1. Purpose

The mission of the Coastal & Marine Institute is to study processes that affect the coastal and marine environment, to educate students and the public, and to provide advice on the wise use and management of natural resources.

1.1 The primary goals of the Coastal & Marine Institute are

• to conduct original research on coastal and marine problems
• to support SDSU curricula and course work in coastal and marine studies
• to apply research results to help solve coastal and marine problems
• to support public outreach programs, through public lectures, workshops, etc.

1.2 The Functions of the Coastal & Marine Institute are

• to promote and facilitate research (including interactions with Sea Grant and other research programs)
• to promote and coordinate SDSU's coastal and marine curriculum
• to coordinate the scheduling of classes by departments that offer coastal and marine-related courses at SDSU or the SDSU Marine Laboratory on San Diego Bay (a research and educational facility planned by SDSU and the Metropolitan Waste Water District)
• to recruit and advise students on campus
• to operate coastal and marine facilities (e.g. maintain laboratory equipment, sea water systems, etc.)

It is not the intent of the Coastal & Marine Institute to subsidize private consulting or work for hire that is not done through University channels.

1.3 Objectives within each goal:

1.3.1 to conduct original research on coastal and marine problems

• to advance knowledge of coastal and marine plants, animals, and microorganisms
• to advance understanding of estuaries, coastal wetlands, and the ocean
• to encourage research on the archaeological, economic and oceanographic features of the coast and ocean
• to house scientists conducting research projects related to institute goals
• to provide laboratory facilities and other logistical resources for studies that require access to sea water
• to use the SDSU Marine Laboratory on San Diego Bay as a model for developing additional laboratory facilities for related areas of coastal and marine research
• to facilitate collaborative research among Coastal & Marine Institute and Metropolitan Wastewater District scientists
• to identify opportunities for support of continued and expanded research programs and to stimulate the development of proposals for research funding
• to provide facilities for visiting investigators who are working with Coastal & Marine Institute scientists
• to facilitate long-term studies

1.3.2 to support SDSU curricula and coursework in coastal and marine studies

• to advise SDSU students on curricula and coursework in coastal and marine sciences
• to develop and strengthen SDSU coursework in coastal and marine science, especially through research experience
• to provide logistical support for class field trips (e.g. boats) and laboratory exercises (e.g., boats, aquaria space, holding tanks, etc., for the collector of marine organisms at SDSU)
• to provide laboratory facilities for graduate thesis and undergraduate research of SDSU students

  1.3.3 to apply research results to help solve coastal and marine environmental problems (e.g. by making new information available to public resource agencies)

1.3.4 to support public outreach programs, through public lectures, workshops

2. Membership

2.1 Categories of Membership

Full Members: Scientists holding tenured or tenure-track faculty or staff scientist appointments in an academic department at San Diego State University who have demonstrated an interest in coastal or marine science are eligible for full membership. Full members have voting privileges, may run for office, be Principal Investigators for research projects, and sponsor Associate Members.

Associate Members: This category is available to SDSU adjunct faculty, Post-Doctoral Fellows, Coastal & Marine Institute Research Scientists (see 2.3.1) and Coastal & Marine Institute Research Associates (see 2.3.2), and SDSU lecturers (see 2.3.3), who are sponsored by a Full Member of the Coastal & Marine Institute. Associate members attend meetings and advise the Coastal & Marine Institute, but are not eligible to vote or hold office.

2.2 Application for Membership

Charter members will be drawn from the Coastal Institute Committee and the Center for Marine Studies; their applications will be reviewed by the Marine Sciences Committee, which has been appointed by the Dean of the College of Sciences. Thereafter, applications for both Full and Associate Membership will be made to the Coastal & Marine Institute Director. The criteria for membership shall be demonstrated interest in coastal and marine research. Applications will be ratified by the Advisory Council (see 3.2). Applications for Associate Membership must include a sponsor who is a Full Member (see 2.3).

2.3 Sponsorship of Associate Members

Associate Membership or use of facilities requires sponsorship by a Full Member, who must agree to share resources with the associate. The Sponsor shall be responsible for the Associate Member's appropriate use of resources and facilities.

Because of the multidisciplinary nature of coastal and marine research, Coastal & Marine Institute members will frequently recruit researchers to fill non-tenure-track positions associated with funded projects. These researchers are invited to apply for Associate Membership in the Coastal & Marine Institute.

Personnel eligible for Associate Membership include the following:

2.3.1 Research Scientists: Individuals who have a Ph.D. and demonstrated research interests in the coastal and/or marine sciences.

2.3.2 Research Associates: Individuals who have a Master's degree or equivalent experience and demonstrated research interest in one of the coastal or marine sciences or technical skills appropriate for coastal/marine research.

2.3.3 Lecturers: Individuals who wish to use Coastal & Marine Institute facilities for teaching.

3. Organizational Structure

3.1 Director: has responsibility for Coastal & Marine Institute activities (see 3.1.2); serves the faculty at the lab and on campus; maintains an active research program; insures that facilities and equipment proposals are submitted and will be the Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on such proposals. The Director shall report to the Dean of the College of Sciences at SDSU and will be subject to a regular three-year review.

3.1.1 Appointment

A search for a Director will be initiated by the Advisory Council and an appropriate departmental search committee as soon as possible. The Dean will be provided with recommendations for appointing the Director. An interim Director will be appointed by the Dean of the College of Sciences for a one-year term from among candidates recommended by the Coastal & Marine Institute Full Membership.

