E. Expanded CIRTL Network Operations: Organizational and Administrative Structure

Goals

a. The organizational structure must insure achievement of the CIRTL mission, foster CIRTL learning outcomes for future faculty, and reflect the CIRTL core ideas. In particular:

i. The organizational structure should distribute responsibility, engaging members of the Network in interdependent, functional roles (e.g., engaged programmatic and administrative roles);
ii. The organizational structure should promote ongoing evaluation of outcomes throughout the organization;
iii. The organizational structure should value and make use of the diversity of all Network Members.

b. We seek a highly interactive, collegial management structure, while maintaining clear lines of authority and responsibility necessary to ensure high quality in administration and programs for future faculty; accountability to the Network members and funders; and fidelity to strategic directions.

c. The structure should be expandable to on order of 100 doctoral universities.

d. The organizational structure must be consistent with a business model that ultimately can operate independent of external funding, while at the same time able to obtain external funding.

Organizational Structure

Figure 1 presents the proposed organizational structure. Brief descriptions of the management roles are provided in the following Table 1.

Core Member Institutions will have primary leadership and oversight responsibility for the CIRTL Network, with support and coordination by a central unit (“CIRTL Central”). Contributions to leadership and oversight from other Network members will be welcomed.
 

 Figure 1

Table I. CIRTL Network – Management Structure

Board of Directors The Board of Directors promotes awareness and engagement of those university administrators who ultimately must fund the Network, both in cash or in-kind. The Board of Directors will meet twice a year. Nominally the graduate dean (or equivalent) would be the Board member. The Board may also invite additional members as they consider necessary and appropriate.

Executive Committee of the Board of Directors: The Board Chair and Executive Committee act as the point of contact for the Director, as necessary.

Director: The Director has responsibility and authority for all Network activities, supervises CIRTL Central staff, and reports to the Board of Directors. The Director would likely be the PI of external funding grants that support the entire Network. (2011: R. Mathieu)

Institutional CIRTL Leaders: As a whole the Institutional CIRTL Leaders are the governing body of the CIRTL Network. A Leadership Committee drawn from the Institutional CIRTL Leaders, along with the Director, and the Administrative Director, will act as the day-to-day leadership team of the CIRTL Network. (2011: A. Austin, R. Campa, T. Harris, B. Herbert, W. Patterson)

Administrative Director/ CIRTL Central: The Administrative Director will manage the day-to-day Network operations and supervise CIRTL Central staff. (2011: K. Barnicle)

Operations Groups: Much of the de facto operational leadership will rest with the community through Operations Groups formed to develop and operate specific aspects of the Network. Group members may include Institutional CIRTL Leaders, Co-Leaders and other leadership team members from Core Institutional Members; Affiliate Members; and participating future faculty. At the discretion of the Operations Group chair, groups may range from in size from two to several people. Potential Operations Groups include:

• Cross-Network Programs
• Evaluation
• Online Community & Technology
• National Connection
• Pedagogy
• Disciplinary groups

Depending on the magnitude of the responsibility, an Operations Group may be run by a Managing Network Member with an independent funding stream. Other Operations Groups may operate more as Working Groups. Ad hoc Operations Groups might have new developmental responsibilities, perhaps funded by a Seed Grant.

Future Faculty Board: The future faculty board is a graduate student advisory council that advises the Director and Board of Directors, and formally brings the voice of future faculty to the Network.