Bylaws of the Institute for the Empirical Study of Language

Name

The name of the institute shall be the Institute for the Empirical Study of Language (IESL), as approved by the Ohio University Board of Trustees, February, 1996.

Purpose

The purpose of the institute is to conduct interdisciplinary research and education in the processes involved in the comprehension, production, and acquisition of language.

Membership

A. Continuing

A new continuing member may be added to the institute by a two-thirds majority approval by current members. An applicant should have research experience in some area of language and should apply to the Director for admission to membership.

Continuing membership requires a commitment to the institute’s purpose and activities through involvement in one of more of the following: Attending meetings on a regular basis; inviting colleagues and students to events sponsored by the institute; recruiting prospective student members and students who may be interested in the Certificate in the Experimental Study of Language; collaborating with IESL members on joint research projects or grants; and collaborating with/mentoring students pursuing the certificate proposal. Members so engaged shall be members in good standing. A long-standing continuing member who wishes no longer to be active may be elected Member Emerita or Member Emeritus in recognition of that person’s contributions to the IESL. Such a person would have no commitments to the IESL but would be permitted to attend meetings, invite colleagues and students to events sponsored by the institute; recruit prospective student members and students who may be interested in the Certificate in the
 
Experimental Study of Language; collaborate with IESL members on joint research projects or grants; and collaborate with or mentor students pursuing the Certificate.

A continuing member who is unable to meet the requirements of continuing membership will be asked to review the requirements for continuing membership in the by-laws. If he or she still is not able to meet these requirements, the officers of the IESL will remove that person from membership

B. Student

Graduate or undergraduate students may be added as student members to the institute by a two-thirds majority approval of continuing members. A student member should plan to engage in research with an IESL continuing member and to give a colloquium on that research upon its completion.

Officers

Officers of the institute shall be a Director, an Associate Director for Research, an Associate Director for Training, and a Treasurer.

The Director shall convene and preside over all regularly scheduled and specially called meetings. The Director shall be responsible for all the activities of the institute.

The Associate Director for Research shall encourage interdisciplinary research among institute members, shall seek external funding for institute research projects, and shall solicit colloquium speakers.

The Associate Director for Training shall supervise the Certificate in the Experimental Study of Language, including curriculum matters, the satisfying of program requirements, and recruiting of new students.

The Treasurer shall record and safe keep all funds coming to IESL and shall pay from said funds all commitments incurred by the IESL.

Terms of office

The terms of office for the Director, the two Associate Directors and the Treasurer shall be five years. Office holders may be re-elected to their offices.

Election of officers

A. Expiration of term of office

At the expiration of the term of office for the Director, either Associate Director, or the Treasurer, a Nominating Committee composed of three members who are not officers shall solicit nominations from members for such office(s). Members of the institute, including members of the Nominating Committee, may nominate themselves. The Director and the two Associate Directors shall appoint the Nominating Committee.

B. Unexpired term of office

If an officer does not complete a term of office for reasons of disability, relocation, etc., a Nominating Committee as described in (A) above, shall be appointed to seek nominations for that office.

C. Elections

When the Nominating Committee has secured one or more nominees for an office, the committee will conduct an election for the office(s). All continuing members of the institute in good standing shall be eligible to vote. A two-thirds majority of approval, among continuing members in good standing, is required to elect a nominee.

Committees

Committees may be created to facilitate the functioning of the institute if approved by a simple majority of the members.

A Curriculum Committee, as specified by the certificate proposal approved by the University Curriculum Council, shall be responsible for curricular matters in the certificate program. The Associate Director for Training shall chair the committee. Two other members of the IESL shall be elected to the committee.

Meetings

A. Regular meetings

A regular meeting of members shall be conducted three times each semester of the university calendar. The Director shall develop a time and place for the meeting and communicate that and an agenda to all members at least ten days before the meeting date.

B. Special meetings

The Director, an Associate Director, the Treasurer, or at least 10% of the members in good standing may call a special meeting of members. The convener shall develop a time and place for the meeting and communicate that and an agenda to all continuing members at least ten days before the meeting date.

Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the continuing members of the institute who are in good standing. These revised Bylaws were approved by written ballot by a two-thirds majority of the institute’s continuing members on Sept. 27, 2018.