Faculty Bylaws and Tenure Regulations

300.010 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 19:52:24 +0000

300.010 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 19:52

Bd. Min. 11-22-74; Amended Bd. Min. 2-15-80 and 4-25-80; Amended Bd. Min. 1-31-91; 6-6-08; Amended 6-17-11; Amended 4-12-13; Amended 4-22-21; Amended 2-9-23.

The Faculty Bylaws for the University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia as approved by the faculty on November 14, 1974 (a copy of which is on file with the Secretary), be approved, subject to the following:
1. That the Bylaws are subject to all rules and regulations of the Board of Curators.
2. That any amendment of the Bylaws shall be submitted to the Board of Curators for approval before becoming effective.
3. This action be printed as part of the printed Bylaws.
Membership -- The University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia* faculty shall consist of the president, chancellor, all persons with regular academic appointments, and all full-time, ranked non-tenure track (NTT) faculty as defined in CRR 310.035.B. Campus-wide faculty votes on issues specific to tenure or tenured/tenure track (T/TT) faculty will be restricted to T/TT faculty.
*(Hereafter referred to as UMC. Also, when "faculty" is used alone, it is meant to refer to the UMC faculty, unless otherwise specified.)
Faculty Rights, Ethics, Responsibilities and Authority
1. Rights
  1. Academic Rights -- Faculty members have the right to freedom of inquiry, discourse, research, publication and teaching. These rights are accompanied by their correlative responsibilities as noted in 300.010.C.1 and C.2 in this section (Also Ref: Sections 310.010-310.070).
  2. Civil Rights -- Faculty members do not relinquish any of their constitutional rights by virtue of employment with the University of ��ӰԺ (Ref: Sections 330.020, 330.030 and 90.050).
  3. Employment Rights -- Faculty members have rights consistent with their continuous appointment or term appointment. These include the right to be notified as early as possible of their appointments and conditions of contract renewal (Ref: Sections 310.010-310.070).
  4. Right to be Kept Informed -- The faculty has the right to be informed of actions and activities of committees and executive officers of the campus and of the University-wide system, including those related to budget matters, as well as decisions of other bodies which affect UMC. Where possible, this information shall be made available to the faculty before being made available to the general public.
2. Professional Ethics and Academic Responsibilities -- The faculty member, guided by a deep conviction of the worth and dignity of the advancement of knowledge, recognizes the special responsibilities placed upon them. The faculty member's primary responsibility to their subject is to seek and to state the truth as the faculty member sees it. To this end the faculty member devotes their energies to developing and improving their scholarly competence. The faculty member accepts the obligation to exercise critical self-discipline and judgment in using, extending and transmitting knowledge. The faculty member practices intellectual honesty. Although the faculty member may follow subsidiary interests, these interests must never seriously hamper or compromise their freedom of inquiry.
  1. As a teacher, the faculty member encourages the free pursuit of learning in their students. The faculty member holds before them the best scholarly standards of the faculty member's discipline. The faculty member demonstrates respect for the student as an individual, and adheres to their proper role as intellectual guide and counselor. The faculty member makes every reasonable effort to foster honest academic conduct and to assure that their evaluation of students reflects their true merit. The faculty member respects the confidential nature of the relationship between faculty member and student. The faculty member avoids any exploitation of students for the faculty member's private advantage and acknowledges significant assistance from them. The faculty member protects students' academic freedom.
  2. As a colleague, the faculty member has obligations that derive from common membership in the community for scholars. The faculty member respects and defends the free inquiry of their associates. In the exchange of criticism and ideas the faculty member shows due respect for the opinions of others. The faculty member acknowledges their academic debts and strives to be objective in their professional judgment of colleagues. The faculty member accepts their share of faculty responsibilities for the governance of their institution.
  3. As a member of their institution, the faculty member seeks above all to be an effective teacher and scholar. Although the faculty member observes the stated regulations of the institution, provided they do not contravene academic freedom, the faculty member maintains their right to criticize and seek revision. The faculty member determines the amount and character of the work they do outside their institution with due regard to their paramount responsibilities within it. When considering the interruption or termination of their service, the faculty member recognizes the effect of their decision upon the program of the institution and gives due notice of their intentions.
  4. As a member of their community, the faculty member has the rights and the obligations of any citizen. The faculty member measures the urgency of those obligations in the light of their responsibilities to their subject, to their students, to their profession, and to their institution. When the faculty member speaks or acts as a private person the faculty member avoids creating the impression that they speak or act for their college or university. As a citizen engaged in a profession that depends upon freedom for its health and integrity, the faculty member has a particular obligation for promoting conditions of free inquiry and to further public understanding of academic freedom. Further, the faculty accepts the responsibility of monitoring its own members if accepted standards of professional responsibility are abrogated (Section 300.010.L of these Bylaws).
3. Authority -- The faculty's authority, as delegated by the Board of Curators, is of three types: direct and primary, in which the faculty has essential decision-making authority; shared, in which the faculty participates with others; and advisory, in which the faculty counsels with the person or offices with ultimate decision-making authority. (On those matters requiring multi-campus coordination, the faculty shall act through its appropriate bodies, Section 300.010.F.)
  1. Primary and Direct Authority -- The UMC faculty has essential decision-making authority in matters directly affecting the educational program of UMC, including but not limited to:
    (1) Articulation and maintenance of standards of academic performance -- this includes but is not limited to guidelines for appropriate research, service, and scholarships; requirements for graduation; and related matters.
    (2) Construction and approval of courses of instruction and of curricula.
    (3) Construction and approval of procedures governing educational support programs on the UMC campus.
    (4) Formulation of criteria determining professional standing of faculty - including but not limited to such matters as tenure, promotion, termination, guidelines for responsibility, faculty standing with regard to graduate faculty membership and doctoral dissertation supervision.
    (5) Determination of an appropriate faculty committee structure.
    (6) Determination of minimum admission requirements.
    (7) Selection of awardees for academic scholarships.
  2. Shared Authority -- The UMC faculty has shared authority by which it participates cooperatively with other persons or offices in matters such as:
    (1) Development and articulation of students' rights and responsibilities.
    (2) Determination of an appropriate academic calendar.
    (3) Selection of awardees for honorary degrees.
    (4) Application of criteria affecting professional standing of faculty.
  3. Advisory Authority -- The UMC faculty has advisory authority and responsibility with other persons or offices in matters such as:
    (1) Budget and resource allocation.
    (2) Planning, including capital expenditures and physical facilities.
    (3) Selection of departmental, divisional, campus, and university-level administrators.
    (4) Determination of the campus standing committee structure.
    (5) Development and implementation of general business procedures which facilitate academic program excellence.
    (6) Use of facilities for program activities.
    (7) Application of criteria affecting promotion, tenure and termination.
  4. Faculty Delegation of Authority -- The faculty, recognizing that handling matters through meetings of the faculty is cumbersome, that attendance at such meetings varies, and that it is often difficult to have complete discussion of issues at such meetings, may delegate its authority to the Faculty Council. Such delegation, if made, shall be in accord with and subject to the following provisions:
    (1) The delegation shall be made by majority vote of the faculty by mail ballot or at a regular meeting of the faculty. The delegation may be for a specific period (not less than one academic year) or for an indefinite period. However, the delegation may be withdrawn at any time by specific action of the Faculty.
    (2) The delegation shall not prevent the calling of meetings of the faculty under the provisions of Section 300.010.C. Regular meetings of the faculty shall be held at least once a semester.
    (3) The delegation shall give the Faculty Council authority to act for the faculty and, except as provided below, to take such actions as the faculty could take.
    (a) This authority shall include but not be limited to:
    Proposing revisions of the Bylaws to be submitted to the faculty for adoption.
    
    Referring any matter to the faculty either by calling a meeting of the faculty or by mail ballot.
    
    Appointing special committees (whose members need not be members of the Faculty Council) to report to the Faculty Council
    (b) The authority to amend these Bylaws is not delegated.
    (c) The delegation shall not affect the prerogatives of individual faculty members nor of individual faculties.
    (4) Any member of the faculty may request any matter to be placed on the agenda of the Faculty Council and may request to be allowed to appear before the Faculty Council. Such requests may be made either through their representatives or the chairperson of the Faculty Council.
    (5) Meetings of the Faculty Council shall be open to all members of the faculty.
    (6) The actions of the Council, in those areas in which it has delegated authority, shall be deemed final unless challenged within 10 days. Such challenge shall require a petition signed by 25 faculty members from at least three divisions calling for a review by the faculty of a particular council action.
    (7) The Faculty Council shall report its actions to the faculty either at a meeting of the faculty or via the Faculty Council website.
Meetings
1. The faculty shall meet at times determined by it or when called by the chancellor. Upon written request of twenty (20) members of the faculty addressed to the chancellor, a meeting shall be called within fifteen (15) days of receipt by the chancellor.
2. Reasonable notice (preferably one week minimum) shall be given by the chancellor to all members of the faculty of the time and place of all faculty meetings.
3. Fifty (50) members of the faculty representing at least three (3) academic divisions shall constitute a quorum.
4. The agenda for faculty meetings shall be determined jointly by the chairperson of the Faculty Council on UMC Policy and the chancellor.
5. Any item of new business not included on the distributed agenda of a faculty meeting will require either a 50 percent vote of approval of those present to be considered at the next faculty meeting or, to be enacted at the meeting at which it is introduced, two-thirds vote of approval of those present.
Faculty Organization
1. The authority of the faculty as delegated by the Board of Curators shall include the responsibilities set forth in Section 300.010.C. In order to perform these functions, the faculty takes cognizance of the consequences of its size and complexity and therefore delegates specific policy making and coordinating functions to representative bodies. The main representative body shall be a Faculty Council.
2. The Faculty Council is established as the elected representative body of the faculty. It shall act for the general faculty on all matters within the framework of the policies expressed in these Bylaws and shall function in accordance with the specifications formulated in Section 300.010.C. The Faculty Council shall have the right to delegate some of its operation tasks to an executive committee and/or its officers.
3. The Faculty as a whole shall approve all policies which involve a modification or change of the principles set forth in these Bylaws. The faculty further may review decisions and actions by the Faculty Council provided that a petition requesting such action has been signed by at least 25 faculty members representing at least three divisions of the campus.
4. There shall be a Graduate Faculty organization. It shall develop its own criteria for membership, organizational structure, its own obligations and rights providing they are consonant with the philosophy and principles of the federal faculty Bylaws. The Graduate Faculty shall determine the functions of the Graduate Faculty Senate. The Graduate Faculty shall set standards for graduate education on the campus, provided they meet at least the minimum standards established by the general faculty.
5. Divisional faculties are established in the various academic divisions. They shall develop policies adapted to their specific needs, but standards of performance must not be set below those established by the general faculty.
6. Establishment of new divisions shall entitle them to representation where divisional representation is designated in these Bylaws or otherwise deemed appropriate.
Faculty Participatory Authority and Functions in Campus Governance
1. Participatory authority and functions of the faculty are expressed through faculty involvement in the campus committee structure including those committees which govern academic and administrative matters affecting the campus, faculty and students. The faculty participates in the selection of administrative officers. The faculty participates in the monitoring of administrative and academic operating procedures. These participatory functions of the faculty are articulated as follows:
  1. The faculty, through its elected representative structure, the Faculty Council, nominate faculty members to participate in a specially designated body currently called the University Assembly which is charged with advising the chancellor on matters mutually affecting all constituencies of the University (faculty, students, administration, and non-academic employees), and nominating members to campus-wide standing committees. The participation of the UMC faculty in this Assembly will represent faculty participation to the extent that the domains of faculty primary and direct authority are not infringed upon.
  2. An Academic Regulations Committee shall be established consisting of representatives of the Faculty Council (which may be the Executive Committee) and campus administration. This committee will assume responsibility for the development and monitoring of campus standard operating guidelines which, after approval by the Faculty Council, administration, and students where appropriate, shall be published as "Academic Regulations Manual." These guidelines will cover the academic schedule of studies and examinations, calendar, academic procedures and policies and campus governance and shall be consonant with these Bylaws. This committee will meet regularly to monitor these guidelines and to coordinate the need for modification and changes.
  3. The Faculty Council will nominate faculty members to participate in ad hoc committees, including Search and Screening Committees for campus administrators and academic officers.
2. The faculty representatives to the University Assembly and the Academic Regulations Committee will report to the Faculty Council at appropriate intervals.
Faculty Participation in University-wide Governance
1. The faculty shall participate in education policy determination about those matters which are University-wide; some of these will be parallel to those issues in which the faculty exercises shared authority at the campus level (Section 300.010.C.3.a). The faculty's responsibility in these matters shall be exercised through mechanisms such as:
  1. The Intercampus Faculty Council on which the UMC faculty shall have representatives designated by the UMC Faculty Council.
  2. The University Doctoral Council to which the UMC Graduate Faculty shall elect its members.
  3. Ad hoc and standing University-wide committees to which the faculty (often acting through its elected campus body, the Faculty Council) shall designate its members.
  4. Intercampus committees concerned with cooperation in educational and research activities within the respective disciplines.
Faculty Council on UMC Policy
1. Representative Faculty Voice: A Faculty Council shall be composed of faculty members who shall be elected by the several divisional faculties as hereinafter provided. The Faculty Council shall have certain delegated authority to act on behalf of the General Faculty (Section 310.010.C.3.c of these Bylaws). In addition, the Council, as a representative faculty voice, shall advise the chancellor and the UMC faculty on questions of UMC policy submitted by either to the Council, and may initiate recommendations concerning changes in the UMC policy for consideration and appropriate action by the chancellor or UMC faculty.
2. Academic Unit Selections: All colleges and schools that are headed by a dean who reports to the provost for academic affairs shall be entitled to voting representation. For the purposes of Academic Unit Selections both MU Libraries and MU Extension each will be treated as schools entitled to voting representation.
3. Allocation of Representatives: Faculty Representatives shall be allocated to a college or school on the basis of the total number of full-time ranked faculty members of the UMC faculty (as defined in section B above) within the college or school. The determination of the number of full-time ranked faculty representatives shall be made on November 1 of each academic year, and the number so determined shall govern representation for the next academic year. A full-time ranked representative who has a joint appointment in two or more colleges or schools shall be assigned to the college or school in which the representative devotes the largest percentage of the representative’s time. If the assignment cannot be made on this basis, the Council shall make the assignment, first having consulted with the representative to the extent feasible. A full-time ranked representative who has an Extension appointment and an appointment in a college of school shall represent that college or school; a full-time ranked representative who has an Extension appointment and does not have an appointment in a college or school shall represent Extension. Representation of the various colleges and schools shall be based upon persons holding eligible ranks listed in the most recent UMC general catalog. Emeritus faculty members will not be included in the computations, with the exception that retired faculty members on continued service will be counted.
  Each college or school shall be entitled to representation at a basic ratio of one representative for each fifty (50) full-time ranked faculty members or majority fraction thereof (26-49), and in particular as follows: one (1) representative for 1-75; two (2) representatives for 76-125; and so on for each additional fifty (50) full-time ranked faculty or major fraction thereof. Notwithstanding the basic ratio, no school or college is entitled to more than eight representatives.
  
