CDRH Governance Document

Text updated November 2024. Converted from a PDF file to web page November 2026.

Original Title: CDRH Governance Document of the Center for Digital Research in the Humanities University of Nebraska – Lincoln
 

The Center is administratively responsible to the Dean of the University Libraries and to the Dean of Arts and Sciences at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Center for Digital Research in the Humanities serves the humanities across the entire University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Section 1. CDRH Fellows

CDRH Fellows shall include UNL faculty and managerial/professional staff whose main focus of scholarship in the disciplines is related to digital humanities or is expressed through digital means. Fellows are expected to engage in innovative digital scholarship, explore research questions that engage technologies, and conduct original, substantive scholarship that will attract grant funding and/or recognition for the University and the Center. Fellows are elected by a majority of the existing Fellows and will hold the position for 5 years (renewable). 

Responsibilities

CDRH Fellows are expected to support the work of the CDRH through consistent attendance at meetings and through service activities such as committee membership and leadership. Fellows are also expected to present to international, national, state, and/or local groups on digital humanities; serve on committees for professional digital humanities associations when appropriate; and provide advisory service to on-campus and off-campus groups or programs. Fellows will be expected to support student learning opportunities in digital humanities and may contribute to the DH Undergraduate Minor curriculum and/or the DH Graduate Certificate program. Fellows will also be expected to present their work periodically to Center members and maintain an active research agenda and/or active teaching agenda in digital humanities. Fellows will participate in the governance of and strategic vision for the Center by advising the Co-Directors and acting to advance the Center's mission through their respective departments. Fellows have the opportunity to request resources through the Center to fund activities that support and contribute to the intellectual life and visibility of the CDRH. Center facilities will be made available for use by Fellows, and Center Directors may provide Fellows with staff support on a negotiated basis. Fellows can arrange for consultations with Center Co-Directors or staff about grant- and budget-writing support, as resources allow. Fellows will be listed on the CDRH website and will have the opportunity to share in the intellectual life of the Center, nominate and vote on new Fellows, and vote on the renewal of Fellows.

Governance

In addition to the responsibilities outlined above, CDRH Fellows also bear a responsibility for self-governance. A Chair of the CDRH Fellows will be elected by the Fellows once every two years and will serve for no more than two consecutive terms. The Chair has the responsibility for convening an annual meeting of the Fellows as well as additional meetings as needed. The Chair of the CDRH Fellows is also responsible for coordinating the functions (e.g., Fellows nominations and voting, committee membership) of the Fellows and will serve as the Center Fellows representative to the Center Directors.

Procedures

Prospective CDRH Fellows may either submit an application directly to the Chair of the Fellows for consideration by the existing Fellows or be nominated by an existing Fellow. Applications should include a current CV and a 2-page statement of interest. The process for CDRH Fellow renewal is the same. All applications and nominations will be considered and voted on by existing Fellows, the Directors, and Associate Director on a regularly announced schedule. The quality and consistency of engagement with digital humanities research, teaching, and service will be the primary considerations in the evaluation of applications and nominations.

Section 1. Affiliates

CDRH Affiliates shall include faculty and staff members who 1) have significant involvement with a CDRH-maintained digital project; or 2) have an interest in the intersection of digital methods with humanities disciplines; or 3) hold an administrative appointment that involves work with the CDRH, either on specific projects or in an advisory capacity. Affiliates are encouraged to attend CDRH functions, but are not required to attend meetings, participate in committees or CDRH governance, or share in the other responsibilities of CDRH Fellows. Affiliates may be self-nominated or nominated by CDRH Directors, Fellows, and Staff. Nominations should be made to the Associate Director(s), and Affiliate status will be determined by a vote of the Directors, Fellows, and Staff. Affiliates interested in expanding their involvement with the CDRH are eligible to become CDRH Fellows upon completing the process described in Article IV, Section 1c.

Section 1. Establishment

The Center Co-Directors in consultation with the Fellows may establish an Advisory Board. 

Section 2. Composition

The Advisory Board comprises five individuals from external institutions, who serve in a consultative role to help the Center advance its mission. Advisory Board members should be in positions comparable to the level of director or associate director of a digital humanities or digital scholarship center or in a similar leadership position for a relevant center, program, project, initiative, or other organization. Advisory Board members will be determined by the Directors in consultation with the CDRH Fellows and Center Staff. Advisory Board members serve terms of three years each, with the potential for successive terms upon agreement of the Directors in consultation with the CDRH Fellows.

Section 3. Responsibilities

The Advisory Board provides advice to the Directors and/or Associate Director (at the request of the Directors) regarding strategic directions, potential collaborations and exchanges, trends, and other related matters.

Section 1. Projects Committee

Composition

The Projects Committee will be comprised of the Directors, Associate Director, three CDRH Fellows, and one or more members of the Center Staff. With the exception of the Directors and Associate Director, who will each have a continuous appointment, all members will serve two-year terms. CDRH Fellows will be appointed by a vote of the Fellows, with the Staff member appointed by the Directors in consultation with the Staff. 

Responsibilities

The Projects Committee will develop and make available criteria for evaluating proposed Center projects. This group will discuss proposed new projects, recommend projects for Center adoption, and recommend projects for archiving. The committee will evaluate new projects on scholarly content, technical strength, and alignment with Center values. Additional Center Staff will be consulted as needed to help evaluate metadata, server maintenance, and other technical issues.

Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees

Ad Hoc Committees shall be established as deemed necessary by the Directors, CDRH Fellows, and Center Staff. Ad hoc committees will be created to help plan for the Nebraska Forum on Digital Humanities and other CDRH-sponsored events.

The bylaws of the Center should be sent to CDRH members for review at least every five years and may be changed by a vote of at least two-thirds of the Fellows, Staff, and Directors present at a regularly scheduled Center meeting.