By-Laws

ARTICLE I. Name, Purpose, and Areas of Focus

Section 1. Name

This council shall be Council for Academic Technology and Innovative Education (CATIE) representing The Texas A&M University System.

Section 2. Purpose

The purpose of CATIE is to support the educational mission of the system members in matters related to technology use in the design, development, delivery, and assessment of courses and programs, and to advise the VCAA on such matters. The CATIE members provide collaborative strategic direction, guidance, and recommendations on technology-enriched teaching, learning, and assessment initiatives that present a continuum. This continuum begins in the classroom with learning space design and classroom technologies and expands to encompass new environments and emerging trends.

CATIE works in close collaboration with other System-level councils and committees to ensure academic technology needs are met throughout the System.

Section 3. Areas of focus

Areas of focus for the Council include, but are not limited to:

  • Teaching and learning technologies
  • Policies, rules, and regulations governing the use of technology within the academic environment
  • Quality assurance, integrity and compliance in the use of technology in teaching and learning
  • Collaboration to leverage resources
  • Emerging and innovative trends and best practices for using academic technologies to advance the TAMUS goals
  • Professional development for faculty and staff in academic technology
ARTICLE II. Membership Structure and Distribution

Section 1. Membership Structure and Selection

The complex and unique nature of academic technology requires cooperation and consultation from various segments of the A&M System community–instructional technology, information systems and services, and academic affairs.

As the academic technology domain is dynamic, CATIE will have a flexible structure to respond to System initiatives and issues at hand. To that extent, membership is extended to include representatives with expertise in various areas to work on task forces and/or committees as needed.

Ideal CATIE members are:

  • Academic leaders (e.g. Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Deans) overseeing academic technology operations
  • Directors of Distance Learning and/or Instructional Technology
  • Faculty members with proven record of innovative use of technology in teaching
  • Professionals in charge of technology-based training and outreach

Chief Academic Officers (CAO) or Directors of A&M System members appoint CATIE members representing their institutions. CATIE members are appointed for three years with possibility of re-appointment.

Any changes in membership will be communicated to the VCAA by the respective A&M System members.

Section 2. Membership Distribution

The Council is composed of representatives from the A&M System academic institutions and the agencies. Due to the diversity of the size and function of the A&M System, voting seats are allocated to each member as described below. Each A&M System university will have two voting seats on the council. The current list of universities is:

  • Prairie View A&M University
  • Tarleton State University
  • Texas A&M International University
  • Texas A&M University-Central Texas
  • Texas A&M University – College Station
  • Texas A&M University-Commerce
  • Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
  • Texas A&M University-Kingsville
  • Texas A&M University-San Antonio
  • Texas A&M University-Texarkana
  • West Texas A&M University

A&M branch campuses and agencies will have one voting member.  The current list is:

  • A&M System Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
  • Texas A&M AgriLife Research
  • Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station
  • Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service
  • Texas A&M Forest Service
  • Texas A&M Health Science Center
  • Texas A&M Qatar
  • Texas A&M School of Law
  • Texas A&M Transportation Institute
  • Texas A&M University at Galveston
  • Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory

In addition, the following individuals or their designees serve as ex-officios on the Council:

  • TAMUS Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs (VCAA)
  • A&M System Liaison to CATIE
  • TAMUS Chief Information Officer
ARTICLE III. Committee, Officers and Duties

Section 1. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (EC) is the governing body of CATIE serving as an advocate for the broader field of academic instruction and emerging technologies. The EC provides leadership, determines priorities, creates task forces and committees to address issues, propose solutions and communicate recommendations and decisions to VCAA and constituents.

EC is composed of eight members who have served at least one year on CATIE. EC is elected by CATIE membership. CATIE members elect the EC for a two-year term with rotating terms of service. In addition, a student member selected from the Chancellor’s Student Advisory Council will serve for a one-year appointment.

EC has two officers:

  • Chair
  • Vice Chair

From among the elected EC members, VCAA appoints the Chair and Vice Chair.

Section 2. Officer Duties

CATIE officers serve in an executive capacity to identify system initiatives, to coordinate and facilitate CATIE meetings and events, to communicate the needs and concerns of members and make formal recommendations of decisions to VCAA. The Chair represents CATIE in the TAMU System IT Governance structure and attends A&M System meetings, as appropriate.

Section 2.1 System Liaison Duties

System liaison keeps records of all membership, executive committee and general membership meetings, and activities.

Section 3. Quorum

A fifty percent plus one of the voting membership establishes a quorum for all CATIE general and EC meetings.

ARTICLE IV. Meetings

Section 1. Membership Meetings

CATIE membership shall meet no fewer than twice a year via face-to-face, audio conference, teleconference, web conference or any combination thereof.

Section 2. Executive Committee Meetings

The CATIE Executive Committee shall meet no fewer than once each long semester and in the summer via face-to-face, audio conference, teleconference, web conference or any combination thereof.

Section 3. Task Force Meetings

CATIE committees and task forces meet as needed via face-to-face, audio conference, teleconference, web conference or any combination thereof.

Section 4. Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Executive Committee and/or membership may be held as called by the Executive Committee chair and/or the VCAA.

Section 5. Annual Academic Technology Summit

CATIE partners with other System institutions, agencies and/or external organizations to hold an annual summit on academic technology. The summit focuses on the issues identified by the A&M System members and to generate recommendations, action plans, and solutions.