Charter

The official name of this organization shall be the Center for Greater Southwestern Studies and the History of Cartography, hereinafter known as the Center.

The Center is located at, and is an administrative unit of, The University of Texas at Arlington, hereinafter call the University. The Center takes advantage of the University's strategic location in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. The Center is a joint program between the University Libraries' Special Collections Division and the University History Department, and is housed in the Central Library in order to best utilize the Libraries' Special Collections and services, including computer networks connecting the University with other educational institutions and libraries.

The primary purpose of the Center, which was created in 1990, is to encourage and sponsor interdisciplinary studies, scholarship, research, and teaching that interpret the people, society, economy, environment, history and cultures of the Greater Southwest. The Center serves the entire University of Texas community. In pursuing its purpose, the Center recognizes the educational responsibilities of the University of Texas at Arlington in interpreting the region that has historically interconnected the United States and Mexico in times of exploration, conflict, and cooperation. In achieving this purpose, the Center ensures effective use of faculty expertise, student interest, and University facilities, including the University Libraries' Special Collections, which is nationally recognized for its strong holding relating to Texas, the Mexican War, Mexico, cartographic history, labor, and politics.

The Greater Southwest is defined as that area of North America included within the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819 (present U.S. states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, California, and portions of Kansas and Oklahoma) and the historic northern frontier states of Mexico north of Mexico City (including Nuevo Leon, Tamaulipas, Coahuila, Chihuahua, Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, Durango, Zacatecas, San Luis Potosi, Jalisco, Guanajuato, Queretaro, Hidalgo, and Veracruz). Geographically, this vast region stretches from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean, and includes the southwestern quadrant of the continental United States and the northern half of Mexico -- an area of intense contact between Native American, Hispanic, Anglo American and other cultures over the last five centuries.

The basic operations of the Center are supported by appropriated University funds, as administered by the History Department, and a substantial contribution of facilities and services provided by the University Libraries; however, the Center's programs, events, and publications are funded by outside (non-appropriated) funds, including grants, donations, and fees for services.

The Center is administratively responsible to the Chair of the History Department who reports to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts. Whenever appropriate, the Center will also consult with the Dean of the Graduate School on matters that pertain to graduate education.

The Center shall be administered by a Director who reports to the Chair of the History Department, and whose leadership of the Center will be reviewed every four years. The Director is responsible for the Center's program development and ongoing operations, including hiring and supervision of all Center staff, oversight and preparation of the Center's annual budget, involvement of appropriate faculty in Center programming, making appointments to standing and ad hoc committees of the Center, serving ex officio on all Center working committees, serving on and chairing meetings of the Executive Committee, and actively assisting in obtaining funding for Center programs and activities.

Decisions significantly affecting the governance, design, operation, and development of the Center involve a process of interaction dialogue, consultation, and recommendations among three (3) parties: (1) the Director (as described in Management/Directorship, above); 2) the Center Fellows; and 3) the Executive Committee. Additionally, faculty not in formal Center roles may be called upon to assist in the Center's planning, programming, and activities through involvement in ad hoc and standing committees. In all areas of Center governance where a vote is desirable, a quorum consists of a majority of those members present.

Section 1. Center Fellows

To ensure the most effective use of University resources (faculty, collections, facilities) and community resources (expertise, funding, collections), the Center shall rely upon a group of no less than six (6) Center Fellows.

a. Membership. Center Fellows include resident scholars (that is, faculty presently holding regular appointments at the University who are concerned with the past, present, and future of the Greater Southwest), and may include non-resident or independent scholars (that is, scholars from the outside community, including colleges, universities, historical societies and agencies) who have a demonstrated scholarly interest in the Greater Southwest. The Director will appoint at least six (6) Center Fellows. An additional two (2) Center Fellows may serve as ex officio members without vote. All Center Fellows will serve three-year renewable terms.