  In the event the number of full-time ranked faculty members changes to the point where the basic ratio would give less than 30 or more than 35 representatives, the Council by a finding recorded in its minutes shall adjust the ratio to produce not less than 30 and not more than 35 representatives.
4. Minimum Number of T/TT and NTT Representatives: The minimum number of T/TT faculty representatives on the Council shall be four, and the minimum number of NTT faculty representatives on the Council shall be four. If, as the result of academic unit selections of representatives, fewer than four NTT faculty or four T/TT faculty are included in the makeup of Faculty Council on September 15 of any year, Faculty Council shall organize and hold a special election of the respective full-time ranked NTT or T/TT faculty to achieve the minimum. Only full-time ranked NTT faculty will vote in a special election for an NTT representative; only full-time ranked T/TT faculty will vote in a special election for a T/TT representative.
  The selected representatives will be added to the Faculty Council in addition to those chosen by the academic unit selections, and their addition may increase the size of Faculty Council to more than 35 full-time faculty ranked faculty representatives. Representatives elected in special elections will serve regular three-year terms.
5. Limitation on Administrative Members: Members of the UMC faculty who hold administrative positions with the rank of assistant dean or higher, or equivalent positions regardless of the title, are ineligible for election or service. Only those eligible to serve on the Faculty Council as full-time ranked faculty are eligible to vote for full-time ranked representatives on the Council.
6. Election Procedures: The full-time ranked faculty of each college or school shall determine the election procedures for the election of its representative or representatives and shall report these to the Faculty Council. Election shall be by secret ballot. In those divisions that have two or more representatives, terms shall be staggered.
7. T/TT Matters: As defined in the Faculty Council Rules of Order, NTT faculty representatives are not eligible for service on the Faculty Council Board of Tenured or Tenure-Track Faculty, which votes on matters specific to tenure or tenured/tenure track (T/TT) faculty.
8. Term of Office: The regular term of office for a member shall be three years beginning on the first day of the fall semester. No member shall serve more than two terms in succession, but a member may serve any number of discontinued terms, and even though the member has served two terms in succession may from time to time serve two more terms in succession after a break in service. Terms of less than three years, whether of one or two years duration or fraction thereof shall count the same as a three-year term.
Officers of the Faculty
1. The chairperson of the general faculty shall be the chancellor. The vice chairperson of the faculty shall be the chairperson of the Faculty Council.
  Ordinarily, the chairperson shall preside at faculty meetings, but determination of who shall preside will be guided by the nature of the business at hand. The vice chairperson shall preside at meetings of the general faculty in the absence of the chairperson, or at other times when so designated by the chairperson.
2. The secretary of the faculty shall be a member of the general faculty and shall be appointed by the Faculty Council. The secretary shall keep minutes of all faculty meetings and shall distribute copies of the same to all members of the general faculty, and shall provide copies of the agenda of all faculty meetings to all members of the faculty prior to any faculty meeting. (By Faculty Council action October 21, 1982, the recorder of Faculty Council shall be secretary of the faculty, with the technical assistance of the registrar; the minutes of the general faculty meetings shall be reviewed, approved and distributed to all faculty in the same manner as the minutes of the Faculty Council meetings.)
3. A parliamentarian shall be appointed by the chairperson from among members of the faculty.
Designation of Faculty Representatives
1. The Faculty Council shall monitor faculty representation on all committees where such representation is required by the Bylaws and on other committees where faculty representation is appropriate.
2. Faculty-originated appointments to campus and university committees may be challenged by a signed petition calling for a campus-wide election from at least 25 members of the faculty representing at least three divisions of UMC. The Faculty Council shall vote on such petition, and if approved, shall initiate a campus-wide election.
Faculty Tenure Committee
1. The University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia Faculty Committee on Tenure shall be composed of members elected by the faculty of colleges and schools that are headed by deans who report to the provost for academic affairs. The faculty of each such college or school shall be entitled to have one single elected member of the University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia Faculty Committee on Tenure at any given time.
2. Faculty of each college or school shall, at a regular meeting during the second semester in each academic year, elect one of its members to membership on the University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia Faculty Committee on Tenure to serve for the following academic year, and also elect an alternative member, who shall serve in the event the regular committee member is unable to serve. If a faculty fails to elect during the second semester, or a vacancy in its representation occurs after it has elected, a later election may be conducted. Elections of members and alternate members shall be reported to the provost of academic affairs who shall cause the names of the members, alternate members and officers of the committee to be published in the same manner as the membership of the Faculty Council on University Policy.
3. At the inception of a hearing before the committee, the respondent and the relator may challenge members present (including alternate members and the chairperson and secretary) for cause. A member challenged for cause is entitled to be present during the hearing on the challenge but the member, the relator and respondent shall withdraw from the meeting during the vote on the challenge. If a challenge for cause of the chairperson is sustained, the secretary shall act as chairperson. If neither the chairperson nor the secretary is present after action on challenges for cause, the committee shall elect a chairperson pro tempore to preside at the hearing.
4. As prescribed by Sections 310.010-310.070, University of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations, at least ten members of the committee or their alternates must be present to constitute a quorum at a meeting to elect a permanent chairperson or secretary and at the inception of a hearing. For the purposes of acting on challenges and conducting a hearing after the disposition of challenges, seven members of the committee, or their alternates, shall constitute a quorum. If, during the course of a hearing, the number of members, or their alternates, not previously removed by challenge, are present. The relator and the respondent shall be given opportunities to challenge for cause members or their alternates who were not present from the inception of the hearing and to request that such members or alternates listen to or read the taped or stenographic record of any portion of the hearing at which they were not present.
Procedures Governing the Disposition of Charges of Faculty Irresponsibility
1. Basis for the Article -- This faculty has affirmed its commitment to the principles of academic freedom repeatedly, and has recognized that academic freedom implies also academic and professional responsibility and obligations. In support of this recognition the faculty has accepted the American Association of University Professors' statement of ethical standards (1966) and other standards pertaining to specific duties. (Ref: Section 300.010.C of these Bylaws; Section 420.010 Research Dishonesty) Following the principle that a faculty should monitor its own members, Section 300.010.L establishes appropriate procedures for dealing with cases of alleged violation of professional responsibility.
2. Definition of Faculty Member and Teacher
  1. The term "faculty member" as used in this article means a person holding a regular or non-regular academic staff position at the rank of instructor or above.
  2. The term "teacher" as used in this article means a person other than a "faculty member" who holds an academic staff position.
3. Purpose and Limits of the Article -- This article shall govern the filing and disposition of charges alleging breaches of professional ethics or commission of irresponsible acts made against UMC faculty members and teachers. No portion of this article shall be deemed to amend or affect Section 10 of the Academic Tenure Regulations, March 10, 1950, or any revision thereof; nor shall this article be construed to affect adversely the rights which any person may have under the University Tenure Regulations.
4. Initiation and Transmission of a Charge -- A charge of unethical or irresponsible action may be brought against a faculty member or teacher by a person or group of persons associated with the University, such as a student, faculty member, teacher, administrator, or board member.
  1. The charge must be submitted in writing and signed by the person or persons making the charge. The charge must specify the act or acts which allegedly constitute unethical or irresponsible action, and must be supported by pertinent details such as time(s), the act(s) was/were committed, specific place(s) where the act(s) occurred, names of witnesses who are able to support the charge, the conditions under which the alleged act(s) occurred, and any additional relevant information.
  2. The charge shall be transmitted promptly to the UMC provost for academic affairs, whose office shall ascertain the extent to which the charge describes the act(s) that allegedly constitutes unethical or irresponsible action, and determine that all necessary details have been supplied. The provost shall discuss the substances of the charge with the accuser(s) to assure further that the facts and nature of the charge are understood clearly. Once the provost has verified the procedural adequacy of the charge, the provost shall forward it promptly to the dean of the division in which the accused faculty member or teacher has their academic appointment.
  3. Upon receipt of the signed, written charge against a faculty member or teacher employed within their division, the dean shall consult with the accused's department chairperson, in those divisions with more than one department. They shall review the charge for adequacy of procedural detail. If in their opinions, the charge is vague or insufficiently detailed, they shall so inform the provost in writing and return the charge to them with a request for clarification, or addition of information, and resubmission.
  4. If in the opinions of the divisional dean and the department chairperson the charge is properly described, the department chairperson, or dean in those divisions without departments, as soon as possible, shall provide the accused with a full copy of the charge, including the name of the person, or persons, making the charge.
5. Action by the Department Chairperson (or Divisional Dean) -- The department chairperson shall discuss the alleged violation informally with the accused and with the accuser, meeting them either together or separately, or both, and shall attempt to reconcile differences and find a solution acceptable to all persons involved.
  1. If an acceptable solution is found, this shall be reported by the chairperson in writing to the divisional dean along with any explanation and justification. A copy of the report shall be furnished the accused. If an acceptable solution is not found, the department chairperson shall report this fact in writing to the divisional dean along with such comments as considered appropriate. A copy of this report shall be supplied to the accused. In addition, the chairperson shall provide the accused with a written statement of their recommendations for disposition of the charge and shall describe the rights of the accused to an informal hearing.
  2. If the divisional dean agrees with the acceptable solution and the provost for academic affairs concurs, this shall end the matter and the accused shall be so informed. If the divisional dean or the provost for academic affairs does not agree with the acceptable solution or if no acceptable solution was reached, the matter may be referred back to the department chairperson for further negotiation, or the procedures under Section 300.010.L.6 shall be followed.
  3. In those divisions having only one department, the divisional dean shall take the steps set out in Section 300.010.L.5 and shall report to the provost for academic affairs.
  4. The department chairperson or the divisional dean shall be disqualified from action under Section 300.010.L.5 if that individual is the accuser or the accused and in such case the respective department or division shall elect a chairperson pro tem to act instead.
6. Informal Hearing Before Peers at the Department or Divisional Level -- If a resolution of the charge is not reached under the provisions of Section 300.010.L.5, the divisional dean or equivalent shall inform the accused in writing of their recommendations for disposition of the charge, and shall describe the rights of the accused to an informal hearing. The accused may request in writing an informal hearing at either the department level (in divisions with more than one department) or the divisional level, but not both. If no written request is made by the accused within ten (10) school days, or if the accused waives in writing the informal hearing, the procedures of Section 300.010.L.7 shall be followed.
  1. After a written request for an informal hearing, such hearing shall be held by a committee designated for this function according to the following procedure:
    (1) A Department Committee on Faculty Responsibility shall be established annually according to normal procedures in the structuring of committees in the department. If the accused or the accuser is a member of the committee, they are disqualified from the committee for that case. If the accused is a teacher, the department committee must be adjusted to include peers of the same academic rank, in proportion to the department roster. In small departments, same-level peers may be appointed from related departments by mutual consent of the accused and the department chairperson. The chairperson shall supply the accused with a written report of the membership of the Department Committee on Faculty Responsibility.
    (2) For the Divisional Committee on Faculty Responsibility, a panel of 13 faculty members and a special panel of five teachers shall be named annually by the Divisional Policy Committee. In any case where the accused or the accuser is a member of the panel, they shall be replaced by a substitute appointed by the Divisional Policy Committee.
    (a) When the accused is a faculty member, the divisional dean will strike three names and then the accused will strike three names from the panel of faculty members and the remaining seven faculty members will constitute the committee.
    (b) When the accused is a teacher, five members of the panel of Faculty members will be removed by lot from the panel and replaced by the members of the special panel of teachers. From the resulting panel of 13 the divisional dean will strike three names and then the accused will strike three names and the remaining seven members will constitute the committee.
    (c) The Divisional Committee on Faculty Responsibility, once constituted, shall organize itself. The divisional dean shall supply the accused with the names of the members of the Divisional Committee on Faculty Responsibility.
  2. The committee (department or division) shall investigate the charge and shall offer the accused and the accuser an opportunity to state their positions and to present testimony and other evidence relevant to the case. The accused shall have access to all information considered by the committee and the names of all persons giving evidence against them. The hearing shall be informal and the accused and the accuser at their option may be present during the hearing. Other persons shall not be present except while giving testimony or other evidence.
  3. After completion of the hearing, the committee shall meet in closed session and after deliberation prepare a written report. This report (including a minority report, if any) shall be transmitted to the divisional dean and a copy transmitted promptly to the accused. This report shall be limited to one of the following:
    (1) The charge is unfounded or there is insufficient reason to believe the accused has violated professional ethics or acted irresponsibly, and the matter should be dropped without prejudice to the accused. The justification for this conclusion must be included.
    (2) There is sufficient reason to believe the accused has acted unethically or irresponsibly, and
    (a) If the accused is a faculty member, the matter should be referred for a formal hearing. No recommendation as to sanction should be made but an assessment of the seriousness of the alleged violation, including whether it is serious enough that termination of appointment should be considered, shall be made.
    (b) If the accused is a teacher, a recommendation as to the appropriate sanction shall be made. The justification for this conclusion must be included.
7. Action by the Divisional Dean and the Provost for Academic Affairs
  1. If the accused is a faculty member and no request for an informal hearing was made, the divisional dean with the concurrence of the provost for academic affairs shall either:
    (1) Dismiss the charge, in which case the matter is closed without prejudice to the accused, or
    (2) Refer the matter to the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility without any recommendation as to sanction, in which case the procedures of Section 300.010.L.8 shall be followed. If the provost for academic affairs does not concur, they may take either of the above actions on their own motion.
  2. If the accused is a faculty member, after receiving the recommendation of the department or divisional Committee on Faculty Responsibility, the divisional dean with the concurrence of the pProvost for academic affairs shall either:
    (1) Dismiss the charge, in which case the matter is closed without prejudice to the accused, or
    (2) Refer the matter to the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility with or without a recommendation as to sanction, in which case the procedures of Section 300.010.L.8 shall be followed, or
    (3) Recommend that the accused's appointment be terminated, in which case the matter shall be governed by the Academic Tenure Regulations and no further proceedings under this Article shall be taken.
    If the provost for academic affairs does not concur, they may take any of the above actions on their own motion. If the action of the divisional dean or the provost for academic affairs differs from the conclusion reached by the department or divisional Committee on Faculty Responsibility, a statement of reasons shall be given. Notification of the action with the statement of reasons shall be transmitted promptly to the accused.
  3. If the accused is a teacher, after receiving the report of the department or divisional Committee on Faculty Responsibility, or if the informal hearing was not requested, the divisional dean shall dispose of the case. Notification of their disposition with a statement of reasons shall be transmitted promptly to the accused. The divisional dean's decision is subject to review by the provost for academic affairs who may accept an appeal from the teacher or review the case on their own motion.
8. Formal Hearing before Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility
  1. If the matter is referred for a formal hearing before the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility, the accused may, within seven school days after notification of the referral, waive in writing the hearing before the Campus Committee. If the hearing is waived and no informal hearing under Section 300.010.L.6 has been held, the matter shall be returned to the divisional dean who may then recommend termination of appointment as under Section 300.010.L.7.b, or any other action considered appropriate. If the divisional dean or equivalent does not recommend termination of appointment, or if the informal hearing has been held, the procedures of Section 300.010.L.9 shall be followed.
  2. For the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility, the Faculty Council shall name annually a panel of thirteen (13) faculty members. If the accuser of any person who has engaged in the investigation of the case is a member of the panel, they shall be disqualified and a replacement shall be appointed by the Faculty Council. When a case is referred to the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility, the provost for academic affairs will strike three (3) names from the panel; then the accused will strike three (3) names from the panel; the remaining seven (7) members will constitute the committee. The formal hearing shall be conducted according to the following procedures:
    (1) The provost for academic affairs shall convene the committee. The committee shall elect a chairperson who shall preside. The provost for academic affairs shall present the case. Generally accepted principles and procedures of administrative due process shall govern the conduct of the hearing. The hearing shall not necessarily be limited by the rules of evidence applied in civil or criminal judicial proceedings. Both the committee and the provost for academic affairs may receive the advice of counsel.
    (2) The committee and the accused shall receive from the provost for academic affairs prior to the hearing copies of all reports and recommendations in the case, the text of the original charge, the name(s) of the accuser(s) and the names of the witnesses.
    (3) The accused shall have the right to be present at the hearing, to have counsel of their choice present with them at the hearing, to address the committee at any reasonable time upon request, to offer and present evidence, to examine all documents offered at the hearing and challenge their validity or admissibility, to question all witnesses, and to have their counsel perform any and all of these acts in their behalf. After the termination of the proceedings and completion of the committee's report, the accused shall receive promptly a transcript of the proceedings at University expense.
  3. Following the hearing, the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility shall meet in closed session and, after deliberation, shall prepare a written report which shall include findings of fact (including whether the accused committed the acts mentioned in the charge), a determination of whether the accused's acts constitute a significant violation of professional ethics or responsibility, and the recommendation of specific sanctions or actions to be taken in the case. If the committee's recommendations differ from those made by the divisional dean, the report shall include the reasons for the difference. The report (including a minority report, if any) shall be transmitted promptly to the accused.
    (1) If the committee recommends termination of appointment and the provost for academic affairs concurs; or if the provost for academic affairs recommends termination of appointment, the matter shall be governed by the Academic Tenure Regulations and no further proceedings under this Article shall be taken.
    (2) If termination of appointment is not recommended, the report shall be transmitted to the chancellor and the procedures of Section 300.010.L.9 shall be followed.
9. Review by the Chancellor -- The chancellor shall, on written request of the accused or of the provost for academic affairs filed within seven days from the notification of the decision of the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility, or may, on their motion without the filing of an appeal, review the case and affirm, modify, or reverse the decision or remand it to the committee for rehearing. If the chancellor accepts an appeal or otherwise formally reviews the case, the chancellor shall notify the provost for academic affairs and the accused, and shall afford them an opportunity to make written submissions or suggestions concerning the disposition of the appeal on review. If the chancellor reverses or modifies the decision of the committee, the chancellor shall set forth in writing a statement of their decision and the reasons therefor, and shall furnish a copy of their statement to the accused and to have accepted the committee's decision as the final disposition of the case. If the chancellor is absent from the campus or for any reason is unable to act throughout the review period, the chancellor may designate a deputy (not the provost for academic affairs) to discharge this function for them, or in case of need the president may be requested by the provost for academic affairs or the chairperson of the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility to name a deputy to exercise the chancellor's authority in the case. After action by the chancellor, any further appeal by the accused shall be confined to the general right of all members of the University to petition the president and the Board of Curators.
10. Charges Against Administrators -- This Article shall cover charges of unethical or irresponsible actions against administrators in their teaching capacities. If a charge is filed against a divisional dean in their teaching capacity, the case shall be referred to the provost for academic affairs and the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility without action or recommendation at the departmental or divisional level. If a charge is filed against the provost for academic affairs in their teaching capacity, the charge shall be in the hands of the chancellor and the Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility. Charges of unethical or irresponsible actions against administrators in their capacity as administrators involve procedures beyond the scope of this Article. However, in such cases, the chancellor may seek the assistance and advice of the department, divisional or Campus Committee on Faculty Responsibility.
11. General Provisions -- Successful operation of these procedures depends upon the integrity, good faith and cooperation of all persons involved. Circumvention of these procedures by the imposition of penal sanctions under the guise of purely administrative actions must be avoided. Both faculty and administrators in carrying out their duties should keep in mind the goal of dealing with cases promptly and fairly with due regard for the interests of the accused and the University. The following guidelines and principles will be expected to characterize the monitoring of Faculty responsibility through all formal and informal proceedings:
  1. Preservation of academic freedom, tenure rights, and the integrity of the University community.
  2. Protection of faculty members and teachers against malicious and multiple charges, intimidation and harassment.
  3. Protection of the accuser against recriminations when a charge is made in good faith.
  4. Confidentiality of all aspects of responsibility hearings.
  5. Caution in the dissemination of information concerning disposition of a case.
  6. Promptness in conducting each step of the investigation, consistent with fairness in time allowed for preparation. Seven to fourteen days in which the University is in session are reasonable lower and upper limits for each action, with extensions possible for good cause.
  7. Assurance to all parties involved of adequate notification of meetings and scheduling at times and places convenient to the persons involved.
  8. Freedom of the accused against sanctions prior to completion of these procedures. In a serious case where the continuation of duties by an accused would disrupt the educational process or would create a serious threat to lives and property, the chancellor may suspend the accused without loss of pay, on good cause shown and incorporated into written findings delivered to the accused.
  9. The rights of the accused to waive any or all of the peer judgment steps in these procedures and to negotiate a settlement with appropriate administrative officers at any time.
  10. The right and desirability of the divisional dean, after receiving a committee report (or in the absence of such a report where a hearing has been waived), to request and receive from the department chairperson communications concerning the disposition of the case prior to the divisional dean's taking action; and the similar right of the provost for academic affairs to communicate with the divisional dean and the department chairperson.
Revision of Bylaws -- Revisions of these Bylaws may be proposed by Faculty Council. Proposed revisions shall be presented and discussed at a meeting of the general faculty or a faculty forum. As soon as possible after the general faculty meeting or faculty forum, all faculty members will be notified of the proposed revision and provided access to a ballot. Ballots will be tabulated by a committee of Faculty Council within two weeks following completion of voting. A simple majority of the votes submitted will be required for approval. Results of the vote will be reported to Faculty Council and then all faculty members as soon as feasible. Revisions become effective upon approval by the Board of Curators.

300.020 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ-Kansas City

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:20:00 +0000

300.020 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ-Kansas City kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 20:20

Min. 10-12-73; Amended Bd. Min. 11-18-77, 6-27-80, 11-19-82, 12-7-84, 6-6-08, 10-21-11, 6-14-13; Amended 4-10-15, Amended 6-17-16, Amended 2-6-20; Amended 11-17-22; Amended 4-20-23.

