Section 1. DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS: NOMINATION AND TERMS OF OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATORS
Each department and school shall (1) develop election procedures for nomination of candidates for administrative positions and (2) recommend terms of office for those positions. The nomination(s) shall be forwarded to the president of the university by January 15 of the last year in the term of office.
Section 2. DEPARTMENTS, SCHOOLS, AND DIVISIONS: EVALUATION OF ADMINISTRATORS
- The Provost’s Academic Council in consultation with the Rank and Tenure Committee and Faculty Affairs Committee shall develop and bring to the Faculty Assembly for approval the instruments and procedures to be used in the evaluation process.
- It shall be the responsibility of all faculty with voting rights to evaluate department chairs, associate deans, deans, and directors annually in administrator feedback forms. The administrator feedback forms are to be completed and the results shared with the administrator and their immediate administrative superior by June 15. The provost will also share the results of the administrator feedback forms with the university president by June 15.
- Department chairs, associate deans, and directors are reviewed annually by their school or divisional dean, and the reviews will incorporate the results of the administrator feedback forms. Deans are reviewed annually by the provost and the reviews will incorporate the results. By September 1, a draft of the review is to be shared with the administrator being reviewed. By September 15, the administrator being reviewed may offer their response and/or meet with their immediate administrative superior. By September 30, the final review is due in the Office of the Provost.
Section 3. JOB DESCRIPTION FOR DIVISIONAL AND SCHOOL DEANS
- Provide leadership for and supervise the academic programs of the division/school.
- Provide reports essential for effective administration of the division/school and its academic programs.
- Establish and recommend the budget of the division/school.
- Recommend and supervise department, program, and school budgets.
- Make recommendations for faculty appointments, promotions, salaries, sabbatical and special leaves, and oversee or write required faculty evaluations.
- Make recommendations for undergraduate and graduate student awards.
- Encourage and facilitate the professional growth and teaching competency of the faculty.
- Support academic leadership and collaboration among department, program, and school administrators.
- Support the development and competency of the staff of the departments, division, and school.
- Advance the financial support base of the programs and facilities of the division/school.
- Work cooperatively with the other deans to foster the liberal arts and their integration with major and professional degree curricula.
Section 4. DEPARTMENTAL CHAIRS AND PROGRAM DIRECTORS
- Departmental Chairs. Departmental chairs have planning, management, and leadership responsibilities that include the following: departmental governance, instructional supervision, faculty affairs, student affairs, external communication, fiscal management, office management, and departmental development. While chairs are recognized as having duties spread across 12 months, the workload is generally equivalent to 10 months. Recommended by their colleagues but appointed by the president and the Board of Regents, chairs serve the faculty and the institution, a dual responsibility. They report, administratively, to their respective deans. Departments, if they wish, and in consultation with their deans and the provost, may amplify this job description so that it meets specific departmental conditions.
- The annual contractual term of service for departmental chairs is the 10-month period September 1 – June 30. Compensation for the chair during this 10-month period shall consist of two parts: a) a course load release during the academic year (September 1 – May 31) at a level to be determined in consultation with the provost, and b) in addition to their regular faculty contract, a 10-month service agreement carrying with it a stipend to be paid over those 10 months. In some cases, and as a consequence of the release time provided to the chair, departments may need additional funds to maintain their teaching schedules. Requests for such funds to meet the needs caused by the chair release time should be submitted annually to the provost by February 15 for the following academic year.
- Interdisciplinary Program directors and chairs have duties that are unique to each program and the scope of duties varies considerably among the programs. For selected programs, the position of director or chair carries with it a course release during the academic year at a level to be determined in consultation with the provost. For selected programs additional compensation may be considered as well.