Humanities Institute at Stony Brook

Humanities Institute at Stony Brook Bylaws

ARTICLE I: MISSION

The Humanities Institute of Stony Brook University (HISB) supports the research, teaching, outreach and community engagements of Stony Brook University faculty members, graduate and undergraduate students across the humanities, arts and interpretive social sciences. HISB facilitates conversations and intellectual exchange across disciplinary boundaries; promotes the humanities locally, regionally, nationally and internationally; and offers both Graduate Fellowships in Public Humanities (NYCH) and Faculty Research Fellowships (AHSSF) to promote cutting-edge humanities scholarship.

 

ARTICLE II: LEADERSHIP

Section 2.1 Director

Section 2.1.1 Selection and Appointment

The Director is vetted and elected by the Internal Advisory Board. The Fall Semester before the sitting Director finishes their term, the Advisory Board will appoint an ad hoc Nominating Committee, that includes the Program Coordinator, from within its ranks. The Nominating Committee will open nominations for names for suitable faculty from the appropriate disciplines, and will vote on the finalists. The candidate selected by the Nominating Committee is appointed by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, for an initial, renewable three-year term. In the Spring Semester, the incoming Director must meet with Institute leadership to share knowledge and ensure continuity. The Director can serve two consecutive terms if the Board approves, but then must step away for an appropriate period as determined by the Internal Advisory Board. The Director must be tenured at the Associate level or above.

Section 2.1.2 Reporting

The Director reports to and is accountable to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Section 2.1.3 Duties and Responsibilities

The Director executes HISB’s policies and administers its affairs, in regular consultation with the Internal Advisory Board. This includes planning the year’s programming, preparing the annual report, and supervising and assessing the staff and Associate Director. The Director shall also represent HISB at national meetings of groups that promote the humanities, such as the Consortium of Humanities Centers and Institutes (CHCI). The Director is also responsible for making budgetary decisions. The Director is responsible for calling and chairing all meetings of the Advisory Board. The Director works closely with the Associate Director and Program Coordinator to administer HISB’s activities.

Section 2.2 Associate Director

Section 2.2.1 Selection and Appointment

The semester before the Associate Director’s term ends, the Director will open nominations for names for suitable faculty from the appropriate disciplines. The Associate Director is vetted and selected by the Director and Program Coordinator. The candidate they select is appointed by the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences for an initial, renewable three-year term. At the beginning of their term, the incoming Associate Director must meet with Institute leadership to share knowledge and ensure continuity. The reappointment of the Associate Director for a second three-year term is subject to the approval of the Director and Program Coordinator. The Associate Director must be tenured at the Associate level or above.

Section 2.2.2 Reporting

The Associate Director reports and is accountable to the Director.

Section 2.2.3 Duties and Responsibilities 

The Associate Director assists the Director and works closely with the Program Coordinator in executing HISB’s policies and administers its affairs, in regular consultation with the Advisory Board. This includes planning the year’s programming, preparing the annual report, and spearheading and carrying out fundraising initiatives. It may also include representing the HISB at national meetings of groups that promote the humanities. The Associate Director maintains Advisory Board meeting records, oversees the Institute’s social media campaigns, supervises student interns, and works with other campus departments and units to maximize student participation.

 

ARTICLE III: STAFF

The HISB office is staffed by a Program Coordinator and auxiliary student support staff. The Program Coordinator and their staff are responsible for: general administrative assistance to the Director and Associate Director; scheduling, publicizing, and coordinating HISB events; maintaining the website; sending weekly emails to listservs; preparing budget spreadsheets; applying to funding bodies, and responding to email and phone calls.

 

ARTICLE IV: INTERNAL ADVISORY BOARD AND EXTERNAL ADVISORY BOARD

Section 4.1 Internal Advisory Board

Section 4.1.1 Appointment

The Internal Advisory Board, selected by the Director with strong attention to ethnic, racial, and gender diversity as well as disciplinary coverage, comprises faculty members from the Humanities, Arts, and interpretive Social Sciences. It also includes the Associate Director and Program Coordinator (ex officio). Members of the Advisory Board are appointed by the Director for three-year terms. Membership is limited to two consecutive terms, after which the Board member must step away for an appropriate period as determined by the Director.

Section 4.1.2 Responsibilities

The Internal Advisory Board is responsible for advising the Director on programming and fundraising. Members are invited to propose ideas for new events and fundraising opportunities, and may be called upon to host events when required. Members are expected to attend regular Board meetings (up to three per semester), and to serve on at least two committees per year. Board members should also be active in helping to build partnerships with community organizations.

Section 4.2 External Advisory Board

Section 4.2.1 Appointment

The External Advisory Board comprises scholars and community members with established interests and knowledge in the Humanities, Arts, and interpretive Social Sciences. Members of the External Advisory Board are appointed by the Director for renewable three-year terms. 

Section 4.2.2 Responsibilities

Members of the External Advisory Board will receive an annual report of the Institute’s activities and plans and be invited to discuss it in an annual meeting called by the Director. The Director and Program Coordinator may consult with External Advisory Board members on projects and partnerships based on shared interests, expertise, constituencies, and resources. External Advisory Board members are not responsible for the Institute’s regular programming and operations but are welcome to propose projects or events to be hosted at the HISB; these will be considered for approval by the Director, Program Coordinator, and Internal Advisory Board.

 

ARTICLE V: FACULTY FELLOWSHIPS

Section 5.1 Description

One of HISB’s top priorities is to fund Faculty Research Fellowships, which consist of release from two courses and research funds, in order to complete a significant project.

Section 5.2 Vetting and Selection Process

Applications for Faculty Fellowships are vetted by an ad hoc committee consisting of the Director and three tenured faculty members from across the represented disciplines, who are selected by the Director. The ad hoc Faculty Fellowships Committee strives to make awards across the broad spectrum of humanities, arts and interpretive social science disciplines. The criteria for selecting Fellows must be posted on the HI website. The Director will be a non-voting member.

Section 5.3 Other Funding Opportunities 

In addition, Selection Committees will be chosen from the Advisory Board for the other fellowships that HISB supports, such as the Public Humanities Graduate Fellowships funded by the New York Council for the Humanities, and the Cornell School for Critical Theory Summer Fellowships.

 

ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS

Section 6.1 Proposing Amendments

Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by any member of the Internal Advisory Board or by the Director or Associate Director.

Section 6.2 Circulating Proposed Amendments

The Director must circulate proposed amendments to the Internal Advisory Board via email at least one week before a meeting.

Section 6.3 Approval of Amendments

Amendments must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Internal Advisory Board members present at a meeting on Zoom and in-person. Votes are cast during the meeting; proxy votes on amendments are not allowed. Amendments go into effect immediately upon their approval.

 

ARTICLE VII: COMPATIBILITY

These bylaws are compatible with and subordinate to the College of Arts and Sciences bylaws, Stony Brook University’s bylaws, and the authority and policies of the Trustees of the State University of New York.

 

ARTICLE VIII: PUBLIC NOTICE

These bylaws and all amendments must be posted on the HISB website.

 

(Adapted from SUNY Buffalo Humanities Institute 2014. Revised 2026.)