Purpose of the Governing Practices -- The University of ��ӰԺ-Kansas City("UMKC") Faculty will nurture the educational development of the student, the institution, and the community by transmitting knowledge, cultivating creativity, fostering leadership, sharing research, modeling civil discourse, and demonstrating critical engagement. The purpose of these Bylaws is to establish a body which represents the voice of the Faculty and to establish an effective vehicle for the needs and concerns of the Faculty to be presented for discussion and debate. These Bylaws assume that Faculty may participate in academic decision processes. The right of faculties to organize and to carry out the responsibilities and functions delegated to them by the Board is recognized in CRR 10.030.E.2.
Membership -- The "UMKC Faculty" or the "Faculty" shall consist of the President of the University, the Chancellor, and all academic appointees. An academic appointee is defined as one who has an academic title according to the University’s human resources department, unless (i) the academic title is one that is primarily held by students or (ii) the Faculty Senate (the “Faculty Senate” or “Senate”) determines that the position to which the title refers is one that is not engaged significantly in teaching, research, or clinical/professional practice or whose duties are not closely related to the University’s instructional and research functions. Any such determination shall be recorded in the Faculty Senate Standard Operating Procedures and the Faculty Senate meeting minutes.
1. Voting Faculty -- For purposes of campus- and University-wide elections, except with regard to issues specific to the promotion and tenure of tenured and tenure-track Faculty members (“T/TT Faculty Members”) and except with regard to the election of the campus-wide, at-large non-tenure track Faculty member to serve on Senate (as provided in Section E.1), those individuals eligible to vote (the “UMKC Voting Faculty” or the “Voting Faculty”) shall consist of the following:
  1. All full-time T/TTFaculty Members;
  2. all ranked, non-tenure track Faculty members (as defined in CRR 310.035) who are paid directly by UMKC;
  3. all full-time, unranked track Faculty members who (i) are paid directly by UMKC and (ii) have the academic title of "Instructor", "Clinical Instructor,” “Field Instructor” or “Lecturer” or have a title that is determined by the Faculty Senate to be equivalent to Instructor, Clinical Instructor, Field Instructor or Lecturer in terms of responsibilities and qualifications. Any such determination shall be recorded in the Faculty Senate Standard Operating Procedures and the Faculty Senate meeting minutes; and
  4. all Faculty members who are not paid directly by UMKC but who routinely oversee and participate in the instructional mission of the University to an extent comparable to a full-time Faculty member (“Additional Voting Faculty Members”); provided, however, that inclusion of such persons as Additional Voting Faculty Members must be recommended by the respective academic unit and approved by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee (FSEC). To participate in a campus- or University-wide election or exercise any other right of Voting Faculty under these Bylaws, a person must be approved as an Additional Voting Faculty Member by the FSEC at least four weeks prior to the commencement of the election or the exercise of the right.
  The foregoing voting eligibility rules are not intended to define the eligibility of Faculty members to vote in academic unit elections on matters other than representation in the Faculty Senate. The eligibility of Faculty members to vote on academic unit matters, other than Senate representation, shall be determined by each unit. The eligibility of Faculty members to vote for the unit’s representation in the Faculty Senate is provided for in Section E.2.b. Campus- and University-wide voting on issues specific to the promotion and tenure of T/TT Faculty Members will be limited to the T/TT Faculty Members or some appropriate subset thereof. The election of the campus-wide, at-large non-tenure track faculty member to serve on Senate is governed by Section E.1.
2. Power -- The powers of the UMKC Voting Faculty include authority in all matters pertaining to education, research and service as granted to the Faculty by the Board of Curators. It shall have such other authority as is delegated to it by the President and/or the Chancellor. These powers are vested in the UMKC Senate unless limited by the University’s Collected Rules and Regulations.
3. Meetings -- There shall be at least one general meeting of the UMKC Faculty per year (the "All Faculty Meeting"). The Chair of the Faculty Senate shall give notice of and shall preside at such meetings. The Faculty Senate shall report to the Faculty at such meetings and shall invite input and advice from the Faculty on issues of concern.
  1. Additional meetings of the UMKC Faculty may be called by the Chancellor or the Chair of the Senate, or upon the request of 20 percent of the Senate or upon the written request of 10 percent of the Voting Faculty.
  2. Within ten days of the notice of placing of an item on the Senate agenda, upon the request of a majority of the Senate or upon the written request of 10 percent of the Voting Faculty, the Chair of the Senate shall transfer the item from the Senate agenda to the agenda of an All-Faculty Meeting for discussion by the Faculty and action by the Voting Faculty.
Colleges, Schools, Conservatories, Libraries and Other Units
1. Definitions -- A school or conservatory (both of which are hereinafter referred to as a "School") is a unit which offers or supervises programs of study leading to baccalaureate or advanced degrees. A unit or combination of units offering courses which do not lead to a degree is not a School.
2. Schools -- UMKC's schools are: Henry W. Bloch School of Management; School of Science and Engineering; School of Dentistry; School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences; School of Graduate Studies; School of Humanities and Social Sciences; School of Law; School of Pharmacy; UMKC Conservatory; School of Medicine; and School of Nursing and Health Studies.
3. Libraries -- UMKC's Libraries include: Miller Nichols Library, Leon E. Bloch Law Library, andHealth Sciences Library.
Faculties of the Schools
1. Membership
  1. The Faculty of a School shall consist of the President of the University, the Chancellor, the Dean of the School, and all members of the UMKC Faculty who are assigned to the School. The Faculty of a School shall be primarily responsible for the quality of the School's undertakings. The voting Faculty of a School, for School-level elections, shall be defined by the School’s bylaws, subject to the requirement in Section E.2.b that all UMKC Voting Faculty assigned to the School shall be eligible to participate in the election of the School’s senators.
  2. Faculty whose work is divided between programs of two or more Schools (other than the School of Graduate Studies) may participate in deliberations of these Schools, but shall be a voting member of only the School in which they hold their primary appointment.
  3. The Faculty of the School of Graduate Studies consists of UMKC Faculty (Section 300.020.B) who hold graduate or doctoral appointments. Faculty of the School of Graduate Studies may vote and be elected to offices or committees in this School as well as to offices and committees of the School in which they hold their primary appointment.
2. Meetings -- At least four regular meetings of the Faculty of a School shall be called annually according to the procedures adopted by the School. A special meeting may be called at any time by the Chancellor or by the Dean of the School and must be called if requested by one-fourth of the membership of the Faculty of the School or as otherwise provided by the bylaws of the School. Written notification of any meeting of a School Faculty shall be communicated at least three days prior to the meeting to all members of the School Faculty except in the case of an emergency meeting in which case any action taken becomes an item for reconsideration on the agenda at the next regularly scheduled meeting of that School Faculty. Each School Faculty shall determine its own definition of a quorum of its membership and decide upon a procedure which enables the membership of that particular Faculty to carry out its business in a responsible as well as efficacious manner. Copies of the minutes of each meeting shall be made available to each Faculty member of the School and to the Chancellor.
3. Powers -- The Faculty of a School shall establish procedures and policies governing the work of the School.
  1. Bylaws -- Each School shall have a written set of bylaws prepared in such a manner as is determined by the Faculty of that School. These bylaws shall implement the provisions of this section of the UMKC Bylaws. A copy of these bylaws and any subsequent amendment thereto shall be filed with the Chancellor and the Chair-elect of the Senate. The bylaws shall not contain any provisions inconsistent with the UMKC Bylaws.
  2. Curriculum and Degrees -- The Faculty of a School and/or department, together with the appropriate administrative officers, shall be responsible for recommending all academic courses and programs and for recommending candidates for degrees. The Faculty of each School, through its dean, shall file with the registrar a copy of its admission and retention standards, its degree requirements, and individual course additions and deletions. The registrar shall distribute copies of such standards, requirements and course additions and deletions to the Chancellor and the deans of the other Schools.
  3. Selection, Retention, Promotion and Tenure of Academic Faculty -- The Faculty of each School and/or department or other teaching unit shall establish criteria and specify procedures to be followed, as a general policy, in recommending the selection, retention and promotion of members of suchFaculty.
    (1) As a general policy all academic staff appointments to a School Faculty shall be made after the Dean of the School has received a written recommendation from a committee of an appropriate department committee or equivalent teaching unit. The Dean shall forward the recommendation of the committee with his/her own recommendation to the Chancellor.
    (2) The role of the School Faculties, committees, and administrative officers in the selection, retention, promotion, and tenure of Faculty members is governed by CRRs 310.035 and 320.035.
  4. Selection of Deans -- As a general policy, recommendations for the selection of deans in any School shall be made by the Chancellor after consultation with an appropriate committee which will include members of the Faculty of that School. This consultation procedure shall not abrogate the final responsibility and authority of the Chancellor to recommend a dean's appointment or replacement.
  5. Selection of Department Chairs, School Division Chairs and Directors -- As a general policy, the Dean shall recommend appointment or replacement of a department Chairperson, School division Chairperson or Director only after consultation with the Faculty of the department, subdivision or sub-unit concerned. This consultation procedure shall not abrogate the final responsibility and authority of the Dean to recommend the appointment or replacement of a department Chairperson, School division Chairperson, or Director.
  6. Evaluation of Academic and Professional Administrators -- The voting Faculty of each School shall participate in the regular evaluation of their academic and professional administrators. A School Faculty, by formal action at a regular meeting, or through its elected School Executive Committee or such other elected committee as is designated by the School in its bylaws, may report on matters of common concern through the Faculty Senate, Executive Committee, or directly to the Chancellor, and through him to the President of the University and the Board of Curators, and may make recommendations pertaining to any feature of the functioning of UMKC or the University.
  7. Budget Committee -- Each School shall have an elected budget committee composed of representative Faculty. The Budget Committee shall receive from the Dean in timely fashion all information regarding the budget process, shall share that information with the Faculty of the School, and shall advise the Dean regarding objectives and funding priorities as well as necessary allocations to achieve those objectives.
The UMKC Faculty Senate
1. Composition of the Senate -- The Senate shall consist of at least two elected Faculty representatives from Henry W. Bloch School of Management; School of Science and Engineering; School of Dentistry; School of Education, Social Work, and Psychological Sciences; School of Law; School of Pharmacy; UMKC Conservatory; School of Medicine; School of Nursing and Health Studies; and UMKC Libraries. For represented units whose number of Voting Faculty exceeds fifty members, an additional senator may be added for each increment of twenty-five Voting Faculty over a baseline of fifty Voting Faculty. Each represented unit and the Faculty Senate Executive Committee will review the respective unit's Voting Faculty numbers every three years and propose or invite an increase or decrease in number of senators as needed. The Faculty of a unit must make a formal request to the FSEC for consideration of additional senators. Currently seated senators or the Faculty Chairperson of the unit may make this request. The addition of senator positions beyond the minimum two senators will be determined jointly by the FSEC and the Senate. Additionally, there will be a campus-wide, at-large non-tenure track Faculty Senator (the “At-Large NTT Faculty Senator”) chosen through an election by non-tenure track Faculty members who qualify as Voting Faculty members under Section B.1. The At-Large NTT Faculty Senator must meet the officer eligibility requirements provided in Section E.5. The Senate may elect to accept as non-voting members representatives of major campus constituencies, such as the Staff Council, the Part-Time Faculty Association, and the Clinical Faculty serving at UMKC Clinical Affiliate Institutions.
  1. In order that the Senate maintain close ties with the units, it is recommended that one representative from each unit be the Faculty Chairperson of the unit or member of its executive body.
  2. All members of the UMKC Voting Faculty are eligible to be members of the Faculty Senate. No one who is not a member of the UMKC Voting Faculty may be a member of the Faculty Senate.
  3. Officers of the Senate including elected representatives of the Intercampus Faculty Cabinet ("IFC") shall be members of the Senate.
2. Terms of Office and Elections
  1. Senate members representing a unit shall be elected by the represented unit in time to take office at the first Senate meeting in the fall semester.
  2. All members of a represented unit who are members of the UMKC Voting Faculty (as defined in Section B.1) shall be eligible to participate in the election of the unit’s senators.
  3. Senate members elected to represent their units shall serve two-year terms, except for representatives who serve by virtue of their membership on a unit executive body; they may serve a term that coincides with their role on the unit executive body.
  4. Should a Senate member elected to represent a unit be unable to complete his/her term, that vacancy shall be filled by an election by that unit as soon as possible.
  5. Senate members elected to represent their units may succeed themselves without restriction.
  6. Senate officers (including the IFC representatives) shall be elected by the Voting Faculty by secret ballot. This election shall take place in the spring semester preceding the academic year in which their term is to begin.
  7. Senate officers are limited to two consecutive terms.
  8. Should a Senate officer be unable to complete his/her term, the filling of the vacancy shall be governed by Section E.5.d and E.5.e.
3. Powers -- The power of the UMKC Voting Faculty, as defined in Section B.2, shall be delegated to the Faculty Senate. The Senate may make recommendations pertaining to any feature of the functioning of the University to the Chancellor, and through the Chancellor to the President and/or the Board of Curators.
  1. The Senate, in cooperation with the administration, shall provide for Faculty participation in the regular evaluation of those campus-wide officers of the administration included in the Academic Tenure Regulations.
  2. The Senate, by formal action at an All-Faculty Meeting, or at a Senate meeting, may report to the Chancellor on matters of common concern, and through the Chancellor or through the Intercampus Faculty Cabinet to the President of the University and the Board of Curators, and may make recommendations pertaining to any feature of the functioning of UMKC or the University.
  3. The Senate shall serve as a liaison between the Faculty and the Chancellor and the campus’ administrative officers. The Senate shall serve as a liaison between the Faculty and the Intercampus Faculty Cabinet. The Senate shall serve as a liaison between the Faculty and the Student Government Association and the Intercampus Student Council.
4. Meetings
  1. The meeting schedule for each semester shall be set by the Chair of the Senate; however, additional meetings may be called by the Chair, at the request of the Chancellor, or at the request of 20 percent of the Senate or 10 percent of the Voting Faculty.
  2. Any Voting Faculty member may appear before the Senate to express his/her concerns by sending a written request to the Senate Chair-elect, who shall thereupon notify the Faculty member of the time and place of the next meeting and invite him/her to attend.
5. Officers of the Faculty Senate -- Individuals eligible to run for Senate officer positions shall consist of all members of the Voting Faculty who both (i) fall within the categories described in Section B.1.a or B.1.b and (ii) have at least six years as members of the Voting Faculty at UMKC. Elected officers shall be the Chair-elect, Chair, Past-Chair, the two IFC representatives, and the At-Large NTT Faculty Senator, who collectively shall comprise the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. Each year, a Chair-elect will be elected for a three-year term in a manner consistent with these Bylaws. Each position will advance; the previous Chair-elect becomes Chair, and the previous Chair becomes the Past-Chair. The formal date of advancement shall be August 1. People elected as officers of the Senate, upon election, if not already members of the Senate, shall be eligible to participate in the deliberations of the Senate. Elections and terms for IFC members shall comply with CRR 20.100.B.
  1. The Chair is the presiding officer of the Senate. It shall be the responsibility of the Chair to set the meeting schedule of the Senate and of the All-Faculty Meetings. The Chair shall be responsible for setting the agenda for both the Senate meetings and the All-Faculty Meetings, and for their distribution to all members of the voting Faculty. The agenda shall be set after consultation with the Faculty Senate Executive Committee. The Chair shall serve on the IFC during his/her term in office.
  2. The Past-Chair shall preside in the absence of the Chair, shall serve as the parliamentarian of the Senate, and shall be the chair of Faculty Elections and the votes of the Voting Faculty.
  3. The Chair-elect shall serve as secretary, and record the minutes of the general All-Faculty Meetings and the Senate meetings, and make the minutes available to the Faculty through the Senate website. The Chair-elect shall excuse absences of Senate members and shall maintain attendance records.
  4. Should a Chair resign, that office will be assumed by the Chair-elect for the remainder of the term. Should the Chair-elect resign, a new special election will be held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term. Should the Past-Chair resign, the Senate will elect a senator to fill the role and duties of the Past-Chair for the remainder of the term. In the case of a Chair resignation, the Chair-elect will serve out the remainder of the resigning Chair’s term for that year, and then serve the next year as the Chair as if normal progression had occurred.
  5. In the case of an IFC vacancy, the Senate shall determine at a regular meeting whether to fill the vacancy temporarily or for the duration of the unexpired term. For a temporary replacement, the Senate shall elect a current or prior Senate member to fill the vacancy. For replacements for the unexpired term, nominations will be requested among current or prior Senate members, and a ballot containing the names of nominees will be sent to all members of the Voting Faculty. The person getting the highest number of votes will assume the office for the duration of the unexpired term. Should that person be unable to serve, the person with the next highest number of votes in that election will assume the office. In urgent cases, so as to provide full representation at IFC, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee may appoint a current senator to attend IFC meetings until the Senate can address the vacancy at its next regular or special meeting.
  6. Faculty Senate Executive Committee members shall not serve more than two consecutive terms of office.
6. Committees
  1. The FSEC shall consist of all campus-wide elected members of the Senate (including the At-Large NTT Faculty Senator).
  2. The Senate may establish standing committees as deemed necessary, in accordance with the Senate Standard Operating Procedures. They will report to the Senate, and through the Senate to the Faculty at All-Faculty meetings.
  3. The Senate may establish ad hoc committees as deemed necessary. They will report to the Senate, and through the Senate to the Faculty at All-Faculty meetings.
  4. When committee nomination requests are received from the campus administration or from the Student Government Association, the Senate will designate nominees if it deems such action to be appropriate, following all applicable Collected Rules and Regulations. The Senate shall report at the next All-Faculty Meeting all requests and actions taken.
  5. Each committee shall annually submit a written review of its actions which will be made available to the Faculty through the Faculty Senate website.
7. Operations: Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)
  1. The Faculty Senate shall have a written document of standard operating procedures (the “Standard Operating Procedures” or “SOP”).
  2. The procedures articulated in the SOP shall be consistent with these Bylaws.
  3. The FSEC shall be responsible for proposing the initial SOP and any amendments to the SOP to the Faculty Senate.
  4. The Faculty Senate shall adopt the SOP by majority vote.
  5. The Faculty Senate shall adopt any amendments to the SOP by majority vote.
  6. The FSEC shall ensure that the SOP be available on the Faculty Senate website.
Bylaws and Amending Procedures
1. These Bylaws are subordinate to all bylaws, rules, regulations and policies established by the University or adopted by ��ӰԺ.
2. Ratification of amendments
  1. Amendments must have two readings in the Senate and be passed by secret ballot after the second reading.
  2. Amendments, passed by the Senate, must be circulated to the voting Faculty for an electronic election with two weeks allowed for voting.
  3. Amendments are approved by a majority of the faculty who vote, as defined in B.1 of these bylaws.
3. These Bylaws and amendments thereto become effective upon ratification by the Board of Curators.

300.030 Faculty Bylaws of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:24:00 +0000

300.030 Faculty Bylaws of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 20:24

Bd. Min. 6-25-71, p. 35,936; Amended Bd. Min. 10-12-73, p. 36,845; Bd. Min. 10-31-75, p. 37,462; Bd. Min. 11-13-81, 5-7-82 & 6-22-84; Bd. Min. 6-13-86; Bd. Min. 6-24-88; Bd. Min. 6-23-89; Bd. Min. 10-13-89; Bd. Min. 8-3-90, 7-30-92; Amended Bd. Min. 3-20-97; Bd. Min. 3-22-02; Bd. Min. 10-16-03; Bd. Min. 11-29-07; Bd. Min. 1-29-10; Bd. Min. 4.11.19; Amended 4-20-23; Amended Bd. Min. 6-29-23.

