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Program board - Master in Visual Cultural Studies

Minutes from the Program board meeting

PROGRAM BOARD AT VKS Professor Lisbet Holtedahl, leader Professor Trond Thuen Associate professor Anne Britt Flemmen (on sabbatical in 2006) Associate professor Trond Waage Associate professor Gry Paulgaard Technical Supervisor Marit Gjertsen Assistant Professor Bjørn Arntsen Dieudonne Ndanga (student representative) Kristin Sælen Hammerås,(student representative) Mayvi Johansen (observer) Senior Executive Officer Gøril Skotnes (secretary) on leave of absence until 1. October 2007 General responsibilities: The programme board of VCS is responsible for the running of the master’s course, including decisions concerning staff resources and the use of external funding.  The work tasks of the programme board: The programme board of Visual Cultural Studies serves a coordinative, advisory and reporting function on behalf of the boards of the institute, the faculty, and the university. The programme board must ensure that the programme operates as a whole and guarantee the thematic organisation of the programme irrespective of any organisational limitations deriving from the institute or faculty. The scope of work of the programme board is:   To advise the faculty on which topics are to be offered in the programme. To make sure that the topics reflect a holistic approach enabling in-depth study. To ensure that the students are taken care of academically and socially. In case the board discovers that any student is neglected or the programme offered lacks the adequate quality, the faculty and the director of the university must be informed. To produce an annual quality report for the programme to be submitted to the faculty. The report should include possible improvements to be taken into account in the planning of the following academic year according to the quality control system of the University of Tromsø. To approve courses taught within the programme and submit proposed changes to the study committee. To approve the programme in general. To undertake selection of new students to the master’s programme. To select supervisors for master students. To make decisions re the budget for the programme itself (including staff specifically appointed to the programme) To approve any external project that involves the use of programme staff and/or other resources coming from VCS. To approve any external funding received by the programme. To approve allocation of funds to cover the running costs of the programme. To be responsible for any projects that are externally funded under the auspices of the VCS. To define work tasks and responsibilities of staff at VCS according to the approved course plans. To propose definition/advertisement of and assessment committee for staff positions at VCS to the board of the institute. To enter into agreements with doctoral students using VCS funds. To enter into agreements with others using funds allocated to VCS.   The programme board may establish a working committee to take care of routine tasks.   PROPOSAL FOR THE COMPOSITION OF THE PROGRAMME BOARD 4 persons from VCS 2 student representatives 1 representative from the Institute of Social Anthropology 2 representatives from other instates/departments of the faculty The head of administration of the Institute of Social Anthropology takes part in board meetings ads an observer. The Study Unit is responsible for secretarial functions.  No positions in particular are to be represented in the board but it is considered apposite that the Head of VCS is one of the four members from VCS.