b. Roles and Responsibilities. The Center depends on its Fellows in their advisory capacity to provide expertise and recommendations concerning activities of the Center, including programming, publications, conferences, and institutes. Normally, Center Fellows will serve on one or more working committees, although the guidance of Center Fellows may be solicited on a wide range of topics. Through both formal and informal input, Center Fellows provide expertise and effort that further increases the effectiveness of the Center, and, consequently, collective knowledge about, and understanding of, the Greater Southwest. The Center Fellows also advise the Director in developing the Center's long-term planning.

c. Leadership. From among their members, the Center Fellows shall select a chair to help conduct meetings and business, as described immediately below.

d. Meetings. Center Fellows shall meet collectively no fewer than two (2) times during the academic year to discuss a wide range of issues affecting the Greater Southwest, the Center, and Southwestern scholarship. Meeting agendas will be prepared by the Director in consultation with the Center Fellows chairperson.

e. Committee Service. Fellows may be called upon to serve on (and chair) one or more standing or ad hoc committees, as described under committees, below. Center Fellows make program and activity recommendations at such meetings, which are provided to the Director for consideration/action/recommendation to the Executive Committee. Additionally, two Fellows will normally serve on the Executive Committee, as described under Section 2, b, below.

Section 2. The Executive Committee

a. Responsibilities. The Executive Committee is the Center's official advisory body. Based on input provided by the Director, the Center Fellows, and its own members, the Executive Committee provides direction to the Center's activities--including formal action affecting the development and implementation of Center programming, approval of the Center's budget, and appointment of Center Fellows. With the consent of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the Executive Committee may recommend that the History Department create a search committee which, with representation from the Executive Committee and the Center Director, will conduct a national search to recommend filling professional/academic positions in the Center.

b. Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of nine (9) members, including the Dean of the Graduate School, the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the Director of the University Libraries, the Head of University Library Special Collections, Chair of the History Department, the Center Director, ex officio, and three (3) resident Center Fellows. The Chair of the Center Fellows shall be among the three (3) Center Fellows who represent the Fellows on the Executive Committee.

c. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall normally meet three (3) times during the University's academic year. Special meetings may be called by the Center Director or by written request of three (3) members of the Executive Committee. The Director shall submit and distribute an agenda at least five (5) days in advance of each meeting; additions to circulated agendas shall require a vote of a majority of members present at the meeting.

With authority from the Executive Committee, the Center Director shall form and staff any committees necessary for the implementation of policies, programs, and activities. Normally, committee members serve renewable two-year terms. Standing Committees shall include the following:

a. Nominating Committee: consisting of four (4) members selected by the Executive Committee, with input from the Director, recommend new Center Fellows and members to all committees as vacancies occur or upon the expiration of regular terms.

b. Development Committee: consisting of six (6) members selected by the Executive Committee, with input from the Director, assists the Director in developing and implementing fund-raising strategies, including the review of grant applications and the solicitation of funding from foundations, corporations, and individuals.

c. Program and Research Committee: consisting of six (6) members, assists the Director in developing symposia, conferences, and other events involving the Center, including University programs and lecture series. The committee also encourages scholarly dialogue and research leading to publication.

d. Curriculum Advisory Committee: consisting of ten (10) members, four (4) of whom are Center Fellows and up to six (6) of whom are University faculty appointed by the Executive Committee with input from the Center Fellows and the Director, helps the Center develop and implement an interdisciplinary Southwestern Studies program that enhances the current curriculum in the College of Liberal Arts and the entire University.

e. Geography/Cartography Advisory Committee: consisting of six (6) members, ensures that the University's geography curriculum is coordinated with Center goals and programming; with guidance from the Center Director, may recommend facilities, curriculum, and programming to the appropriate committee(s).

The Friends of the Center, an auxiliary organization of persons who support the activities of the Center, shall include anyone with an interest in the purposes and offerings of the Center who makes a substantial contribution to the Center. Liaison to the Friends of the Center shall consist of one member of the Executive Committee and the Director.