PreambleThe faculty of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology in order to facilitate communications and to provide for effective academic governance, for participation in decision making, and for shared responsibility in academic affairs, do establish and subscribe to these Bylaws.
Executive Authority
1. University -- The President of the University of ��ӰԺ is its chief executive officer and academic officer.
2. Campus -- The Chancellor of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology is the chief executive and academic officer of the campus. The Provost is the executive officer for academic affairs.
General Faculty
1. Membership -- The General Faculty of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology consists of all tenured, tenure-track, and ranked non-tenure track full-time faculty members , the President, the Chancellor, the Vice-Chancellor of Graduate Studies and Research, the Provost, the Vice-Provost and Dean of each college, the Registrar, the Dean of the Library, and any other person who may be elected by a two-thirds majority vote of the General Faculty. Voting members of the General Faculty are the full time tenured and tenure-track faculty of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology. All members of the General Faculty have the right to participate in discussions.
2. Duties, Powers, Responsibilities & Privileges -- The primary functions of the faculty are education, research, and service. The responsibilities and duties of the faculty are those derived from its authority to organize as granted by the Board of Curators. It shall have such other authority as delegated to it by the President and/or the Chancellor. The General Faculty is responsible for academic programs concerning the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology or those involving more than one Department, and for matters affecting the welfare of the institution, including but not limited to: academic standards and courses of instruction; and general standards to be met by educational, research, and service programs. Participatory authority and functions of the faculty are expressed through faculty involvement in the campus committee structure including those committees which govern academic and administrative matters affecting the campus, faculty and students. The faculty participates in the selection of administrative officers. The faculty participates in the monitoring of administrative and academic operating procedures. The faculty may make recommendations to the Chancellor on: institutional facilities, personnel and resources, professional standards, employment qualifications, tenure, promotion, salary, retirement, and other factors affecting faculty morale and welfare; and student affairs including health, welfare, conduct, and morale of the students.
3. Faculty Rights and Responsibilities
  1. Academic Rights -- Each faculty member has the right to freedom of inquiry, discourse, teaching, research and publication, as well as the responsibilities correlative with this right (as prescribed by The University of ��ӰԺ Board of Curators Collected Rules and Regulations).
  2. Civil Rights -- Faculty members are not required to relinquish any of their constitutional rights (as prescribed by The University of ��ӰԺ Board of Curators Collected Rules and Regulations).
  3. Employment Rights -- Faculty members shall have rights consistent with their continuous appointment or term appointment (during the term), except for cause, retirement or financial exigencies (as stated in The Curators of the University of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations).
  4. Notification of Appointment -- Faculty members shall be notified of their appointments promptly (as stated in Te Curators of the University of ��ӰԺ Rules and Regulations).
  5. Right to be Kept Informed -- The faculty shall be kept informed of actions and activities of committees and the executive officers of the General Faculty, and of other occurrences that pertain to the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology. Where possible such information shall be made available to the faculty before being made available to the general public.
4. Officers of the General Faculty -- The officers of the General Faculty shall consist of the President of the University, the Chancellor, the President of the Faculty Senate, a Secretary, and a Parliamentarian.
  1. Chancellor -- The Chancellor of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology is the presiding officer of the General Faculty. The Chancellor presides at meetings of the General Faculty but may extend this right to the President of the University when present.
  2. President -- The President of the Faculty Senate presides at meetings of the General Faculty in the absence of or at the discretion of the Chancellor.
  3. Secretary -- The Secretary is appointed by the Chancellor and need not be a member of the General Faculty. The Secretary keeps minutes of the proceedings of the General Faculty meetings. The Secretary is required to distribute an agenda prior to each meeting, and the minutes after each meeting, to all members of the General Faculty.
  4. Parliamentarian -- The Parliamentarian is appointed by the Chancellor and must be a member of the General Faculty.
5. Meetings -- All meetings are called by the Chancellor. A quorum shall consist of ten (10) percent of the voting members when business described in the published agenda is being considered and fifty (50) percent of the voting members when other items of business are being considered.
  1. Regular Meetings -- There shall be at least three (3) regular meetings of the General Faculty each academic year.
  2. Special Meetings
    (1) Special meetings are called upon the request of the President of the University; of the Chancellor; of the Faculty Senate; and by written petition of five (5) percent of the members of the General Faculty.
    (2) All Special Meetings shall be called within ten (10) school days after the request is presented to the Chancellor.
    (3) Only topics designated in the call for a Special Meeting may be discussed or acted upon at said meeting.
  3. Notice of Meetings -- Notice of all meetings of the General Faculty shall be sent to each member of the General Faculty at least five (5) school days prior to the meeting. Such notice includes the agenda for the meeting.
  4. Restriction on Voting at Regular Meetings -- In general, business coming before the General Faculty for action at a regular meeting shall be placed on the agenda before coming to a vote. Any other matters may be placed before the General Faculty and acted upon at a regular meeting without being placed on the agenda, unless five (5) voting members of the General Faculty request a delay. If such a request for delay is presented, the presiding officer shall delay the vote until the next regular meeting of the General Faculty at which time the matter will automatically be placed on the agenda, unless the matter has been acted upon at a special meeting before the next regular meeting is held.
  5. Minutes of Meetings -- Minutes of all General Faculty meetings will be distributed by the Secretary to all members of the General Faculty within ten (10) school days after the meeting.
  6. Rules of Order -- Unless otherwise addressed in these bylaws, meetings of the General Faculty are conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.
Faculty Organizations -- The primary functional unit of the faculty is the Department. For its governing purposes the faculty is further organized into the
General Faculty, the Graduate Faculty, the Faculty Senate, Standing Committees, Judicial Committees, and Special Programs.
1. Departments
  1. Organization and Membership
    (1) Departments are the primary functional units of the campus. The program of a department is conducted by its faculty through the chairperson, who has general responsibility over the department. The chairpairson shall act as the administrative representative of the department in its official relations with the University.
    (2) Members of the department are all those members of the faculty who hold the rank of Instructor or above in the department, and such other persons who teach in or conduct research in the department structure and are accepted by a majority vote of the department members.
    (3) Academic departments are those that are responsible to conduct teaching, research, and service on behalf of the University.
  2. Academic Department Reorganization
    (1) There shall be a process followed for academic unit reorganization. Unit(s) in this document shall refer to college, department, program, or special programs as defined in the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology Faculty Bylaws.
    (2) Affected unit(s) shall refer to the academic department(s) considered in a reorganization, which could vary in number and that would be reorganized as a result of this process.
    (3)There shall be separate procedures for reorganization of departments as defined in b(1) above where the Faculty/Units or the Administration are the impetus for the change. Administration refers to Chancellor, Provost, or Vice‐Provost and Dean.
    (4) The process shall be agreed upon by the Chancellor, Provost, Vice‐
    Provost and Deans, and Faculty Senate.
  3. Operation and Meetings
    (1) Department meetings are held throughout the academic year and are conducted according to democratic procedures. All matters concerning the department are open to discussion.
    (2) When a department position is to be filled, knowledge of the qualifications of the applicants is to be made available to the department members. Their opinions on the choice of candidates shall be sought by the chair before final recommendations for appointment are submitted.
  4. Responsibility and Authority
    (1) Faculty members direct and perform the work of instruction, coordinate and conduct research within the department, and provide service within the University, to the academic community, and to the public.
    (2) Faculty members are also concerned about the internal administration of the department and should be kept fully informed consistent with Section 20.110 of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations about all matters related to the department excepting only matters that are explicitly protected by written university policy, or confidentiality, or privacy laws that prevent disclosure.
    (3) Proposals for changes in curriculum or courses may be initiated by the department and submitted to the Curricula Committee.
    (4) Each department, acting in accordance with the Collected Rules and Regulations established by the Board of Curators and Campus Policies, shall have delegated directly to it by the General Faculty jurisdiction over matters primarily of interest only to that department. This includes but is not limited to: entrance requirements for degree programs; the curricula of the department; action concerning petitions for changes in prescribed courses of study presented by individual students enrolled in the department; decisions concerning the scholastic standing of students enrolled in the department; recommendations to the General Faculty concerning the granting of degrees to students enrolled in the department; and primary responsibility for maintaining and improving the academic excellence of the department.
    (5) All academic coursework shall be offered by departments, with the exception of courses offered through Special Programs.
2. Special Programs
  1. Definition of Special Programs. Special Programs are academic programs that are highly interdisciplinary, or for some other reason may not readily conform to the Department structure.
  2. Creation of Special Programs. The Provost may propose, with the appropriate academic rationale and suggested structure, that a Special Program be formed or an existing Special Program be changed. The Provost forwards the proposed program, or change to an existing program, with his/her recommendations, and the suggested constituencies from which the Program Representatives will be drawn, to the Faculty Senate for approval.
  3. Governance of Special Programs. Each Special Program will be governed by a Board of Program Representatives. The mechanism for selection of the Program Representatives must be delineated in the Special Program proposal from full time, ranked, faculty – to be elected by and from the faculty of the participating Academic Departments. The election of Program Representatives shall be conducted by the Provost, or his/her designee. The Provost will inform the Faculty Senate of the composition of the Program Representatives upon initial creation of the Program, and annually thereafter.
  4. Program Leader. The Program Representatives shall normally select a Program Leader from their ranks. The Program Leader is authorized, upon a vote of the Program Representatives, to submit curricula changes to the Provost, then the Campus Curricula Committee and then the Faculty Senate for approval. The Program Leader may act as the approval authority for items within the purview of the Program.
  5. Scope of Special Programs. Special Programs shall not duplicate, or infringe, on Academic Department responsibilities. Special Programs shall not offer Bachelors, Masters, Ph.D., or Eng.D. degrees, but may offer Certificates, Minors, or other acknowledgements of a student’s participation in a Special Program.
  6. Modification and Deletion of Special Programs. Requests to alter the number of Program Representatives, method of selection of Program Representatives, or the Academic Departments that they represent, must be approved by both the Provost and the Faculty Senate. Elimination of a Special Program also requires the approval of the Provost and Faculty Senate.
3. Graduate Faculty
  1. Responsibility and Authority-- The Graduate Faculty is responsible for maintaining an environment that will encourage the pursuit of scholarly work beyond the Bachelor’s degree and for implementing the policies of the Board of Curators in the administration of graduate studies at ��ӰԺ S&T.
  2. Membership and Activities -- Rules regarding membership, activities, and subcommittees of the Graduate Faculty are established by the Rules and Regulations of the Graduate Faculty.
4. Faculty Senate
  1. Authority and Responsibility -- The Faculty Senate is the legislative and policy-making body of the General Faculty. It carries out the responsibilities of the Faculty (see above: §C.2) not specifically reserved to the General Faculty and shall consider all matters referred to it by the Board of Curators, the President of the University, the Chancellor, and the individual faculty members. The Faculty Senate, as the primary representative faculty voice, shall advise the administration and the faculty on the implementation of policies concerning the educational and research operations of the campus and other matters affecting the welfare of the campus, the faculty and the students.
  2. Membership and Voting Rights
    (1) Members of the Faculty Senate are elected during the second semester of the academic year, and serve from August 1 until the end of their term.
    (2) Faculty representatives are elected from and by each department as follows: each department elects one representative for the first ten (10), or fraction thereof, full-time faculty members in that department, and an additional representative for each additional ten (10) full-time faculty members in that department, rounded off to the nearest ten (10) faculty members, with five (5) being rounded upward.
    (3) Ex officio non-voting members of the Faculty Senate consist of the Officers of the Faculty Senate (as described in in §D.4.c. below) as described elsewhere in these Bylaws, the President of the University, the Chancellor, the Provost, the Vice Provost and Dean of the Colleges, the Registrar, the Staff Council President, the Student Council President and Vice President, and the Council of Graduate Students President. Faculty Senate officers who are also elected departmental representatives will retain their voting rights. However, the chairperson of the Faculty Senate meeting normally does not vote at meetings unless required to break a tie.
    (4) All members of the General Faculty are eligible to vote for, be elected to, and serve on the Faculty Senate.
    (5) Terms of Office
    (a) Departmental representatives serve two-year (2-year) terms. Any departmental representative unable to serve during a given semester may be replaced by special election in the department. The elected replacement either finishes the original term or serves for the semester in question, at the discretion of the department.
    (b) Departmental representatives are permitted to allow a proxy member of their department to serve in their stead should they need to miss a meeting.
    (c) Student members are selected to a 1-year term.
  3. Officers of the Faculty Senate -- The officers of the Faculty Senate consist of a Past President, the President, the President-Elect, the Parliamentarian, and the Secretary, all of whom must be members of the General Faculty. Department chairs and other persons who devote 50% or more of their time to administrative duties shall not be eligible to serve as Faculty Senate Officers. The new officers are elected annually. The election is held during the last regular meeting of the second semester of the academic year, and officers begin their duties August 1.
    (1) The President presides at the meetings of the Faculty Senate. The President is the official spokesperson of the Faculty Senate and maintains open communications with the faculty, administration, staff, and students. The President is responsible for supervising all authority delegated by the Faculty Senate and for executing the decisions made by the Faculty Senate.
    (2) The President-Elect serves in the capacity of the President during the latter's absence, or upon the President's request. The President-Elect is also an assistant to the President.
    (3) The Parliamentarian makes recommendations to the President (or his/her/their delegate) on questions of parliamentary procedure for the Faculty Senate.
    (4) The Secretary is responsible for all records, minutes, resolutions, and correspondence of the Faculty Senate. The Secretary supervises the publications of the agenda and the minutes of the meetings. The minutes shall be distributed by the Secretary of the Faculty Senate to all members of the General Faculty within ten (10) school days after the meeting.
  4. Meetings and Rules of Order
    (1)The Faculty Senate meets on Thursdays (determined by the Faculty Senate) at 2:00 p.m., at least three times each semester and once during the summer term. Faculty Senate members shall be relieved from other time-conflicting duties, and this time is considered to be a part of their full-time effort.
    (2) The agenda of the Faculty Senate meetings is distributed to all faculty members no later than 5 school days in advance of the meetings.
    (3) Meetings of the Faculty Senate are conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order. Should a conflict arise among Robert's Rules of Order, the Faculty Bylaws of the General Faculty, and the Procedural and general Resolutions for the Faculty Senate and General Faculty, the order of precedence shall be firstly ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations, secondly the Faculty Bylaws, thirdly the Procedural and general Resolutions for the Faculty Senate and General Faculty, and finally Robert's Rules of Order.
    (4) Faculty Senate meetings are open to the public except as prohibited by law, but only the Senators are entitled to vote.
    (5) Two-thirds of the voting membership of the Faculty Senate constitutes a quorum.
    (6) A session of the Faculty Senate is defined as meetings occurring between 1 August and 31 July of the academic year.
    (7) The effective date of all actions is thirty (30) days after the action has been communicated to the faculty, unless four-fifths of the Faculty Senate members approve a motion that an action become effective immediately or unless action to veto or amend is initiated by the General Faculty within the thirty (30) day period. No action taken by the Faculty Senate shall be implemented prior to its certification at a meeting of the General Faculty if a petition to veto or to amend such action is submitted to the Chancellor by more than ten (10) percent of the members of the General Faculty.
  5. Special Meetings -- Special Meetings are to be called upon the request of the President of the University; the Chancellor; the President of the Faculty Senate; or, by written petition of five percent (5%) of the Senators of the Faculty Senate.
    (1) All special meetings shall be called within ten (10) school days after the request is presented to the President of the Faculty Senate.
    (2) Only topics designated in the call for a special meeting may be discussed or acted upon at said meeting.
  6. Electronic Voting -- Electronic voting on issues that do not require significant discussion is permitted by the approval of a majority of the Faculty Senate officers. Voting may be done by E-mail, online survey, or other tool deemed appropriate by the officers and these actions are to be included in the minutes of the next scheduled meeting. All electronic ballots shall keep voting open for at least one (1) week or until a majority decision of all Senators is obtained. If within that time, ten percent (10%) of the Senators object to the electronic vote to the President of the Faculty Senate, the electronic vote shall be cancelled and the issue referred to an in-person faculty senate meeting.
  7. Delegation of Authority
    (1) Since the authority of the Faculty Senate is delegated to it by the General Faculty, the actions and policies enacted by the Senate are subject to over-rule by the General Faculty.
    (2) All authority delegated by the Faculty Senate to committees or individuals is subject to change or over-rule by the Faculty Senate.
    (3) Standing Committees of the General Faculty shall report to the Faculty Senate at regular meetings upon one week's notification by the President or President-Elect of the Faculty Senate.
5. Standing Committees:
  1. Each standing Committee formulates and recommends actions and policies related to the scope of their mandated areas. Authority to act is limited to the specific mandates for which this power is delegated in the following sections of these Bylaws or by the functions prescribed by ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations.
  2. Standing committees report to and through the Faculty Senate unless otherwise provided for in these Bylaws.
  3. A faculty member shall concurrently serve on no more than two (2) Standing Committees, excluding the Rules, Procedures and Agenda (RP&A) Committee. If any department lacks sufficient faculty members for representation on all Faculty Senate committees, that department may select representatives to serve on committees of its choice until such time as the number of faculty members increases to the point where the department can be represented on all committees.
  4. All full- or part-time students in good standing are eligible to serve on standing committees that include one (1) or more student members.
  5. The Chancellor may appoint one non-voting member to any standing committee, for a one-year (1-year) term.
  6. Chairs of standing committees shall be tenured faculty. Department chairs, and other persons who devote 50% or more of their time to administrative duties shall not be eligible to serve as standing committee chairs. Standing committee chairpersons shall be elected annually, from and by the membership of the standing committee, unless otherwise provided for in these Bylaws.
  7. For each academic year, the membership and chair of each standing committee should be finalized by April 30 of the previous academic year. Standing Committees will be responsible for their duties from August 1 through July 31 of the following year.
  8. The Rules, Procedures and Agenda (RP&A) Committee has the authority to call a meeting of any standing committee. Upon a determination by the RP&A that a standing committee is not acting in a timely manner to resolve an issue to which it has been referred to address, the RP&A can call a meeting of the committee and appoint an ad hoc chair for that meeting.
  9. Judicial Committees are not subject to the provisions applicable to Standing Committees.
6. Faculty Standing Committees
  1. Academic Freedom and Standards Committee (AF&SC)
    (1) This committee is concerned with the academic freedom of faculty and promoting academic excellence. It recommends and reviews policies concerning requirements for admission, graduation and academic standards.
    (2) Each department may nominate one faculty member for service on the Academic Freedom and Standards Committee. The Faculty Senate will select from these nominees eight (8) faculty members to serve on the committee. Faculty members serve a two-year (2-year) term with approximately one half elected each year.
  2. Administrative Review Committee
    (1) This committee sets policies and procedures for review of campus administrators ranking from Chancellor to Department Chair. The committee recommends the evaluation questionnaires and a plan/schedule for conducting reviews to the Faculty Senate. The committee conducts the reviews; oversees the sending of the evaluation forms to the evaluating persons; oversees the collection and collation of the resulting evaluations; and, along with the officers of the Faculty Senate, reviews and forwards the results of the evaluation to the Faculty Senate and the supervisors of the individual evaluated.
    (2) The committee consists of six (6) representatives nominated by the Rules, Procedures and Agenda Committee (with the possibility of nominations from the floor) and elected by a vote of the Faculty Senate. Committee members serve for two (2) years, terms to be staggered with the election of three (3) faculty members each year, and shall be full-time, tenured faculty members with an administrative component of 50% or less.
  3. Budgetary Affairs Committee
    (1) This committee makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate, the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor of Finance and Operations or the equivalent administrative office on matters concerning the long-range vision of the campus; plans to fulfill this vision; and budgetary matters as a consequence of the vision. These recommendations include, but are not limited to: all matters of a budgetary nature; and policies and priorities for strategic and tactical plans with goals of teamwork, fiscal transparency and shared governance. The committee studies the Campus budget, keeps informed of its preparation and status, and consults with and advises the Chancellor on all matters pertaining to budgetary affairs.
    (2) Each department may nominate one faculty member for service on the Budgetary Affairs Committee. The committee consists of two (2) faculty members elected from and by the Faculty Senate, four (4) elected by the Faculty Senate from the Department nominations, two from and by the Graduate Faculty, one (1) student chosen by the Student Council, and one (1) administrative member appointed by the Chancellor. Elected members serve for a two-year (2-year) term, one half being elected each year.
  4. Campus Curricula Committee
    (1) This committee acts as an advisor and coordinator in regard to the disciplinary appropriateness and quality of curricular proposals, policies, and all course offerings. Proposals for curricula and course changes shall be submitted to the CCC via the Discipline-Specific Curricula Committee (DSCC) associated with the proposal. The DSCC recommendations shall be submitted with the proposal. Special Programs are not normally associated with a DSCC, and may submit proposals directly to the Campus Curricula Committee. Within 10 school days after receipt of the proposal, the CCC shall distribute copies to all departments via their DSCC representatives. Counter proposals submitted to the committee by the departmental representative of the concerned department should be considered when the original proposals are discussed. The recommendation of the committee shall be forwarded to the Faculty Senate for appropriate action.
    (2) The CCC will submit proposals for new graduate programs or any changes to existing graduate programs to the Graduate Faculty committee for approval prior to being considered by the Faculty Senate.
    (3) The committee consists of representatives from the Faculty Senate, Graduate Faculty committee and DSCC committees. Two (2) faculty members will be elected from and by the Faculty Senate, each serving a two-year (2-year) term. The Senate will attempt to stagger the terms of the representatives. The Curricula Committee of the Graduate Faculty Committee will elect one (1) representative to serve a two-year (2-year) term. The program leader of each DSCC will be an ex-officio, voting, member of the CCC.
  5. Committee for Effective Teaching
    (1) This committee makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate and the Provost, regarding the instruments to be used for evaluations of teaching, the procedures for conducting these evaluations, and policies related to the public disclosure of the evaluation results. The scope of the committee’s responsibilities includes evaluation of all aspects of teaching in courses providing academic credit.
    (2) In addition to student evaluations, the committee is to consider alternate methods of evaluating teaching, may suggest methods and programs for improving teaching, and makes recommendations on the selection process and criteria for campus-wide teaching awards.
    (3) The committee consists of one (1) faculty member, elected from, and by, each department desiring representation, one (1) student selected by the Student Council, and one (1) graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students. Faculty representatives serve three-year (3-year) terms, and students serve a one (1) year term. In addition, the Provost may appoint up to three (3) non-voting members to this committee.
  6. Discipline Specific Curricula Committees
    (1) A DSCCs assists in coordinating curricular proposals generated by the degree programs as specified in the charter of that DSCC.
    (2) The Provost may propose, with appropriate academic rationale and suggested structure, changes to the DSCC(s). The Provost forwards the proposals with his/her recommendations, and the suggested constituencies from which the committee members will be drawn by the following rules, to the Faculty Senate for approval.
    (a) Every DSCC shall be identified by a discipline name.
    (b) Every degree program shall be associated with one, and only one, DSCC. These associations will be stated in the charter of each DSCC, and may be altered only with the approval of the Provost and the Faculty Senate.
    (c) Each DSCC program leader shall serve a (1) one-year term, and be elected from, and by, its members. Each DSCC program leader shall serve as a voting member of the CCC.
  7. Environmental Health, Safety, and Security Committee (EHSS)
    (1) This committee reviews and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate, the Chief of Police, and appropriate administrative officials concerning policies, priorities, and training related to environmental health, safety, and physical security on campus.
    (2) The voting members of the committee consist of one (1) person elected from each academic department desiring representation, two (2) representatives of the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, the Chief of Campus Police or his/her appointee, one (1) administrative member appointed by the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations, one (1) student selected by the Student Council, one (1) graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students, and one (1) representative of Staff Council. In addition, the Provost may appoint one (1) non-voting member to this committee. Department representatives serve for a two-year (2-year) term with approximately one third elected each year. The remaining committee members shall be elected, or appointed, annually.
    (3) The chairperson of the committee is elected by and from the committee’s voting membership. The chairperson should work closely with the Environmental Health and Safety and Campus Police departments to keep the committee and campus constituents abreast of both acute and long-term issues facing the university.
  8. Facilities Planning Committee (FPC)
    (1) This committee studies and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate and appropriate administrative official(s) concerning policies and priorities for physical facilities, including buildings, equipment, and land acquisition and use. The committee also makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate on policies pertaining to parking, security, traffic and matters affecting campus safety.
    (2) Each Department may nominate one (1) faculty member for service on the Facilities Planning Committee. The committee shall consist of three (3) faculty members elected from and by the Faculty Senate; four (4) members elected by the Faculty Senate from a list of departmental nominees; one (1) administrative member appointed by the Chancellor, one (1) student selected by the Student Council, one (1) graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students, and one (1) non-voting member selected by the Chief Information Officer. Each faculty member shall serve for a two-year (2-year) term with approximately one-half of the faculty membership to be selected each year. The remaining committee members shall be elected, or appointed, annually.
  9. Honorary Degrees Committee (HDC)
    (1)This committee meets at least annually, and reviews current and previous recommendations from the Campus for honorary degrees. The committee shall submit its recommendations first to the Faculty Senate and then to the Chancellor. After appropriate review by the Chancellor, recommendations are forwarded to the University of ��ӰԺ (UM) System Honors Committee. All names shall be held in strict confidence, with public announcements to be made only by the University of ��ӰԺ Board of Curators or the Chancellor.
    (2) Each Department may nominate one (1) faculty member for service on the Honorary Degrees committee. The committee consists of the Provost and four (4) members elected by the Faculty Senate from the list of department nominees. Elected committee members serve one-year (1-year) terms.
  10. Information Technology / Computing Committee (ITCC)
    (1) This committee advises the Provost and the Chief Information Officer on the formulation and implementation of information technology (IT) and computing activities on campus. These activities include but are not limited to networking, email, academic computing, electronic data bases, web publishing, distance learning, electronic classrooms, academic software and procurement of equipment for faculty, student and staff desktops and campus IT/computing facilities.
    (2) The voting members of the committee consist of one (1) person elected from each academic department desiring representation, the Director of the Library or his/her appointee, two students selected by the Student Council, and one graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students. The non-voting members of the committee include the Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Finance and Operations and the Chief Information Officer. Department representatives serve for a three-year (3-year) term with approximately one third elected each year. The representative of the library serves for a three-year (3-year) term, while students serve for one year.
  11. Intellectual Property Committee
    (1) This committee, in conjunction with Technology Transfer and Economic Development, is concerned with the formulation and implementation of policies and procedures related to intellectual property. It reviews and makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate, Chancellor and Provost on patent and copyright matters.
    (2) The committee consists of seven (7) members of which six (6) are faculty members elected by the Faculty Senate and one (1) is an administrative member appointed annually by the Provost, which can be the Director of Technology Transfer and Economic Development or its proxy. The faculty members shall serve for two (2) years with three (3) members elected each year. The committee shall be chaired by a faculty member. Priority for nominated members should be those with patent and/or copyright experience and appropriate representation from engineering, liberal arts, management and science academic departments.
  12. Intercampus Faculty Cabinet
    (1) IFC is a University of ��ӰԺ System Faculty Cabinet comprised of faculty representatives from each of the U.M. System campuses that serves as a liaison committee between the President and his staff and the four campus faculties.
    (2) Membership of this committee is comprised of the Past President, President, and President-Elect of the Faculty Senate. In the event that one of these officers cannot serve on the IFC, the Faculty Senate will elect the replacement campus representative for a one (1) year term.
  13. Library and Learning Resources Committee (LLRC)
    (1) This committee makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate and appropriate administrative officials with respect to the administration of the Library and Learning Resources facilities and on rules governing use by students, faculty, and others. It shall consider all problems concerning the operation of the Library and its facilities.
    (2) Each Department may nominate one (1) faculty member for service on the Library and Learning Resources Committee. The committee consists of eight (8) elected by the Faculty Senate from the list of department nominees with each faculty member serving a two-year (2-year) term with approximately one half to be elected each year; one graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students and one undergraduate student to be selected by the Student Council and the Dean of the Library.
  14. Personnel Committee (PC)
    (1) This committee recommends to the Faculty Senate general policies on the conditions of appointment, employment, compensation, and retirement of faculty and administrative officers. It also recommends reporting schemes and procedures regarding the annual salary and wage raise pool.
    (2) Each Department may nominate one faculty member for service on the Personnel Committee. The committee consists of two faculty members elected from and by the Faculty Senate, four (4) elected by the Faculty Senate from the list of department nominees, one (1) faculty member elected from and by the Graduate Faculty, one (1) faculty member selected by the Staff Council, and one (1) administrative member appointed by the Chancellor. Elected members serve a two-year (2-year) term with approximately one half elected each year.
  15. Public Occasions Committee (POC)
    (1) This committee makes general plans for University-sponsored assemblies, programs and public occasions such as Open House Days, Homecoming, and Commencement. It recommends policy for faculty and student programs, guest speakers and ad hoc events. It also supervises the academic calendar.
    (2) The committee consists of six (6) faculty members elected from and by the General Faculty, one administrator appointed by the Chancellor, three (3) students selected by the Student Council, and one (1) student selected by the Council of Graduate Students. Faculty members shall serve for a two-year (2-year) term with one half elected each year.
    (3) The Commencement subcommittee of the POC is charged with planning and overseeing the implementation of plans for Commencement ceremonies and other events related to Commencement. This subcommittee is appointed with the authority of the Faculty Senate, given that its activities require assistance from individuals outside the POC. The subcommittee will report to the POC, and not directly to Faculty Senate. An annual report of activities of the Commencement subcommittee will be included in the annual report submitted by the POC.
    (4) Two (2) members elected by and from the POC are to serve on the Commencement subcommittee. As is the norm for events within the jurisdiction of the POC, changes deemed significant, as determined by the two subcommittee members, to the form or function of the Commencement ceremonies are subject to approval by Faculty Senate.
  16. Rules, Procedures and Agenda Committee (RP&A)
    (1) This committee oversees the application of these Bylaws, any Rules and Regulations of bodies established by them, and the process of Bylaw amendment as described elsewhere in these Bylaws. It may investigate and make recommendations on procedure to the Faculty Senate.
    (2) The committee is responsible for the conduct and supervision of Faculty Senate and General Faculty elections. It shall receive nominations from the faculty for elections, adding, but not deleting, names as necessary to provide candidates for all offices and committees and shall obtain the consent of all nominees. The committee shall also be responsible for submitting slates of candidates nominated for serving on the standing committees for Faculty Senate elections, appropriately distributed among the disciplines. In the event that nominations for committees from departments are fewer than the number of positions to be filled, RP&A may add additional departmental nominees to fill the positions which would otherwise become vacant.
    (3) It is the responsibility of this committee to prepare the agenda for Faculty Senate meetings and to assist the Secretary of the General Faculty in the preparation of the agenda for General Faculty meetings.
    (4) The voting members of the committee consists of the Past President, the President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Parliamentarian of the Faculty Senate; one graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students; one student selected by the Student Council; and the chairs of the following standing committees: Academic Freedom and Standards, Budgetary Affairs, Curricula, Facilities Planning, Personnel, Student Affairs and Tenure Policy. Other Faculty Standing Committee chairs are ex-officio non-voting members.
    (5) The Past President officer of the Faculty Senate is the chairperson of RP&A. If the Past President is unable to serve, the Faculty Senate will elect a chairperson.
  17. Student Affairs Committee (SAC)
    (1) This committee makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate regarding relationships between students and ��ӰԺ S&T, including, but not limited to, the following: student-teacher relationships; student-administration relationships; scheduling of classes and examinations; budgeting and distribution of funds paid by students for student activities; rules and regulations pertaining to student housing, health and services for students, University counseling services, departmental advisement practices; rules and regulations pertaining to student organizations, including varsity and intramural athletics; oversight and discipline of student organizations, including review of all sanctions, withdrawals or denials; operations of the University Center; student publications; and civil rights of all students. The committee may appoint subcommittees and delegate its responsibility to them. Members of such subcommittees need not be members of the Faculty Senate or the Student Affairs Committee.
    (2) Each department may nominate one (1) faculty member for service on the Student Affairs committee. The committee consists of four (4) faculty members elected by the Faculty Senate from the list of departmental nominees, one (1) faculty member elected by and from the Faculty Senate; four (4) students selected by the Student Council; and one (1) student selected by the Council of Graduate Students. The Director of Student Life, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, and the Registrar are ex-officio non-voting members of the committee.
  18. Student Awards and Financial Aids Committee (SA&FAC)
    (1) This committee recommends policies regarding the administration of student awards and financial aids, including loans and scholarships, consistent with specifications of the respective donors and grantors. It shall be the duty of the committee to consider and rule on appeals that may be submitted by students regarding awards and financial aids.
    (2) The committee consists of three (3) faculty members elected from and by the Faculty Senate, two (2) faculty members elected from and by the General Faculty, two (2) undergraduates selected by the Student Council, one (1) graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students, the Provost, the Director of Student Financial Aid, and such other appointees as the Chancellor names. Each member has voice and vote when considering new or revised policy. When considering student appeals, only the elected faculty members, the Provost and the Director of Student Financial Aid have voice and vote. At the request of the appealing student, the undergraduate members--for an undergraduate--or graduate student member--for graduate students--may participate with voice and vote. Faculty members are elected for two-year (2-year) terms; students are selected annually.
  19. Tenure Policy Committee (TPC)
    (1)This committee is concerned with the tenure rights of faculty. It functions according to the principles stated in the Academic Tenure Regulations adopted by the University of ��ӰԺ Board of Curators. It may also make recommendations for policy changes through the Faculty Senate to the Board of Curators. It also serves as the judicial hearing committee for cases of research dishonesty and make recommendations of Dismissal for Cause (section 310.060 of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations) to the Provost.
    (2) This committee consists of one (1) faculty member from each academic department whose faculty is eligible for tenure. The faculty of each academic department shall, during the second semester of each academic year, elect one of its eligible faculty members to membership on the TPC to serve for the following academic year, and also elect an alternate faculty member who shall serve whenever the regular committee member is unable to serve.
    (3) Faculty members shall be elected from the eligible Professors on continuous appointment. If there are no eligible Professors within a department, then faculty members shall be elected from the eligible Associate Professors. Vice Provosts, department chairs, and other persons who devote 50% or more of their time to administrative duties shall not be eligible for membership on the TPC.
7. Judicial Committees
  1. Equity Resolution Hearing Panel (ERHP)
    (1) Per Chapter 600 of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations, the Faculty Senate shall annually propose a list of twenty (20) faculty members to the Chancellor, from which ten (10) are selected by the Chancellor to serve in the panelist pool. The Chancellor also selects staff members to serve in the panelist pool. The University thereby creates and will annually train a pool of not less than ten (10) faculty and ten (10) administrators and/or staff to serve as hearing panel members in the Hearing Panel Resolution Process. Service in the panelist pool is a renewable one-year term.
    (2) Hearing Panels at ��ӰԺ S&T will include at least one faculty member and one administrator or staff member. Up to two (2) alternates from the pool may be designated to observe the process and to serve as a panel member if a panel member becomes unavailable.
  2. Grievance Hearing Panel (GHP)
    (1) This panel is concerned with the fair and equitable resolutions of faculty grievances with the University. It functions according to the principles stated in the Academic Grievance Procedure (section 370.010) adopted by the University of ��ӰԺ Board of Curators. It may also make recommendations for policy changes through the Faculty Senate to the Board of Curators.
    (2) The GRP is not involved in Equity Resolution Processes, which are covered under section 600 of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations.
    (3) One (1) panel or two (2) panels of two (2) faculty members are elected by the Faculty Senate from nominations from academic departments to three years renewable terms on a rotational schedule. Whether one (1) or two (2) panels are populated is subject to determination by majority vote of the Faculty Senate.
  3. Grievance Oversight Committee (OC)
    (1) A member of the OC will be appointed to each grievance case following receipt of a Grievance Filing Form by the GRP. The OC representatives are observers of the confidential grievance processes: The OC representative may not participate in the deliberations or rendering of findings and recommendations by the GRP but provides a summative, evaluative report of each grievance process without conveying substantive information. The representatives also monitor the implementation of remedies that result from a grievance process.
    (2) Three (3) members are elected to three year terms on a yearly, staggered basis by the Faculty Senate from departmental nominees.
    (3) One (1) member is elected to OC from and by the Faculty Senate not as an oversight representative but rather to serve as the chairperson for the committee, who assigns members to grievances and who prepares the annual report to Faculty Senate as required by section 370.010 of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations.
  4. Parking, Security and Traffic Committee (PS&T)
    (1) The committee oversees application of rules and regulations concerning parking and traffic. It functions according to the principles stated in ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations.
    (2) Each Department may nominate one (1) faculty member for service on the Parking, Security and Traffic committee. The committee shall be composed of twelve (12) faculty members elected by the Faculty Senate from the list of department nominees for a two-year (2-year) term with one-half being elected each year, two (2) undergraduate students selected by the Student Council, one (1) graduate student selected by the Council of Graduate Students, one (1) member selected by the Staff Council, and one (1) member selected the Director of the Physical Plant. Student terms shall be for one (1) year. The Director of the University Police shall be a member ex-officio. Two (2) additional committee members may be appointed by the Chancellor.
    (3) The PS&T shall elect one of the faculty committee members as chairperson for a one (1) year term.
  5. Student Conduct Committee (SCC)
    (1) This committee conducts hearings and makes dispositions under the Rules and Procedures in Student Conduct Matters as provided in Section 200.020 of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations. It may also provide aggregate information regarding its decisions to the Faculty Senate, and make recommendations on policies relating to student discipline to the Faculty Senate for forwarding to the Board of Curators.
    (2) The committee consists of members as prescribed by the Board of Curators. All members of the committee shall have the same voting privileges and responsibilities. Faculty members serve two-year (2-year) terms with approximately one half elected each year.
  6. Student Scholastic Appeals Committee (SSA)
    (1) This committee establishes procedures for individual student scholastic appeals. The committee shall consider and rule on all individual cases of appeal relating to student scholastic performance, including but not limited to: graduation with honors, probation and dropping from school, readmission after being dropped for scholastic reasons, scholastic deficiencies and evaluation of credit and transfer of credits, grades and honor points from other campuses to ��ӰԺ S&T. It serves as an appeals board for cases of students on scholastic probation who are involved in the activities of organizations.
    (2) The committee shall consist of eight (8) members: three (3) faculty members are elected from and by the Faculty Senate; two (2) members are elected from and by the General Faculty; two (2) student members are selected by the Student Council; and one (1) student member is selected by the Council of Graduate Students. Faculty members serve a two-year (2-year) term with approximately one-half elected each year. Student members serve a one-year (1-year) term.
  7. Tuition and Residence Committee (TRC)
    (1) This committee assists the Cashier, when requested, in determining the residence status of a student relative to the required non-resident tuition fees established under the applicable regulations of the Board of Curators. The committee also considers properly filed appeals by students taking exception to the Cashier's ruling relative to their residence or tuition status.
    (2) This committee consists of three (3) faculty members and three (3) administrative members appointed for a one-year (1-year) term by the Chancellor, who shall designate one member as Chairperson.
8. Special Committees
  1. Special Committees addressing issues not presently in the purview of the Faculty Standing Committees or Judicial Committees may be authorized as needed by the Chancellor, the General Faculty, the Faculty Senate, the colleges, or departments. However, when the faculty or the administration establishes any committee having campus-wide responsibilities or authority, they shall file with the Secretary of the Faculty Senate a statement specifying the responsibilities, authority, and composition of the committee, timeline of authority for the committee, together with a list of current members.
  2. When deemed appropriate by the Chancellor, by the General Faculty, or by the Faculty Senate reports of Special Committees shall be distributed to all members of the General Faculty. Each Special Committee shall prepare an annual report to be made available to all faculty members.
  3. Whenever possible, Special Committees shall be organized prior to September 1 and be responsible for their duties from August 1 through July 31 of the following year.
Student Regulations
1. The Student Council is the official voice for the undergraduate students to the Faculty; the Council of Graduate Students of the ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology is the official voice for the graduate students.
2. Rules and disciplinary regulations, which apply to students and the "University of ��ӰԺ Rules of Procedure in Student Disciplinary Matters" shall be printed in the "Manual of Information" and distributed to all students.
3. Student Participation in Academic Governance
  1. Students shall be eligible to serve on the Faculty Senate and/or on committees as designated by these Bylaws.
  2. Individual students and student organizations may recommend changes in policies governing students to the appropriate committee. These recommendations, when submitted in writing, must be considered promptly by the committee or referred to the RP&A for proper assignment, and the students kept informed in writing of the disposition of the recommendations.
Rules and Regulations -- All committees and any other permanent body established by these Bylaws, shall make rules and regulations necessary for the successful operation of their organizations by at least a simple majority of the body. Copies shall be filed with the Secretary of the General Faculty for general availability.
Amending the Bylaws -- Amendments may be proposed by twenty (20) faculty members of the General Faculty by submitting them to the Rules, Procedures, and Agenda Committee. This committee must transmit the proposal to the General Faculty within fifteen (15) school days and then include the proposal in the agenda of the next General Faculty meeting. Voting on the proposed amendment shall be by a mail ballot and shall take place within fifteen (15) school days after completion of its consideration at a meeting of the General Faculty. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of those voting shall be required for the adoption of the proposed amendment. If adopted, the amendment is presented by the Chancellor to the Board of Curators at their next meeting for consideration and will become effective immediately upon approval by the Board of Curators.
Publication of the Bylaws and Committee Membership-- The Secretary of the General Faculty shall maintain, on a publicly accessible, open location (such as a worldwide web site), the current edition of these Bylaws, a list of the officers of the General Faculty, a list of the officers and members of the Faculty Senate, and the membership of all Standing and Judicial committees defined elsewhere in these Bylaws. The name, responsibilities, authority and current members of all other committees which have campus-wide responsibilities or authority will be similarly posted. The information shall be updated within thirty (30) days of any change in committee status.