3.1.2 Responsibilities

a.  Provides scientific leadership for the membership; is responsible for science policy at the laboratory proposed for Mission Bay
b.  Serves as non-voting chair of the Advisory Council
c.  Establishes policies and procedures in consultation with the Advisory Council
d.  Supervises the administrative and technical staff of the Coastal & Marine Institute (lab manager, staff scientists, campus advisor, visiting scientists); makes appointments as indicated herein
e.  Develops and administers an annual budget
f.  Manages Coastal & Marine Institute operations and facilities
g.  Prepares and submits a written annual report to the Dean of the College of Sciences
h.  Serves as spokesperson for the Coastal & Marine Institute

3.2 Advisory Council

3.2.1 Composition

The Advisory Council shall consist of six to nine Full Members of the Coastal & Marine Institute representing at least three Departments and at least two Colleges to insure breadth. Three members will be elected from the membership at-large and will be considered elected if they receive the most votes and fulfill the breadth requirements. Their three-year terms shall be staggered to provide overlap of members from year to year. Three of the Advisory Council members will be the Chairs of the Research Facilitation, Facilities Operation and Curriculum Oversight committees. These three committees will be formed from among member volunteers and/or recommendations by the Director and ratified by the membership. The Chairs will be elected by their respective committee members. The Advisory Council also will include the Campus Advisor, the Sea Grant Committee Representative, and the Ocean Studies Institute Representative. These will be appointed to a three-year term by the Coastal & Marine Institute Director and ratified by the membership. The Coastal & Marine Institute Director will serve as a non-voting Chair of the Advisory Council. At-large seats on the Advisory Council that are vacated before the term of office expires will be filled by appointment of the Coastal & Marine Institute Director.

3.2.2 Responsibilities

The Advisory Council advises the Director and guides the operation of the Coastal & Marine Institute. It shall be responsible for developing and reviewing policies and procedures; for considering issues presented by the Dean, and other SDSU entities; and contributing to the long-term scientific planning process of the Coastal & Marine Institute. Any member may request to record a vote on significant issues; a permanent record will be kept on Council advice.

The Advisory Council will meet at least once per semester. A meeting may be called at any time by a majority request of the Council or on request of the Director.

The same person may fulfill one or more of the following positions.

3.3 Sea Grant Committee Representative: One Coastal & Marine Institute Full Member sits on the California Sea Grant Committee and serves as the Calif. Sea Grant campus contact (this need not be the Coastal & Marine Institute Director). This person is recommended by the Coastal & Marine Institute Director and approved by the California Sea Grant Director. The term is 3 years, with reappointment possible.

3.4 Ocean Studies Institute Primary Academic Representative: One Coastal & Marine Institute Full Member represents SDSU on the Ocean Studies Institute. The SDSU President or a designee appoints this representative.

3.5 Curriculum Coordinator: The Curriculum Coordinator advises and assists the Coastal & Marine Institute Director in curriculum matters by scheduling and negotiating staffing of courses with an oceanography designation; insuring the regular offering of coastal and marine courses in relevant departments; representing the Coastal & Marine Institute in the development and approval by departmental, college and university committees of new coastal and marine courses and curricula.

3.6 Campus Advisor: One person advises students on marine and coastal science programs, helps attract students to marine and coastal science programs, and holds office hours at SDSU. This individual may be drawn from any of the departments involved in marine and coastal research and education. The Advisor is recommended by the Coastal & Marine Institute Director and endorsed by the Advisory Council.

4. Modification of By-Laws

Proposed changes or amendments to the by-laws shall be submitted to the Advisory Council. The Council will decide if the proposed changes merit a ballot of the full membership. Such changes will be submitted to the Full Members, and a two-thirds majority vote (of those voting) will ratify the amendment.

5. Coastal & Marine Institute Facilities

A major responsibility of the Coastal & Marine Institute is to establish and maintain marine and coastal research facilities at the SDSU Marine Laboratory on San Diego Bay. These facilities will support and enhance marine and coastal research and provide instructional laboratories and educational opportunities in the marine sciences. The goal is to have resources that are carefully managed, thus insuring their continuous, long-term availability to support marine and coastal science at SDSU.

The existing and planned facilities consist of the following:

5.1 Marine Field Stations including the teaching and research facilities at the proposed SDSU Marine Laboratory on San Diego Bay and the SDSU Biological Field Station facilities at Tijuana River Estuary.

5.2 Analytical Facilities to include a fully equipped analytical lab with vent hoods and equipment such as TOC and CHN analyzers, and gel electrophoresis equipment.

5.3 Oceanographic Sampling Equipment to include such things as in situ acoustic recording equipment, remote operated photography equipment, CTD recorders, etc.

5.4 Fresh/saltwater wetland mesocosms greenhouses and artificial wetlands facility planned for the SDSU Marine Laboratory on San Diego Bay.

5.5 Seawater System including indoor and outdoor seawater tables, hatchery tanks and simulated tidal mesocosms.

5.6 Research vessels including three 18' Parkers, two 17' Boston Whalers and one Nautique dive boat.

5.7 Diving Locker including a high pressure compressor, fill station and dive gear locker.

5.8 Teaching Classroom and Teaching Lab Facilities to include a seawater equipped teaching classroom and laboratory located at the SDSU Marine Laboratory on San Diego Bay.

Last Revised 3/6/00