August 12, 2008
Amended February 2025

Bylaws of the Center for European and Eurasian Studies*
Michigan State University

1.0  Statement of Purpose

The Center for European and Eurasian Studies (the Center) is a voluntary  association of faculty members from many academic departments. Its primary objectives are:

a. to facilitate and coordinate teaching and research about Europe, Russia, and Eurasia and to support the strengthening of the University library;

b. to stimulate communication among scholars and students who are interested in the area;

c. to support the dissemination of knowledge about the area;

d. to serve as a resource in matters relating to the areas for all members of the Michigan State University community, as well as for civic organizations and other groups in communities throughout Michigan.

2.0. Organization

2.1 Linkage. The Center for European and Eurasian Studies is responsible within the University structure to the Dean of International Studies and Programs, who provides the annual budget for the Center, as well as to the deans of the colleges from which the core faculty and courses for the undergraduate minor in European Studies and the undergraduate minor in Russian and Eurasian Studies are drawn.

2.2 Undergraduate Minors. The undergraduate minor in European Studies is processed by the Office of the Dean of James Madison College. The undergraduate minor in Russian and Eurasian Studies is processed by the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. The Director of the Center will ensure that the appropriate supporting materials are provided to the relevant deans or their designees for final certification of completion of  the minors. The Director will ensure that the students who are candidates for minors receive appropriate guidance on the requirements and the relevant course offerings.

2.3 Faculty Advisory Committee. The Faculty Advisory Committee (FAC) will consist of five faculty members representing at least three different academic departments. Every spring, the Director will solicit nominations and self-nominations from among the core  faculty. From among those nominated, two members will be elected by the core faculty to serve for two-year staggered terms on the FAC. The fifth member of the FAC will be selected by the Director to a one-year term in order to ensure, as much as possible, diversity (gender, racial, ethnic, disciplinary, MSU units, academic rank) of membership. The FAC will meet regularly to advise the Director of the Center in all major policy decisions. Elections will be held in the spring semester of every year, with terms to begin in the following fall semester. In cases when a member of the FAC must resign, the Director will appoint a replacement until the next annual election. Elected representatives may serve no more than two consecutive terms; appointed members may serve no more than one consecutive term.

2.4 Membership Meeting. CEES will hold meetings of the core faculty at least twice a year to discuss the Center’s work and offer feedback to the Center’s leadership.

2.5 Core Faculty. The core faculty shall consist of faculty of Michigan State University holding the rank of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, librarian, visiting professor, and adjunct professor, and any of the previously-listed ranks holding emeritus status, who have a continuing professional focus on the study of Europe, Russia or Eurasia. Any qualified faculty member may be admitted to membership to the core faculty upon request or nomination, and by approval of the FAC. Each core faculty member shall have a vote in the deliberations of regularly called faculty meetings. The core faculty should support the Center’s activities and programs and assist in developing and implementing programs and activities. In order to facilitate these services, the resources of the Center shall be put at the disposal of the core faculty.

2.6 Student Constituency. Any student enrolled at Michigan State University is a member of the student constituency of the European and Eurasian Studies Program who

a. is enrolled in a CEES undergraduate minor program, or

b. has successfully completed four courses in the core curriculum, or

c. is engaged in research concerning Europe, Russia, or Eurasia for an M.A. thesis or Ph.D. dissertation.

d. holds a fellowship relevant to Europe, Russian, or Eurasian studies.

e. is a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at MSU who has otherwise demonstrated clear interest and expertise in the region and has been nominated by a core faculty member of the Center in consultation with the Director.

3.0 The Director and Associate Director. In all voting matters at core faculty meetings, the Director and Associate Director serve ex officio and are not voting members.

3.1. Duties of the Director

3.1.1 The Director shall be the administrative head of the Center in accordance with current University Bylaws.

3.1.2. The Director shall be responsible for the program and long-range planning for the instructional, research, and service goals of the Center.

3.1.3 The Director shall represent the Center, or designate a representative, at important national, regional, or local conferences on Center-related concerns.

3.1.4 The Director shall make policy decisions (e. g., those involving budget and teaching curriculum, assistantships, and personnel changes) in consultation with the Center’s FAC and the Dean of ISP.

3.1.5 The Director shall make an annual report on Center budget, activities, and accomplishments to the Center’s FAC.

3.1.6 The Director may appoint ad-hoc committees of Center faculty members as needed.

3.2 Selection and Review of the Director.

3.2.1 The Director shall be subject to regular review at intervals not to exceed five years. The Dean of ISP, in consultation with the Center’s FAC, shall establish procedures for the review. The review committee shall include members of the Center’s FAC and the Core Faculty.

3.2.2 When a new Director must be chosen, the Search and Rating Committee appointed by the Dean of ISP shall include members from the CEES FAC, core faculty and Center-affiliated student representatives.

3.3. Duties of the Associate Director. 

The Associate Director will report directly to the Director of CEES and work collaboratively with the regional and thematic studies centers and colleges. While specific duties and focus are subject to change as ISP’s strategic directions evolve, core efforts will focus on:

• Contributing to institutional capacity building for engagement in the CEES region in alignment with ISP strategic framework.
• Promoting opportunities for proposal development and submission in coordination with units across campus.
• Providing support and advocacy in European, Russian and Eurasian studies with awareness of and support for global diversity, equity and inclusion.
• Working with MSU faculty to develop new and enhance existing curricula that foster international competencies, interest in and knowledge of the CEES region.
• Developing and supporting international partnership initiatives in line with MSU ISP priorities in teaching, scholarship and outreach.
• Developing new programming initiatives to enhance opportunities for MSU faculty, staff and students with interest and collaborations in CEES region.

3.4. Selection and Review of the Associate Director.

3.4.1. The Associate Director appointments will be for a period of two years and will be contingent upon successful annual performance reviews.

3.4.2. Subsequent renewals will be possible if deemed mutually beneficial.

3.4.3. The Associate Director shall be subject to regular annual review. The Director of CEES in consultation with the Center’s FAC, shall establish procedures for the review.

3.4.4. When a new Associate Director must be chosen, the Search and Rating Committee appointed by the Director of CEES shall include members from the FAC and CEES core faculty.

4.0 Amendments.
Amendments to these bylaws shall be made by a majority affirmative vote of all the Center’s core faculty members who cast a vote. Proposed amendments will be distributed electronically no later than two weeks before the meeting at which they will be introduced. All Center voting will be done electronically; Voting will end one week after initial distribution of the electronic ballot.

* In Spring 2025, the name of the Center was changed from "Center for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies" to "Center for European and Eurasian Studies". The present copy of the bylaws reflect this change as well as the change of the corresponding acronym from CERES to CEES.