300.040 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ - St. Louis

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:33:00 +0000

300.040 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ - St. Louis kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 20:33

Bd. Min 3-19-71; Amended 10-12-73; 2-18-77; 12-15-78; 6-18-82; 2-11-83; 6-24-83; 5-4-84; 5-3-85; 7-29-88; 3-10-89; 6-22-90; 5-3-91; 1-29-92; 5-8-92, 5-6-93; 3-29-94; 3-24-95; 4-25-96; 5-29-97; 10-16-98; 5-27-99; 3-23-00; 9-28-01; 12-01-05; 12-15-06; 06-06-08, 12-10-10; 11-21-13; 4-10-15; 6-26-15; 10-7-16; 6-21-18; Bd. Min. 9-24-20; Bd. Min. 6-24-21.

PURPOSE OF GOVERNING PRACTICES - The purpose of these Bylaws is to establish a body that represents the voice of the Faculty and to establish an effective vehicle for the needs and concerns of the Faculty to be presented for discussion and debate. These Bylaws assume that Faculty may participate in academic decision processes. The right of the Faculty to organize and to carry out the responsibilities and functions delegated to them by the Board of Curators (Board) is recognized in Section 10.030.D.2 of the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of ��ӰԺ.
FACULTY
1. Membership - The Faculty of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis shall consist of the President, the Chancellor, tenured and tenure-track faculty, and all full-time, ranked, non-tenure track (NTT) faculty with professorial designation, and others elected by the Faculty. Elected members so designated by the Faculty shall be non-voting members of the Faculty. Campus-wide faculty votes on issues specific to tenure or tenured/tenure track (T/TT) faculty will be restricted to T/TT faculty.
2. Faculty Rights -
  1. Academic Rights - Each faculty member has the right to freedom of inquiry, discourse, teaching, research and publication, as well as the responsibilities correlative with this right.
  2. Civil Rights - The constitutional rights of the Faculty members shall be preserved.
  3. Employment Rights - Faculty members shall have rights consistent with their continuous appointment or term appointment (during the term), except for cause, retirement or financial exigencies.
  4. Notification fo Appointment or Changes Thereto - Faculty members shall be notified of their appointments and workload, or any changes thereto, as much in advance of the beginning of institutional responsibilities as possible (as stated in the Board’s Rules and Regulations).
  5. Right to be Kept Informed - The Faculty shall be kept informed of actions and activities of committees and executive officers, and of other occurrences that pertain to the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis. When possible, such information shall be made available to the Faculty before being made available to the general public.
3. Responsibilities - The Faculty of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis shall bear primary responsibility for recommending and implementing educational policy, particularly in areas of curriculum, degree requirements, methods of instruction, research, requirements for admission, student affairs, and faculty status. The Faculty may also make recommendations to the Chancellor and other persons or offices concerning general policy matters affecting the University.
4. Authority - The faculty's authority, as delegated by the Board of Curators, is of three types: primary and direct, in which the Faculty has essential decision-making authority; shared, in which the Faculty participates with others; and advisory, in which the Faculty counsels with the person or offices with ultimate decision-making authority. (On those matters requiring multi-campus coordination, the Faculty shall act through its appropriate bodies, UM System 300.040.B.5.)
  1. Primary and Direct Authority - The UMSL faculty has essential decision-making authority in matters directly affecting the educational program of UMSL, including but not limited to:
    
    (1) Articulation and maintenance of standards of academic performance--this includes but is not limited to guidelines for appropriate research, service, and scholarships; requirements for graduation; and related matters.
    
