a majority 50% plus one vote in regular or special GECCC meetings.

Article IX

Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern GECCC in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any additional rules that GECCC may adopt. Meetings must be conducted in accordance with applicable NMSU policies and procedures as defined in NMSU’s Administrative Rules and Procedures (ARP) and Regents Policy Manual (RPM).

Article X

Major Committee Goals

Section 1.

GECCC shall review general education course proposals and certify whether the courses meet the purposes of general education as specified in the approved policy manual. 

Section 2.

GECCC shall distribute results and analysis to the NMSU community after Provost review. Method of distribution will be determined by GECCC and led by the Chair. 

Section 3.

GECCC shall coordinate and support the NMSU Committee for the Assessment of Student Learning in General Education (CASL-GE) in efforts related to General Education and Viewing a Wider World courses.

Section 4

Bylaws shall be reviewed by members every four years beginning the year after their official adoption.

Article XI

Amendment of the Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended by the members of the GECCC by a two-thirds vote. The amendment must have been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting for member review.

Article XII

Documentation

Committee membership, meeting agendas, meeting minutes and annual reports shall be housed on a NMSU website per Higher Learning Commission accreditation guidelines. Additional documentation may be housed on the website at the discretion of the Chair.

Article XIII

Confidentiality and Ethics

Section 1.

GECCC shall maintain strict confidentiality regarding any student data or information while following the NMSU policies and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) on student data.

Section 2.

Any dissemination of student data must be conduced n accordance with NMSU policy.

Section 3.

Violations of confidentiality or ethical conduct shall be taken seriously and may result in disciplinary action, up to and including removal from GECCC. Members shall adhere to the highest standards of ethical conduct in carrying out their duties. Members shall refrain from engaging in any activities that may compromise the integrity or objectivity of GECCC business. Any concerns regarding potential violations shall be investigated and addressed promptly.

Article XIV

Conflict Resolution

Professional and ethical standards are expected. If conflicts cannot be resolved through informal discussions, the Faculty Grievance Review Board shall be sought for advice to move forward.

Article XV

Other Rights and Responsibilities

Any other GECCC right or responsibility not enumerated in these Bylaws shall be owned by the Chair to delegate to members as necessary.