1. The DEO, or Department Chair, is the chief administrative officer of the department and ex officio chair of the departmental meeting. The DEO’s primary responsibility is to administer the policies established by the college and faculty. 

2. The DEO has primary administrative responsibility of recommending faculty appointments, promotions, faculty merit, developing the department’s curriculum, overseeing the work of its graduate assistants and staff, evaluating its faculty, managing the budget and mentoring junior faculty. The DEO is also responsible for assignment of faculty to office spaces and supervision of budgetary expenditures. The DEO will consult with the Executive Committee on important budgetary matters, the distribution of teaching and service assignments to faculty, and through periodic reviews to ensure that all faculty are participating appropriately and equitably in the teaching, research, and service missions of the department, college, and university. 

3. The DEO is appointed by the dean of the college with the advice of the departmental faculty and the approval of the provost. 

4. Acting DEO. In the event of the DEO’s incapacity or extended absence from campus, the Director of Graduate Studies or the Director of Undergraduate Studies, whoever is senior in rank, will normally perform the functions of the DEO until the DEO returns to service or a new DEO is appointed. The appointment of the acting DEO is subject to approval by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

1. The Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) takes primary responsibility for periodic recommendations and reports to the DEO and faculty on duties requiring coordination, including:
   1. review, development, and proposed changes to the undergraduate curriculum, course offerings (including cross listing of courses), and degree requirements, form and content of brochures, catalog copy, and other materials that describe undergraduate programs and degree requirements;
   2. policies and procedures related to departmental responsibilities for undergraduate advising, including involvement in and arrangements for recruiting new majors and orienting majors, internships and honors programs, and the coordination of the orientation for incoming TAs;
   3. policies, procedures, and facilitation of the outcomes assessment of the undergraduate programs;
   4. establishment, review and implementation of standards and procedures for appeals and petitions for waivers from departmental or university requirements, subject to the applicable procedural requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate College;
   5. participation in assigning TA’s for undergraduate classes;
   6. acting as director of the Honors Program, which involves meeting with honors students to ensure completion of departmental honors;
   7. serves on Department Executive Committee;
   8. oversees departmental undergraduate awards, including solicitation of nominees, evaluation of awards, and planning award ceremony;
   9. attends required collegiate and university meetings.
2. The Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) is appointed by the DEO for a one-year term and is eligible for re-appointment. Selection of the DUS will normally take place at the end of the Spring Semester each year for the following academic year.
3. If the DUS deems it necessary, they may request that the DEO appoint faculty member(s) to assist in DUS duties in an ad-hoc manner, such as for reviewing the undergraduate awards or other tasks.

1. GAC will be chaired by a Director of Graduate Studies appointed by the DEO for a one- year term, but who is eligible for re-appointment. Selection of the DGS will normally take place at the end of the Spring Semester each year. The DGS will deal with appeals and petitions for waivers from Departmental or University requirements and consult with GAC as necessary, using criteria laid out in the Handbook for Graduate Students in the Department of Communication Studies but subject to the applicable procedural requirements of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate College. The DGS will also organize Department Seminar events, teach the Introduction to Teaching and Research for new graduate students, attend required collegiate/university meetings, oversee graduate curriculum changes and assessment, and organize and chair the annual meeting where graduate students are reviewed.
2. The Graduate Affairs Committee (GAC) takes primary responsibility for periodic recommendations and reports to the DEO and faculty on matters requiring coordination, including:
   1. Graduate curricula, course offerings (including approval of cross-listings), degree requirements; form and content of recruitment brochures and materials, catalog copy, Handbook for Graduate Students, and other materials describing graduate programs and degree requirements
   2. Policies and procedures related to the recruitment and admission of graduate students (including development of recruiting materials, organizing the recruiting booth at conferences, handling of inquiries, graduate TA orientation)
   3. Policies and procedures pertaining to the evaluation of graduate student performance, the monitoring of student progress, setting standards for normal and satisfactory progress for graduate students
   4. developing guidelines for faculty and students regarding the participation of graduate students in the teaching, research, and service functions of the department; drafting such guidelines, assuring adequate student input to proposed guidelines
   5. policies regarding levels and patterns of graduate student support.
3. GAC will normally consist of at least three faculty members, including the DGS, appointed at the end of the Spring Semester by the DEO in consultation with the DGS to reflect area representation across the department, plus a staff member who oversees graduate student progress. One graduate student will also be selected by the DEO in consultation with the Graduate Student Advisory Council (GSAC). All faculty and student members are appointed for a one-year term but may be reappointed.
4. The GAC will hold meetings during the semesters as necessary. Time, date, location, and agenda for each meeting will be publicized to all departmental faculty and graduate students so that interested groups or individuals can submit suggestions or make presentations, except that meetings to discuss appeals or particulars of any individual student’s case will be closed meetings.

1. The EC will consist of three members, plus the DEO, who will serve as chair, with the goal of representing the three areas of the department, when possible.
2. The EC functions as the representatives of the faculty, and shall have input into all significant issues that come before the DEO, but which cannot practically be discussed at faculty meetings.
3. The EC is primarily responsible for departmental strategic planning, merit reviews of faculty, and non-contractual faculty reviews.

1. The department currently includes three areas of specialization within the field of Communication: Interpersonal Communication and Relationships; Media History and Culture; and Rhetoric, Culture, Engagement.
2. The Area Heads function as liaisons between the DEO and the Areas. The Area Head will be appointed by the DEO in consultation with colleagues within the area, and each Area Head has the power to call meetings, with appropriate notices, of faculty members in the area for course scheduling, community building activities, and other purposes as deemed necessary.

Will normally be scheduled at least twice a semester and chaired by the DEO. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the DEO, provided that forty-eight hours advance notice is given and the nature of the agenda is described at that time.

At least twice a semester and chaired by the DEO. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the DEO, provided that forty-eight hours advance notice is given and the nature of the agenda is described at that time.

Will consist of two-thirds of the faculty eligible to vote (excluding members on leave). Decisions will be based on a simple majority of those present who cast a vote and those absent who have submitted a written vote to the meeting secretary. Abstentions will not count as votes in defining a majority; absentee votes will not count in establishing a quorum.

And voted on at the same meeting where it is first raised except with a two-thirds majority vote of attending faculty members. In cases where new business is voted on at the same meeting where it is raised, absentee votes will not be counted. New business that must be voted on will, when possible, be included in advance on the agenda and be accompanied by relevant background materials.

Are deemed an executive session (i.e., meetings of the departmental consulting group for tenure and promotion decisions, meetings of the tenured faculty to discuss probationary faculty reviews) and are not governed by this section of the departmental manual of operations and procedures.