    (2) Development and approval of courses of instruction and curricula.
    
    (3) Development and approval of procedures governing educational support programs on the UMSL campus.
    
    (4) Formulation of criteria determining professional standing of faculty--including but not limited to such matters as tenure, promotion, termination, guidelines for responsibility, faculty standing with regard to graduate faculty membership and doctoral dissertation supervision.
    
    (5) Determination of an appropriate faculty committee structure.
    
    (6) Determination of minimum admission requirements.
    
    (7) Selection of awardees for academic scholarships.
  2. Shared Authority - The UMSL faculty has shared authority by which it participates cooperatively with other persons or offices in matters such as:
    
    (1) Development and articulation of students' rights and responsibilities.
    
    (2) Determination of an appropriate academic calendar.
    
    (3) Selection of awardees for honorary degrees.
    
    (4) Application of criteria affecting professional standing of faculty, such as required professional licensure.
  3. Advisory Authority - The UMSL faculty has advisory authority and responsibility with other persons or offices in matters such as:
    
    (1) Budget and resource allocation.
    
    (2) Planning, including capital expenditures and physical facilities.
    
    (3) Selection of departmental, divisional, campus, and university-level administrators.
    
    (4) Determination of the campus standing committee structure.
    
    (5) Development and implementation of general business procedures that facilitate academic program excellence.
    
    (6) Use of facilities for program activities.
    
    (7) Application of criteria affecting promotion, tenure and termination.
    
    (8) Structure of academic departments and units.
  4. Faculty Delegation of Authority - The Faculty, recognizing that handling matters through meetings of the Faculty is cumbersome, that attendance at such meetings varies, and that it is often difficult to have complete discussion of issues at such meetings, may delegate its authority to separate schools, colleges, or such other parallel units as may be created from time to time, and to the Faculty Senate within the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis. The actions of the Senate, in those areas in which they have delegated authority, shall be deemed final unless challenged within 10 days. Such challenge shall require a petition signed by at least twenty-five (25) faculty members from at least two parallel units calling for a review by the Faculty of a particular Senate action.
5. Meetings - The Faculty of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis shall meet at least twice each year and at such additional times as the President, Chancellor, or the Faculty itself may determine. Upon written request of at least twenty-five (25) members of the Faculty, the Chancellor shall call a meeting within two weeks.
  1. The President, or in the President’s absence, the Chancellor, or in the Chancellor’s absence, a member of the Faculty designated by the Chancellor shall preside at each faculty meeting.
  2. A quorum shall consist of at least ten (10) percent of the voting members of the Faculty representing at least two parallel units when business described in the published agenda is being considered. When other items of business not described in the published agenda are being considered, a quorom shall consist of at least fifty (50) percent of the voting members representing at least two parallel units.
  3. Notice of all meetings of the Faculty shall be sent to each member of the Faculty at least five school days prior to the meeting. Such notice includes the agenda for the meeting.
  4. Proceedings in Faculty meetings shall be in accordance with the rules set forth in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order except where otherwise provided for in these Bylaws or the regulations of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis.
  5. Official minutes shall be kept and made available to each member of the Faculty within a week of the meeting.
6. The Intercampus Faculty Cabinet - Three campus representatives will serve on the Intercampus Faculty Cabinet. Two of the three shall be elected by the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis Faculty to serve three-year staggered terms so that no more than one of the two elected members will be replaced or reelected in any year. The Senate Chairperson shall serve as the third member of the Intercampus Faculty Cabinet.
7. Campus Standing Committees -
  1. Grievance Resolution Panel (GRP) - The Panel shall perform the responsibilities prescribed by the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of ��ӰԺ (370.010.C.1), "Academic Grievance Procedure.” The role of the GRP is to address grievances brought by faculty members. The panel should consist of a senior administrator appointed by the Chancellor and two tenured faculty members, and two alternate faculty members. The faculty members will be chosen by the Faculty Senate after consultation with the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. Members shall serve two-year staggered renewable terms.
  2. Degree Revocation Committee - In accordance with 220.025, this committee shall have jurisdiction to consider any case in which revocation of a degree, diploma and/or certificate is proposed. The Committee shall be called the Campus Degree Revocation Committee. Four (4) members of the Campus Degree Revocation Committee and an alternate to serve in the event one of the four (4) members cannot serve, shall be appointed annually by the Chancellor after consultation with the Faculty Council or Faculty Senate. Each of the members of the Committee and the alternate shall be a faculty member on continuous appointment at the rank of Professor or Associate Professor. In the event that the Chancellor approves the initiation of the procedures for revocation of a degree, diploma and/or certificate, the Chancellor shall appoint a fifth member of the Campus Degree Revocation Committee, who shall also be a faculty member at one of the campuses of the University of ��ӰԺ System on continuous appointment at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor and who shall be from the same discipline or a related discipline as the department faculty who recommended the award of the degree, diploma and/or certificate, but who shall not be a faculty member in such department. The Campus Degree Revocation Committee shall elect a Chair from among its five (5) members.
STUDENT BODY
1. Membership - The student body of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis shall consist of all persons who are officially enrolled as regular full-time or part-time students in the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis.
2. Responsibilities- The student body shall have the responsibility to participate in the recommending and implementing of educational policy, particularly in the areas of academic and student affairs. The student body may, through its official representatives, make recommendation to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs or the Chancellor concerning general policy matters affecting the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis.
STAFF
1. Membership - Non-academic staff members participate in shared governance through The UMSL Staff Association, whose membership includes all benefits eligible administrative, service and support staff of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis.
2. Responsibilities - The staff of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis, through its official representatives, shall have the responsibility of considering methods and means by which employment conditions may be improved and the operating efficiency of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis increased; receiving and considering matters concerning working conditions; making such recommendations that it deems appropriate, and communicating problems of mutual concern to the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis administration.
FACULTY SENATE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
(Hereinafter referred to as Senate)
1. Responsibilities - The Faculty Senate is the legislative and policy-making body of the Faculty. It carries out the responsibilities of the Faculty (see Section 300.040 B.3) not reserved by the Faculty as a body or specifically delegated to the University Assembly (Section 300.040 E). The Senate, as a represenetative faculty voice, shall advise the chancellor and the UMSL faculty on questions of UMSL policy submitted by either to the Senate. It may also initiate recommendations concerning changes in UMSL policy for consideration and appropriate action by the chancellor or UMSL faculty.
2. Delegation of Authority
  1. Since the authority of the Senate is delegated to it by the Faculty, it is subject to over-rule by the Faculty.
  2. All authority delegated by the Senate to committees or individuals is subject to revocation by the Senate.
3. Committees of the Senate - In their deliberations the committees shall, when appropriate, consult with the Chancellor or other administrative officers; with representatives of the separate schools, colleges, and other parallel units which may be created from time to time; with departments and concerned faculty; and with students and student organizations. Committee recommendations shall be made to the Senate or to the appropriate administrative officer.
  The Senate shall establish the following standing committees:
  1. Committee on Committees - The Committee on Committees shall be responsible for nominating for election all faculty members of the committees of the Senate and the University Assembly. The chair of the Committee shall be a faculty Senator.
  2. Steering Committee of the Faculty Senate and University Assembly (hereinafter referred to as the Steering Committee) - The Steering Committee shall consist of the Senate Chairperson, who shall serve as Chairperson of the Steering Committee, the Chancellor, the Secretary of the Senate, and three elected Senators. Chairs of Senate and Assembly Committees will be asked to attend Steering Committee meetings when their committees have items for the agenda of the next Senate or Assembly meeting. It shall be the responsibility of the Steering Committee:
    
    (1) To call regular and special meetings of the Senate and Assembly and to prepare the agenda prior to each meeting.
    (2) To coordinate the work and activities of the Senate and Assembly and of Senate and Assembly committees.
    (3) To meet regularly and frequently with the Chancellor to discuss matters of policy concerning the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis.
    (4) As an agency of the Senate and Assembly, to maintain avenues of communication with the Faculty and student body of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis, with campus administrative officers and the governing board of the University.
    (5) To establish all guidelines for elections for membership in the Senate and Assembly and to supervise said elections.
  3. Committee on Curriculum and Instruction - The Committee shall have general responsibility for recommending to the Senate policies and procedures in the area of curriculum and instruction. It shall also recommend policies regarding graduation requirements, special honors programs, and academic publications such as catalogs and schedules of courses.
    
    (1) The Committee also shall regularly recommend to the Senate the calendar of the University. It shall recommend policies relating to schedules of classes and final examination schedules. Departures from calendars and examination schedules will be recommended by this Committee.
    (2) New degrees and degree programs proposed by the separate schools, colleges, and such other parallel units as may be created from time to time, shall be submitted by the appropriate dean or equivalent to the Committee for recommendation to the Senate.
    (3) Curricular additions and changes will be sent by the appropriate dean or equivalent to the Committee to be examined for overlap and duplication. In the absence of overlap and/or duplication, such proposals will be reported to the Senate.
  4. Committee on Appointments, Tenure, and Promotion - The Committee shall consist of full professors holding a tenure appointment. There shall be one member on the Committee elected from each of the parallel units. There shall also be two members elected at large from the campus. The Committee shall elect a chairperson from among its members.
    
    (1) Initial academic appointments to the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis recommended as tenure appointments shall be submitted by the Department or Division concerned through the Dean or equivalent of the appropriate school, college, or other parallel unit. The Dean or equivalent shall forward the Department’s or Division’s recommendations with the Dean’s or equivalent’s own recommendations for approval or disapproval. After consideration, the Committee on Appointments, Tenure, and Promotion shall submit its recommendations to the Chancellor.
    (2) Tenure recommendations for Faculty holding term appointments, and recommendations for promotion above the rank of assistant professor, shall be made in accordance with the procedure outlined above.
    (3) It shall be the responsibility of this Committee together with the appropriate administrative officers, to establish, develop, and maintain in all areas of the University the highest standards of faculty quality.
  5. Committee on Promotion of Non-Tenure Track Faculty – The Committee shall consist of eligible faculty holding the rank of Teaching Professor, Clinical Professor, Extension Professor, or Research Professor and at least one full professor. There shall be one member on the Committee elected from each of the parallel units. There shall also be two faculty members elected at large from the campus. The Committee shall elect a chairperson from among its members.
    
    (1) The Dean or equivalent shall forward the Department’s or Division’s recommendations with the Dean’s (or equivalent) own recommendation for approval or disapproval of promotion to the Committee. After consideration, the Committee shall submit its recommendation to the Chancellor.
    (2) Promotion recommendations will be made in accordance with procedures determined by the Committee, consistent with the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of ��ӰԺ.
    (3) The committee shall use standards created by the academic units and shall not create additional campus-wide standards.
    (4) It shall be the responsibility of this Committee, together with the appropriate administrative officers, to establish, develop, and maintain in all areas of the University the highest standards of faculty quality.
  6. Committee on Research - The Committee shall consist of two panels, one meeting in the fall semester and the other meeting in the spring semester.
    
    (1) The Fall and Spring panels shall meet in the fall to elect a committee chairperson for each panel, to clarify program objectives, to coordinate deadlines, and to set guidelines for research proposals and awards. Thereafter, the panels shall meet during their semester of service to advise and make recommendations on:
    
    (a) Competitions for internal grant funds, including financial support during the summer and during research leaves, support for research assistants, grants for equipment and supplies, and funds for travel to research locations, and
    (b) Nominations for campus, University, and external research awards that are available campus-wide.
    
    (2) Each panel shall also meet after completing its work in order to review procedures and develop recommendations for the following year’s committee to consider.
    (3) The committee chairperson shall vote only as a member of the panel to which he/she has been elected.
    (4) Panel members are ineligible to receive funding and awards under the jurisdiction of the panel on which they serve during the period of their service on the panel. The committee chairperson is ineligible to receive funding and awards under the Committee’s jurisdiction during the entire year of his/her service as chairperson.
  7. Committee on Research and Libraries - The Research and Libraries Committee shall be responsible for recommending and reviewing issues and policy in the areas of research, research administration, and libraries, including library budgetary issues. It shall advise the Vice Chancellor for Research and the Dean of Libraries, serve as a liaison between the libraries and the university research community via the Senate, and consider any matter referred by the Senate, the Dean of Libraries, the Vice Chancellor for Research, or any member of the campus community.
  8. Committee on Faculty Teaching and Service Awards - The Committee shall formulate and publish guidelines for campus-wide teaching and service awards; solicit nominations for these awards as well as University and external teaching and service awards; and recommend candidates to the Chancellor.
    Members of the Committee are ineligible to receive awards under the Committee’s jurisdiction during the entire period of their service on the Committee.
  9. Committee on Academic Advisory and Assessment - The Committee shall have the general responsibility for making recommendations to the Provost on academic issues affecting the University, including general policies and procedures governing the evaluation of academic instruction and advising, and assessment of educational outcomes and other related academic and educational assessment matters. The Committee shall also regularly review and advise on policies and procedures in this area and recommend changes when appropriate.
  10. Committee on Bylaws and Rules for the Faculty Senate and University Assembly - The Committee shall:
    
    (1) Receive all proposals for changes to the Bylaws and the Collected Rules and Regulations, review proposed changes to the Bylaws and the Collected Rules and Regulations, and initiate the process of Bylaws changes as smoothly and infrequently as possible.
    (2) Recommend interpretation of the Bylaws and Collected Rules and Regulations upon the written request of the Senate Chairperson, and report its conclusions to the Senate.
    (3) Compile and maintain a current set of Senate and Assembly Operating Rules, consider changes in Operating Rules, and report recommendations regarding Operating Rules to the Senate.
  11. Committee on Research Misconduct - The Committee shall perform the responsibilities prescribed by the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of ��ӰԺ (420.010), “Research Misconduct.”
  12. Committee on Issues of Tenure Removal - The Committee shall conduct hearings in removal cases or in disputed cases involving tenure rights and status as provided for in the Academic Tenure Regulations of the University of ��ӰԺ. This committee is referred to as the Campus Faculty Committee on Tenure in the Academic Tenure Regulations (310.050). Grievances by faculty members shall be handled through the Academic Grievances Procedure.
  13. Oversight Committee - The Committee shall perform the responsibilities prescribed by the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University of ��ӰԺ (370.010.C.11), "Academic Grievance Procedure.” The role of the Oversight Committee is to monitor the grievance process as neutral observers and provide feedback on the process to the Faculty Senate, the Faculty, and the Provost’s and Chancellor’s offices.
  14. Ad hoc Committees - As the need arises, the Senate shall establish or recommend to the Chancellor establishment of ad hoc committees.
    Ad hoc Senate Committees shall be established through Senate approval of nominees selected by the Senate Committee on Committees or by nomination from the floor of the Senate. The faculty composition for each ad hoc committee shall be determined by the Senate.
  15. University-Wide and Statewide Committees - Reports from University-wide and statewide committees may be presented to the Senate. Whenever possible, representatives of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis serving on University-wide and/or statewide committees should advise the Senate Steering Committee if a report to the Senate is necessary.
UNIVERSITY ASSEMBLY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-ST. LOUIS
(Hereinafter referred to as Assembly)
1. Membership - The voting members of the Assembly shall consist of the elected members of the Faculty Senate; the UM System President; the Chancellor; and such others as are designated by the Senate in the Faculty Senate Operating Rules.
2. Responsibilities - The Assembly provides a forum for many of the major stakeholders of the University, including administrators, faculty, staff and students, to work together. The Assembly may exercise those responsibilities of the Faculty (see Section 300.040 B.3) that are delegated by the Faculty as a body.
3. Meetings and Officers - The Assembly shall meet regularly every other month during the academic year or in special meetings as called by the Steering Committee of the Senate and the Assembly (hereinafter referred to as the Steering Committee). The Steering Committee shall call a special meeting of the Assembly on request of the Chancellor or of any five members of the Assembly. Proceedings in Assembly meetings shall be in accordance with the rules set forth in the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order. A quorum shall consist of a majority of elected representatives.
  1. The elected officers of the Assembly shall be the same as those for the Senate.
  2. The Chairperson, or in the Chairperson’s absence a voting member of the Assembly designated by the Chairperson, shall be the presiding officer at each meeting of the Assembly.
4. Committees of the Assembly - All members of the eligible faculty, Administration, and Staff shall be eligible to serve on Assembly committees. Students who satisfy the eligibility requirements for service on the Assembly shall also be eligible to serve on Assembly committees. The standing committees of the Assembly shall be elected each year at the second organizational meeting of the Senate.
  The Assembly shall establish the following standing committees:
  1. Administrator Evaluation - The Committee shall annually conduct an evaluation of administrators on the UM-St. Louis campus.
  2. Budget and Planning Committee - This Committee makes recommendations to the Faculty Senate, the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor for Administration and Finance on matters concerning the long-range vision of the campus; plans to fulfill this vision; and budgetary matters as a consequence of the vision. This includes, but is not limited to, significant matters of a budgetary nature, and policies and priorities for strategic action plans. The Committee studies the Campus budget, keeps informed of its preparation and status, and consults with and advises the Chancellor on significant matters pertaining to budgetary affairs.
  3. Committee on Recruitment, Admissions, Retention, and Student Financial Aid - The Committee shall:
    
    (1) Monitor processes associated with recruitment, admissions, retention, and student financial aid and facilitate reporting to the Assembly.
    (2) Recommend policies and procedures to the Assembly, the Dean of Enrollment, the Director of Student Retention Services, and the Director of Student Financial Aid regarding recruitment, admissions, retention, and student financial aid.
    (3) Facilitate discussion with administrators and students on policies and procedures regarding scholarships, advisement and appeals.
  4. Committee on Student Affairs - The Committee on Student Affairs shall be responsible for recommending and reviewing policy in the areas of non-academic regulations and student services, such as student organizations and student publications, advising administration on policies related to students, and recommending approval of new student organizations. The responsibilities of the committee may be exercised by subcommittees established in any of the above areas. Faculty and staff members with administrative responsibilities in these areas shall be members of the subcommittees dealing in those areas.
  5. Committee on Physical Facilities, Space, and General Services - The Committee shall have the general responsibility for recommending to the Assembly policies and procedures in the areas of campus facilities and general services. It shall act in an advisory and fact-finding capacity for the planning of physical facilities, review and report priority matters relating to maintenance, construction, and support services to the Assembly, and review and process complaints and suggestions regarding physical facilities and services.
    The Committee shall be responsible for formulating long-range space recommendations including the type and amount of space needed, and priorities. Proposals for a long-term or campus-wide nature will be brought to the Assembly for discussion, debate, and ultimate recommendation to the Chancellor.
    Allocation of existing unused space will be recommended to the Chancellor by the Committee and reported to the Assembly.
  6. Committee on Information Technology – The Committee shall be responsible for general policy issues regarding campus information technology.
  7. Ad hoc Committees - As the need arises, the Assembly shall establish or recommend to the Chancellor establishment of ad hoc committees. Ad hoc Assembly committees shall be established through Assembly approval of nominees selected by the Senate/Assembly Committee on Committees or by nomination from the floor of the Assembly. The composition for each ad hoc committee shall be determined by the University Assembly.
AMENDMENTS
1. Proposed changes to these Bylaws shall be submitted to, or initiated by, the Bylaws and Rules Committee, which will follow the relevant procedures outlined above (D.2.l) and then provide them in written form to the Senate or Assembly as appropriate. The appropriate body shall then recommend passage or rejection of the proposed amendment(s) by majority vote. Upon passage of an amendment by the Senate or Assembly, the Chancellor shall submit the proposed change to the Faculty of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis for a vote at the Spring Faculty Meeting. Bylaw changes recommended by the Senate or Assembly shall be adopted by a majority of votes cast by the Faculty. Any amendments or modifications shall be presented by the Chancellor through the President to the Board of Curators for its approval before becoming effective.
2. Senate Operating Rules may be amended by majority vote of the Senate.
3. Assembly Operating Rules may be amended by majority vote of the Assembly.

310.010 Academic Freedom and Economic Security of Academic Staff

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:46:23 +0000

310.010 Academic Freedom and Economic Security of Academic Staff kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 20:46

Bd. Min. 3-17-72, p. 36,281; Revised Bd. Min. 6-27-80, p. 38,132; Amended Bd. Min. 9-12-80.

The Board of Curators of the University of ��ӰԺ believes that academic freedom and the economic security of its academic staff are indispensable to the success of the University of ��ӰԺ in fulfilling its obligations to its students and to society. The Board, therefore, hereby adopts and approves the following principles, the detailed application of which is implemented by the rules and regulations of the Board; and also adopts the following rules and regulations. (Although these rules and regulations cover in some detail certain aspects of the nature of regular academic staff positions, appointments thereto, and the rights of the holders thereof, these rules and regulations do not purport to cover in the same detail the nature of nonregular academic staff positions, appointments thereto, or the rights of the holders thereof, and do not purport to cover in any way non-academic staff.)

General Principles of Academic Freedom -- The Board hereby reaffirms the principles of academic freedom in teaching and research for teachers and academic investigators (herein referred to as faculty members). These principles are as follows:
1. Institutions of higher education are established and maintained for the common good, which depends upon the free search for truth and its free expression.
2. Academic freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research. Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. Academic freedom in its teaching aspect is fundamental to the protection of the rights of the faculty member in teaching and of the student in learning. It carries with it duties correlative with rights. The following sections are indicative of these rights and duties.
  1. Faculty members are entitled to freedom in research and in the publication of the results (qualified insofar as necessary in the case of sponsored research), subject to the adequate performance of their other academic duties.
  2. Faculty members are entitled to freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects, but have the responsibility not to depart significantly from their respective areas of competence or to divert substantial time to material extraneous to the course.
  3. College or university faculty members are citizens, members of an educational institution, and members of learned professions. When they speak or write as citizens, they are to be free from institutional censorship or discipline, but their special position in the community imposes special obligations. They should anticipate that the public may judge their profession and their institution by their utterances and actions.
    Hence, they should at all times be accurate, exercise appropriate restraint, show respect for the opinions of others, and make every effort to indicate that they do not speak for the institution.
The Principle of Tenure -- Tenure is the right to be free from dismissal without cause. Tenure is indispensable to the success of an institution of higher education in fulfilling its obligations to the common good.

310.015 Procedures for Review of Faculty Performance

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:48:00 +0000

310.015 Procedures for Review of Faculty Performance kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 20:48

Bd. Min. 1-19-01; Amended 11-29-07; Amended 4-12-13; Amended 4-27-17; Amended 2-6-20.

Non-Tenure Track and Untenured, Tenure Track Faculty. The performance of all non-tenure track and untenured tenure track faculty is to be reviewed annually by the appropriate unit supervisor (e.g., department chair, dean, director, etc.). The performance review should also include the workload distribution for the coming year or multiple years.
1. Written evaluations are expected and must be provided to non-tenure track faculty members. The workload standard for non-tenure track faculty members should be spelled out in detail based on the specific job responsibilities and expectations in the job description (see CRR 310.035).
2. Plans for untenured faculty may include multiple years up to the tenure review (see CRR 310.080.C). A multi-year plan will not be considered as assurance that an appointment will be renewed during the period covered by the plan. Annual evaluations of untenured faculty members during the probationary period must follow the faculty bylaws governing tenure for each campus (CRR 300.010 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia; CRR 300.020 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ-Kansas City; CRR 300.030 Faculty Bylaws of ��ӰԺ University of Science and Technology; and CRR 300.040 Faculty Bylaws of the University of ��ӰԺ-St. Louis).
Tenured Faculty Members. Tenured faculty have proven their ability to contribute significantly in their discipline and to work independently and productively in their field. In this document we affirm and strongly defend the importance of tenure at the University of ��ӰԺ. By fostering creativity and protecting academic freedom, tenure safeguards faculty from unfair dismissal based on arbitrary or discriminatory practices, thus encouraging the constant search for truth that is the hallmark of the University. Under this policy or any other university policy, academic tenure should be revoked only with just cause, and may only be done in accordance with the Collected Rules and Regulations of the University, section 310.020.C.1. However, tenure does not protect faculty from the consequences of not performing satisfactorily their duties to the University. It is in the best interest of the faculty as a whole to ensure that each faculty member contributes fully to the institution throughout that individual's career.
1. Performance Review of Tenured Faculty Not Holding Primarily Administrative or Department Chair Positions
  1. The tenured faculty of each department or unit will develop and publish standards for satisfactory performance which include minimum standards for teaching, research, and service as well as general principles for determining an overall satisfactory performance. They will be reviewed as part of the five-year program review. These standards are intended for use over the five-year time period covered by the post-tenure review (see B.1.c. below).
  2. Every tenured faculty member, except department chairs and those whose positions are primarily administrative (as defined in their appointment letter), will submit a signed annual report describing their activities in research, teaching and service. The annual performance review will cover the performance for the past year. In addition, the chair and faculty member will discuss plans for the coming year in order to establish the workload distribution for the coming year or for multiple years up to the five-year post-tenure review (see CRR 310.080.C). The annual report will be reviewed by the chair or evaluation committee of the unit following normal unit practices. In this document the term chair will be used to mean the appropriate unit director (e.g., chair, unit administrator, area coordinator, etc.). Chairs will be reviewed annually by the dean according to the standards described in B.1.a. Using the unit standards for the annual performance review (described in B.1.a), and taking into consideration the faculty member's workload distribution (described in CRR 310.080.C.), the activities of the faculty member will be rated as satisfactory or unsatisfactory in research, teaching and service, and an overall evaluation of satisfactory or unsatisfactory will be provided. The faculty member will receive this information in a written evaluation. The faculty member will sign the written evaluation to acknowledge its receipt and may provide a written response to the evaluation. A copy of this signed evaluation will be provided to the faculty member by the chair within a month after the faculty member has signed the evaluation.
  3. If a faculty member receives an unsatisfactory evaluation in any category, there must be a face-to-face discussion of the evaluation between the faculty member and the chair to create a plan for achieving satisfactory evaluations. This may involve changing the faculty member's workload distribution (see CRR 310.080.C). One unsatisfactory evaluation in either teaching or research (or any major area of assignment) will result in an overall unsatisfactory evaluation. If the chair or evaluation committee has significant concerns about only one category, but determines that overall the faculty member has met the department standards, then the chair or committee may assign an overall satisfactory with warning and create an improvement plan to address the concern. The improvement plan will specify both the standards that the faculty member will achieve and the support that the department and/or other units will provide to the faculty member. If the unsatisfactory evaluation is in the teaching category, the chair will refer the faculty member to the campus unit responsible for fostering teaching excellence, and the faculty member must work with that unit to improve pedagogical methods. The improvement plan will be attached to the signed annual performance evaluation. If the faculty member disputes an overall unsatisfactory evaluation, the dean will review the evaluation and decide whether to affirm the evaluation or return it to the department chair for revision. In the succeeding annual performance review, failure to meet the standards set out in the plan will result in an overall unsatisfactory evaluation.
  4. At five-year intervals a tenured faculty member will resubmit the annual reports and evaluation statements for the past five years, with a concise summary statement of research, teaching, and service activities for the five-year period, and a current curriculum vitae. The review may be conducted either by the unit chair or by an evaluation committee of the unit, as decided by a vote of the tenured faculty (committee membership is described below in h.1.a.). The first five-year post-tenure review will be conducted five years after the tenure decision or the last formal review of the faculty member for promotion to associate professor or professor. Faculty hired with tenure will be reviewed five years after they are hired.
  5. Based on the five-year report, the chair or evaluation committee will evaluate the faculty member's performance as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Satisfactory overall performance evaluations for each year will automatically be deemed sufficient for a satisfactory post-tenure review. The five-year evaluation process will be complete with a satisfactory evaluation. The purpose of the five-year post-tenure review is not merely to identify and remedy unsatisfactory performance, but also to identify and reward excellence in teaching, research, and service in accordance with the assigned workload distribution. In consultation with the chair, the Provost and the Dean will provide incentives to faculty who have exhibited such excellence.
  6. If an unsatisfactory overall performance review occurs in one or more years over the five year period, trends in the faculty member's performance will be considered in the final determination of the five-year post-tenure review. If the post-tenure review is deemed unsatisfactory by the chair and the initial review was conducted by the chair, then the chair will send the five-year report to the evaluation committee of the unit. The departmental committee of faculty peers will perform its own full review of the performance of the faculty member over the five-year period and provide an independent assessment of the performance of the faculty member.
  7. The report will be forwarded to the appropriate dean, indicating the decision of the chair and departmental committee. The dean will review the report and provide an assessment of the performance of the faculty member. The five-year evaluation process will be complete if the dean judges the performance of the faculty member to be satisfactory. If a majority of the evaluation committee of the department/unit and the dean consider the performance of the faculty member to be unsatisfactory, a plan for professional development will be written (see B.2. below).
  8. At every level of review, the faculty member will be provided with a copy of any written report that is part of these proceedings and will have the right of appeal of any evaluations, decisions, or recommendations to the next level of the process.
    (1) Committee Membership
    (a) The evaluation committee is typically the one that reviews faculty for tenure and promotion (CRR 320.035.A.1.d.). Only those who are tenured faculty members in the department may participate in the evaluation, except in circumstances described below.
    (b) If there are not enough tenured faculty members within the primary department to comprise a committee of three, a special committee shall be formed in the same way as for a departmental tenure and promotion committee (CRR 320.035.A.1.d.). The committee may include faculty member(s) emeriti from the primary department in accordance with established procedures. In addition, it may include retired faculty from the primary department who are part of an established recognition program according to Collected Rules and Regulations of the University, Section 310.075.B. The retired or emeriti faculty serving on the committee shall not be greater than 50% of the committee membership.
2. Formulation of Development Plan and Assessment of Progress
  1. The development plan will be developed by the faculty member, the department/unit committee, and the chair of the unit. This development plan will have clear and attainable objectives for the faculty member and may include a reallocation of the faculty member's workload distribution in accord with the department workload standards (see CRR 310.080.C.) and a commitment of institutional resources to the plan. This plan will be signed by the faculty member, the chair or unit administrator, and the dean. The development phase will begin when the necessary resources as described in the development plan are provided.
  2. A faculty member who has received an overall unsatisfactory five-year evaluation by the chair, the departmental committee, and the dean may not appeal the process of developing a professional plan. If the faculty member is not satisfied with the plan that has been developed, they may appeal to the next administrative level for help in the formulation of an acceptable development plan.
  3. A faculty member with a plan for professional development will submit an annual progress report to the chair for three successive years after the plan has been initiated. The chair will review the report and provide a written annual evaluation on the progress of the faculty member toward the objectives stated in the development plan. If the chair finds satisfactory progress for any two of the three years, then the process will cease and the faculty member will begin a new five-year cycle.
  4. If the chair does not find satisfactory progress in two of the three years of the development plan, the chair will provide the annual reports and evaluations to the department/unit committee. If the unit committee finds satisfactory progress in two of the three years of the development plan, the process ceases and the faculty member will begin a new five-year cycle.
  5. If both the chair and the unit evaluation committee do not find satisfactory progress in two of the three years of the development plan, the chair will provide annual reports and evaluations to the dean. If the dean finds satisfactory progress in two of the three years of the development plan, the process ceases and the faculty member will begin a new five-year cycle.
  6. If the chair, the department/unit committee and the dean do not find satisfactory progress in two of the three years, then the five-year evaluations plus the three years of progress reports and evaluations by the chair on the development plan will be forwarded to the campus committee on Tenure and Promotion and to the Provost or Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. Each will review the reports and will recommend separately to the Chancellor that: 1) an additional two-year development plan be written and implemented in consultation with the faculty member and the originating departmental committee, or 2) the faculty member be considered for dismissal for cause proceedings (see section 3.)
  7. Any faculty member may request participation in a formal development plan (as described in 2.a.) after two or more consecutive unsatisfactory annual evaluations. In addition, chairs will strongly encourage faculty who have had three consecutive unsatisfactory annual evaluations to participate in a development plan.
3. Dismissal for Cause
  1. If it is deemed by the Chancellor that the performance of the faculty member during the periods covered in section 2 constitutes sufficient grounds, dismissal for cause may be initiated and if initiated will proceed in accordance with the procedures for dismissal for cause described in section 310.060.
  2. This procedure for review and development of faculty performance does not substitute for the dismissal for cause procedures stated in section 310.060.
  3. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 310.015 B.2.f. above, this procedure does not impose additional requirements upon the University prior to initiating dismissal for cause procedures as stated in section 310.060.
Tenured Administrators - Department chairs and those whose positions are primarily administrative will continue to be evaluated annually according to their workload distribution. In the event that a department chair or those whose positions are primarily administrative leaves their administrative position to become a full-time active tenured faculty member of a department, the normal annual departmental review process would be used to establish the faculty member's workload distribution and to address any discrepancy between the current abilities of the administrator and expectations concerning performance based on minimum departmental standards for the annual performance review. If there is a discrepancy between current ability and departmental standards, a development plan funded by the administration should be considered for the administrator prior to their returning to the department. Faculty who return to the full-time active faculty after completing service as department chairs or primarily administrative positions will be reviewed five years after leaving their administrative posts.

310.020 Regulations Governing Application of Tenure

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:49:00 +0000

310.020 Regulations Governing Application of Tenure kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 20:49

Bd. Min. 3-17-72, p. 36,281; Revised Bd. Min. 6-27-80, p. 38,132; Amended Bd. Min. 9-12-80; Amended Bd. Min. 10-30-87, 6-19-92, 3-18-93, 9-28-01, 2-5-15; Bd. Min. 9-24-20.

The following regulations, under which the Board intends to exercise the powers vested in it, govern the application of the principle of tenure at the University of ��ӰԺ, but these regulations shall not impair, or be taken to waive, any powers now or hereafter vested in the Board under the Constitution and laws of the State of ��ӰԺ. At the same time, the Board recognizes that matters relating to faculty status are primarily a faculty responsibility. Recommendations in matters of appointment, reappointment, nonreappointment, promotion, tenure, and dismissal shall be by the appropriate faculty through established procedures, followed by action by administrative officers, with final determination by the appointing authority. For allegations of harassment or discrimination, including sexual harassment, against a faculty member, the procedures are found in Section 600.030: Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Sexual Harassment under Title IX, and Section 600.040: Equity Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment against a Faculty Member or Student or Student Organization, and when applicable, Section 310.060: Procedures in Case of Dismissal for Cause.

Classes of Academic Staff Appointments -- Academic staff appointments are those in which the principal responsibilities are teaching, research, extension, academic service, or any combination thereof. There shall be only two classes of academic staff appointments, designated as such: regular and nonregular.
1. Regular -- A regular appointment requires full-time service by the holder thereof and must carry full-time pay from the University, except as provided in Section B.2.a. Special exception may be made for licensed physicians on the staff of the Harry S. Truman Veterans Administration Hospital who can be recommended for regular academic appointment in the University of ��ӰԺ-Columbia School of Medicine by the Dean of said School if endorsed by the Chancellor of the Columbia campus. In so doing the School of Medicine assumes full responsibility for the tenure status of the individual physician. There shall be only three titles of rank for regular appointments, designated as such: Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor. The holder of a regular appointment either is tenured or, unless notified of nonreappointment or terminal appointment, is considered to be working toward tenure.
2. Nonregular -- All other academic staff appointments are nonregular. Nonregular appointments are either temporary (not to exceed seven years), part-time, or involve duties substantially different from those of faculty members holding regular appointments. The following sections illustrate the class of nonregular appointments.
  1. Temporary appointments involving duties similar to those of regular appointees, such as Visiting Professor. The maximum number of consecutive annual appointments in this category shall be seven (7), unless funds for the position come from a project grant or contract.
  2. Unless explicitly exempted under the above paragraph, all part-time or summer appointments. This category includes appointments such as Adjunct Professor or Clinical Professor and others of like nature, where the holder does not have full-time responsibilities or pay associated with that title. This category also includes certain academic appointments for persons having primary appointments of an administrative nature.
  3. Appointments to positions involving duties substantially different from those of regular appointees, such as academic field staff appointments in Extension; Lecturer, Assistant Instructor, Instructor, Research Assistant, Research Associate, Graduate Research Assistant, Graduate Teaching Assistant, Extension Assistant, Extension Associate, Student Assistant, and others of like nature; coaches of intercollegiate athletics. Titles in this category shall not include Professor, Associate Professor, and Assistant Professor, but may be modifications thereof.
Types of Appointments
1. Within the class of regular appointments, there shall be two types: regular term appointments and continuous appointments. Within the class of nonregular appointments, there shall be one type: nonregular term appointments.
  1. Regular Term Appointments -- Regular term appointments begin at a specified date and terminate at a specified date. Such appointments are usually for a period of one academic year, but may be for a longer or shorter period, except that no single term appointment shall be for a period longer than three years. Regular term appointments are subject to the maximum probationary period described in Section 310.020 C and D. Faculty members on regular term appointments are to be considered as reappointed for the succeeding year unless appropriately notified under Section 310.020 F.
  2. Continuous Appointments -- Continuous appointments are regular appointments that begin at a specified date but have no specified date of termination. Such appointments shall be deemed to exist in a given department or school on a specific campus. Unless a continuous appointment is subsequently acquired in another unit, no faculty member shall lose, by an approved change in duties or administrative unit, a continuous appointment already acquired. No faculty member shall lose a continuous appointment already acquired if granted a leave of absence with subsequent resumption of duties. In circumstances in which the interest of the University may be better served thereby, a continuous appointment already acquired may be changed, upon request of the faculty member, from full-time to part-time status.
  3. Nonregular Term Appointments -- Nonregular term appointments begin at a specified date and terminate at a specified date. Such appointments are usually for a period of one academic year but may be for a longer or shorter period, except that no single term appointment shall be for a period longer than three years. No number of nonregular term appointments shall create any presumption of a right to reappointment on term or continuous basis, subject to the limitations described in Section 310.020 A.2.
2. Administrative Functions -- The administrative functions and titles of administrators shall be distinct and severable from their functions, titles, and status, if any, as appointees to the academic staff. The academic appointments of persons whose primary responsibilities are administrative may be regular or nonregular depending upon the particular circumstances, but the academic appointment must be made through established procedures for such appointments and its terms made explicit prior to the start of the appointment. An initial appointment may be made for both administrative functions and academic staff duties.
Tenure
1. Faculty members on continuous appointments shall have tenure, subject to dismissal only for cause, retirement for age in accordance with Board retirement regulations, or termination because of formal discontinuance of a program or department of instruction. Adequate cause for dismissal shall be related, directly and substantially, to the faculty member's fitness or performance in the professional capacity of teacher or researcher. Cause for dismissal may include but is not limited to the following:
  - Conviction of a felony or other crime involving moral turpitude during the period of employment by the University of ��ӰԺ which is related, directly and substantially, to the faculty member's academic fitness or performance in the professional capacity of teacher or researcher.
  - Professional incompetence in the performance of academic responsibilities.
  - Intentional and habitual neglect of duty in the performance of academic responsibilities, provided that a written warning and a reasonable opportunity to correct the behavior have been given.
  - Severe research misconduct, academic irresponsibility, or other default of academic integrity in the performance of academic responsibilities.
  - Willful misrepresentation of material matters in applying to the University of ��ӰԺ for employment which are related, directly and substantially, to the faculty member's fitness or performance in the professional capacity of teacher or researcher.
  - Harassment or discrimination, including sexual harassment, in violation of the University’s Anti-Discrimination Policies, as determined through the procedures in Sections 600.030, 600.040 and 310.060 of the Collected Rules and Regulations.
  - Due consideration shall be given to seniority in terms of academic rank and length of service in the event that certain continuous appointments must be terminated because of financial exigencies. Where termination of an appointment with tenure, or of a nontenured appointment before the end of the specified term, is based upon bona fide financial exigency or discontinuance of a program or department of instruction, faculty members shall be able to have the issues reviewed by the faculty, or by an appropriate faculty committee, with ultimate review of all controverted issues by the Board.
  - Before terminating an appointment for either of these reasons, the University will make every effort to place affected faculty members in other suitable positions. The faculty member whose appointment is terminated under the conditions of financial exigency or discontinuance of a program or department of instruction will be given notice not less than that prescribed in Section 310.020 F.2; and no position within the same administrative unit for which the released faculty member is qualified will be filled by a replacement within a period of three years, unless the released faculty member has been offered reappointment and a reasonable time within which to accept or decline it.
2. Appointees to the academic staff under term appointments, either regular or nonregular, are subject to termination prior to expiration of the stated term only for cause or under extraordinary circumstances because of financial exigencies or discontinuance of a program or department of instruction. Term appointments for Non-Regular and Regular, Untenured faculty may be terminated prior to expiration of the stated term pursuant to Sections 600.030: Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Sexual Harassment under Title IX or Section 600.040: Equity Resolution Process for Resolving Complaints of Discrimination and Harassment against a Faculty Member or Student or Student Organization. An appointment with tenure may be terminated pursuant to Section 600.030 or Section 600.040 and Section 310.060: Procedures in Case of Dismissal for Cause.
3. Termination of an appointment with tenure, or of a probationary or special appointment before the end of the period of appointment, for medical reasons, will be based upon clear and convincing medical evidence that the faculty member cannot continue to fulfill the terms and conditions of the appointment. The decision to terminate will be reached only after there has been appropriate consultation and after the faculty member concerned, or someone representing the faculty member, has been informed of the basis of the proposed action and has been afforded an opportunity to present the faculty member's position and to respond to the evidence. If the faculty member so requests, the evidence will be reviewed by the Faculty Committee on Tenure before a final decision is made. (See also University benefit programs--optional long-term disability income protection.)
4. The relieving of any person of administrative functions shall not impair any existing tenure status as an appointee to the academic staff.
The Probationary Period -- The purpose of a probationary period is to allow reasonable time for faculty members to establish their academic performance and for their departments to evaluate performance and potential performance in the long-range future in order to validate recommendations for continuous or terminal appointments. The following rules and guidelines are applicable to determination of the probationary period and creditable previous service of persons with experience prior to the start of a regular appointment at this University.
1. Beginning with appointment to the rank of full-time Assistant Professor or higher rank, the total probationary period of term appointments will not exceed six years (including within this six-year period full-time creditable service in all institutions of higher education), except that if after a term of probationary service of more than three years in one or more institutions, a faculty member is appointed at a campus of the University of ��ӰԺ, it may be agreed in writing that there shall be a probationary period at that campus not to exceed three years. In no case will the conditions established in this section cause the probationary period at a campus of this University to be longer than prescribed in Section 310.020 E. In all cases the probationary period will be indicated on the appointment form.
  The probationary period will be followed either by continuous appointment or a one-year terminal appointment.
2. In general, credit will be allowed for previous experience on a full-time academic staff appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor or higher at this University or any other institution of higher education. Because some academic appointments at this and other institutions of higher education carry responsibilities substantially different from the prospective appointment at this University, there may be circumstances in which previous service should not be credited as a part of the maximum probationary period. If this is determined to be the case, it must be agreed to prior to this appointment and reflected in the probationary period indicated on the appointment form.
3. If the appointee has had a substantial period of previous service, the decision whether or not to recommend continuous appointment should be made as soon as reasonably feasible. The initial appointment may be a continuous appointment. A regular term appointment of a person who currently holds such an appointment in the same field at this University, or has held one during the preceding year, shall be deemed to be a reappointment, a change in appointment, or a connected appointment, and not a new or initial appointment.
4. In computing service to be credited within the probationary period, the following rules shall apply:
  1. Years of service shall be computed in terms of academic years. Not more than one academic year of credit shall be allowed for services during any consecutive twelve-month period. Service for less than one academic year shall be excluded unless the faculty member and the appointing authority agree in writing to the inclusion at the time of the initial appointment.
  2. Service on any nonregular appointment involving duties substantially different from duties on a regular appointment shall be excluded.
  3. Service while on leave of absence without pay shall be excluded unless the faculty member and the appointing authority agree in writing to the inclusion at the time the leave is granted. Leaves of absence for scholarly purposes of one year or less generally should be included.
  4. In allowing credit for service at this University or at another institution, fractions of an academic year shall be excluded where crediting such fraction would require decisions at times other than the normal period during the academic year when decisions are made as to recommendations or notices, even if such exclusion will have the effect of extending the probationary period beyond the normal maximum.
Regular Term Appointments and Reappointments -- The following provisions apply to initial regular term appointments and reappointments. The provisions apply to persons without previous service and are modified by Section 310.020 D for persons with creditable previous service.
1. Assistant Professor -- Initial regular appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor shall be a term appointment. The maximum period on term appointment shall not exceed seven years. During the appointee's initial term, and during each succeeding term through the sixth year of service, the appropriate Dean or other administrative officer shall, after receiving recommendations from the appropriate faculty bodies, make one of the following recommendations, except that the recommendations 1.a and 1.b shall not be made during the appointee's sixth year of service.
  1. To reappoint as Assistant Professor on a regular term appointment.
  2. In exceptional cases, to promote to Associate Professor on term appointment. If such recommendation is effected, by proper appointment, Section 310.020 E.2 controls thereafter, except that the maximum period on term appointments shall not exceed seven years, and all of the service as an Assistant Professor shall be credited toward the seven-year maximum period.
  3. To promote to Associate Professor on continuous appointment.
  4. To reappoint as Assistant Professor on continuous appointment.
  5. To reappoint as Assistant Professor on a terminal one-year term appointment, expressly stated to be such.
  6. Not to reappoint, provided there has been due notice as stipulated in Section 310.020 F.2.
2. Associate Professor -- Initial regular appointment at the rank of Associate Professor normally shall be a term appointment but in exceptional cases may be a continuous appointment. The maximum period on term appointment shall not exceed five years. During the appointee's initial term, and during each succeeding term through the fourth year of service, the appropriate Dean or other administrative officer shall, after receiving recommendations from the appropriate faculty bodies, make one of the following recommendations, except that recommendation Section 310.020 E.2.a shall not be made during the appointee's fourth year of service:
  1. To reappoint as Associate Professor on a regular term appointment.
  2. To reappoint as Associate Professor on continuous appointment.
  3. To promote to Professor on continuous appointment.
  4. To reappoint as Associate Professor on a terminal one-year appointment, expressly stated to be such.
  5. Not to reappoint, provided there has been due notice as stipulated in Section 310.020 F.
3. Professor -- Initial regular appointment at the rank of Professor normally shall be a term appointment but may be a continuous appointment. The maximum period on term appointment shall not exceed four years. During the appointee's initial term and during each succeeding term through the third year of service, the appropriate Dean or other administrative officer shall, after receiving recommendations from the appropriate faculty bodies, make one of the following recommendations, except that recommendation Section 310.020 E.3.a shall not be made during the appointee's third year of service.
  1. To reappoint as Professor on a regular term appointment.
  2. To reappoint as Professor on continuous appointment.
  3. To reappoint as Professor on a terminal one-year term appointment, expressly stated to be such.
  4. Not to reappoint, provided there has been due notice as stipulated in Section 310.020 F.
4. Erroneous Term Appointments -- Since the granting of tenure should be a deliberate act after considered evaluation of the appointee's past performance and potential performance in the long-range future, a good faith term appointment beyond the maximum permissible period on term appointments prescribed by Sections 310.020 D.1, 310.020 E.1,2, or 3 shall not confer tenure by default nor be considered a terminal appointment. Immediately upon the discovery of such an error the appointee or administrative officer shall notify the appointing authority and request that a determination be made as to the proper appointment.
Nonrenewal of a Regular Term Appointment
1. When an appointee on regular term appointment is not recommended for reappointment, notice to that effect shall be given in writing to such appointee by an appropriate administrative officer in accordance with Section 310.070 by the deadline dates specified in Section 310.020 F.2. A timely terminal appointment expressly stated to be such shall be sufficient notice that the appointee will not be recommended for reappointment at the end of the terminal period.
2. Notice shall be given as follows in the case of fiscal or academic year appointments. For appointments having other starting dates, comparable notice shall be given.
  1. Not later than March 1 of the first year of service at this University, if the appointment expires at the end of the first year. Not later than December 20 of the second year of service at this University, if the appointment expires at the end of second year.
  2. Thirty days prior to the first day of the terminal year of appointment where the terminal year is the third, or subsequent, year of service at this University.
3. At the time of initial appointment, a faculty member should be informed of expectations about performance and of procedures generally involved in decisions affecting renewal and tenure. There should be provision for annual review of the faculty member's performance to be made by the immediate supervisor and communicated in writing, during the probationary period, to the faculty member according to generally accepted criteria with reference to the expectations discussed in the initial conference. During the probationary period, information should be given as to the time when decisions affecting renewal and tenure are ordinarily made, and there should be an opportunity to submit material which will be helpful to an adequate consideration of the faculty member's circumstances. In the event of a recommendation at any level for nonrenewal of a regular appointment or for a terminal appointment, the faculty member shall be informed and, upon request, shall be furnished with an explanation of that decision. The faculty member shall have an opportunity to request a reconsideration of the decision and to appeal the decision to the Chancellor. If the result of that appeal is not satisfactory to the faculty member, the faculty member may file a grievance under the Faculty Grievance Procedures (Section 370.010) in the event it is alleged:
  1. That the decision resulted from inadequate consideration; or,
  2. That the decision was based significantly on consideration violative of academic freedom; or,
  3. That the decision was based significantly on considerations violative of governing policies on equal employment opportunity.
    Notwithstanding any explanation given, the burden shall rest upon the faculty member to prove the allegations contained in the grievance. In the event that the grievance panel finds probable cause of a violation of academic freedom, the matter shall proceed under the provisions of Section 310.060 except that the burden of proof remains with the appellant.
An appointee to the academic staff on regular term appointment shall not subsequently be given a full-time nonregular term appointment to perform substantially the same type of duties in excess of a total period of service of seven years.

310.025 Extension of Probationary Period for Faculty on Regular Term Appointment

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:44:00 +0000

310.025 Extension of Probationary Period for Faculty on Regular Term Appointment kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 21:44

Executive Order No. 26, 3-18-94; Amended 2-9-17; Amended 4-2-18; Amended 5-31-18.

Faculty members who encounter circumstances which may substantially interrupt their ability to make progress toward tenure may request a one-year extension of the tenure probationary period. Possible reasons for granting an extension of the probationary period include, but are not limited to, pregnancy, serious illness, or care of an invalid or seriously ill spouse, partner, parent, child, or other close dependent. Other reasons may be considered.
Extensions shall be requested by formal written request to the Chancellor. A one-year extension of the tenure probationary period will be granted by the Chancellor upon request if during the probationary period the faculty member takes family and medical leave in excess of six weeks. In all other cases, Chancellors shall have discretion to grant extensions of the tenure probationary period after consultation with the President.
A maximum of two one-year extensions may be granted during the probationary period, except further extensions may be granted as required by law.
Chancellors are encouraged to appoint a faculty committee to review and offer advice on requests for extensions of the probationary period. The Chancellor will submit a report to the President in June of each year which will include a listing of all requests submitted and requests granted during the prior academic year.
Extension of a faculty member's probationary period shall have no adverse effect on the tenure decision. A faculty member who has received an extension shall not be prevented from being considered for tenure at an earlier time during the probationary period.
This guideline does not address faculty leave. A faculty member who receives an extension but is not on leave will continue to perform regular duties.

310.030 Notice of Appointment or Resignation

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:45:26 +0000

310.030 Notice of Appointment or Resignation kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 21:45

Bd. Min. 3-17-72, p. 36,281; Revised Bd. Min. 6-27-80, p. 38,132; Amended Bd. Min. 9-12-80.

Appointment Form -- Appointees to the academic staff shall be notified of the official appointment. The appointment form shall include the following information:
1. Whether the appointment is regular or nonregular.
2. Whether the appointment is nine-month or twelve-month.
3. Whether the appointment is a term or continuous appointment. In case of a regular term appointment, the probationary period at the University of ��ӰԺ and the deadline for a tenure decision shall be stated.
4. Whether the appointment is for a terminal period.
5. The appointment form also shall specifically refer to and incorporate by reference these regulations, a copy of which should be enclosed with the notice of initial appointment.
Notice of Termination of Appointment by the Faculty Member -- A faculty member may resign at the end of an academic year by giving notice in writing at the earliest possible opportunity, but not later than March 15. The faculty member may properly request a waiver of this requirement of notice in case of hardship or in a situation where otherwise substantial professional advancement or other opportunity would be denied.

310.035 Non-Tenure Track Faculty

kuscheld — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:46:00 +0000

310.035 Non-Tenure Track Faculty kuscheld Wed, 05/26/2010 - 21:46

Executive Guideline No. 35, issued 11-16-06; revised 05-21-08, 04-12-10, 6-17-10, 02-04- 11, 7-16-12, 4-29-13, 3-11-19, 5-4-20, 8-18-22.

Academic Appointments
Academic appointments at the University of ��ӰԺ currently are divided into two main categories: regular and non-regular. Under this executive guideline, regular faculty shall be referred to as “tenured and tenure track” faculty, and this group shall continue to include the traditional faculty of the institution. Except with regard to the definitions listed herein, this guideline is applicable to full-time ranked non-regular faculty and is not designed to address academic appointments of any other type including, but not limited to, full-time unranked, part-time nonregular faculty, and tenured and tenure track faculty.
Non-regular faculty shall be divided into three groups: (1) full-time, ranked, non-regular faculty (non-tenure track (NTT) faculty); (2) full-time, unranked, non-regular faculty; and (3) part-time, non-regular faculty (adjunct faculty) [1].
The requirements distinguishing between a full-time, ranked non-regular faculty member and a full-time, unranked non-regular faculty member shall be made at the campus level. While many of the full-time unranked non- regular titles will not be eliminated, it is implicit in this guideline that the individuals that meet the qualifications for NTT faculty should receive an appropriate NTT faculty title as described in the following section. In most circumstances, non-tenure track faculty members who have primary authority in research, or teaching, or clinical/professional practice, or extension duties should receive title changes appropriate to ranked NTT positions at the time of such reappointments [2].
This guideline applies to all newly-hired NTT faculty members and to those non-regular faculty who are reappointed into NTT faculty positions at the time of such reappointment.
Categories of (Ranked) Non-Tenure Track Faculty Defined
There shall be six main types of full-time, ranked NTT faculty. Each should have primary responsibility in a single area: teaching, or research, or clinical/professional practice, or extension activities, or libraries. The titles should identify the area. Within each area, there shall be three ranks:
1. Research faculty (Research Professor, Associate Research Professor, Assistant Research Professor)
2. Teaching faculty (Teaching Professor, Associate Teaching Professor, Assistant Teaching Professor)
3. Clinical/Professional Practice faculty (Clinical Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, Assistant Clinical Professor or Professional Practice Professor, Associate Professional Practice Professor, Assistant Professional Practice Professor)
4. Extension faculty (Extension Professor, Associate Extension Professor, Assistant Extension Professor; Extension Professional, Associate Extension Professional, Assistant Extension Professional)
5. Librarian faculty (Librarian I/II, Librarian III, Librarian IV; Archivist I/II, Archivist III, Archivist IV) on campuses whose librarian faculty have opted for NTT status as a body, whose faculty council or faculty senate, as appropriate to the individual campus, has formally recognized librarian faculty as having NTT status as a body and whose Chancellor has approved such recognition.
6. Clinical Department faculty [3] (Professor of Clinical Department, Associate Professor of Clinical Department, Assistant Professor of Clinical Department)
Performance of NTT Faculty
Unlike tenured and tenure track faculty, whose performance is evaluated based on their contribution to research, teaching, and service, the performance of NTT faculty should be evaluated on the primary responsibility of the NTT appointment as well as service and professional activities related to that primary responsibility.
There is no prohibition for NTT faculty to be involved in multiple duties related to research, teaching, or service. However, decisions regarding hiring, continuation of employment, and evaluation of NTT faculty performance should relate to the primary purpose of their appointment as defined by category and not be based on all three criteria. Only tenured and tenure track faculty should be hired, evaluated, and promoted based on all three criteria.
Nature of the Initial Appointment
The nature of the initial appointment to a NTT position is important to both the NTT faculty member and the department [4]. Therefore the NTT faculty member’s primary department should be fully engaged in defining the nature of the NTT academic appointments. Since the NTT faculty member is expected to contribute to the department’s core mission, specific job responsibilities and expectations should be explicitly stated in a written job description developed by the department chair in conjunction with an appropriate department committee.
Searches for NTT Faculty Members
Initial searches for NTT faculty should be conducted on a regional or national basis as appropriate with the involvement of a faculty-based search committee. NTT faculty should be selected using a process somewhat similar to one used for tenure track faculty members with interviews/presentations to division faculty, staff and students, and a full review of candidates’ dossiers. Student feedback is particularly important for all NTT teaching faculty. Recommendations for hiring decisions remain under the purview of the department chair, dean or director [5].
NTT Faculty Attributes
Those appointed to a NTT academic position should hold an earned doctoral degree, OR the appropriate terminal degree, OR have appropriate professional experience (i.e., teaching, research, clinical/professional practice, extension or library) as defined by the faculty of the academic unit. Evidence of the successful candidate’s abilities should be demonstrated through the resume, portfolio/dossier, reference letters, and through interviews with unit, department and/or college faculty members. The successful candidates should demonstrate potential for excellence in the primary area of their appointments (e.g., teaching, research, clinical/professional practice, extension or library) as well as in the service and professional aspects related to their disciplines and their positions.
Clearly Defined Expectations for Each Position
Specific qualifications for each rank shall be determined by the department and/or college with approval by the provost. The workload requirements for NTT faculty members should be spelled out in detail in advance. For teaching appointments, there should be clearly articulated teaching assignments and teaching loads including adjustments made for large classes or courses with multiple sections. Research appointments should spell out the specific roles, duties, grant projects and expectations for future funding. Clinical/professional practice, librarian, clinical department faculty appointments should clearly articulate the specific roles, responsibilities and performance expectations for delivering clinical/professional practice, librarian or clinical department faculty services. Extension appointments should describe the specific extension activities and outline relationships with the department.
Contract Length
NTT faculty appointments shall begin at a specified date and terminate at a specified date. Such appointments are usually for a period of one academic year but may be for a longer or shorter period, except no single term appointment shall be for a period longer than three years. Upon promotion to Associate Teaching Professor or Associate Research Professor, it is recommended that NTT faculty receive a two-year appointment except where there are budgetary or performance concerns. Upon promotion to Teaching Professor or Research Professor, it is recommended that NTT faculty receive a three-year appointment except where there are budgetary or performance concerns.
Guidelines for Performance Evaluation
Each academic school, college or unit [6], with approval from the provost, should develop specific guidelines for the evaluation of performance. These guidelines should reflect the mission and needs of the school, college and university and cover only the primary area of the NTT appointment as well as service and professional activities related to that primary responsibility.
All NTT faculty should be reviewed annually by the appropriate unit supervisor. The standards for performance should be based on specific criteria outlined by the academic division in advance. The performance reviews should be a formal, documented process. Annual written evaluations should be provided to all NTT faculty members.
NTT appointees should compile a dossier of their activities, productivity, creativity and professional development to be reviewed on an annual basis. This material could also serve as the foundation for a dossier that could be used during the promotion process.
Reappointments
Reappointments should be based, in part, on the performance expectations communicated at the time of appointment by the chair with the concurrence of the dean [5] and the provost.
Decisions to reappoint NTT faculty should generally be made in advance of the appointment end date. NTT faculty who will not receive a reappointment should be informed in writing at least three months in advance of the appointment end date unless extenuating circumstances exist. Except for Clinical/Professional Practice, Clinical Department Faculty, and NTT faculty whose salaries are funded in whole or in part by grant-dependent sources of revenue, NTT faculty with two to five years of consecutive service with positive annual evaluations will receive six months’ notice of nonrenewal unless extenuating circumstances exist and NTT faculty with more than five consecutive years with positive annual evaluations will receive a minimum of a one-year notice of nonrenewal unless extenuating circumstances exist.
Promotion of NTT Faculty
Specified criteria for promotion and description of the process used for promotion in rank should be spelled out by the school, college or academic unit and approved by the provost in advance. The development of specific criteria and guidelines used to determine standards of excellence for promotion purposes should be the responsibility of the department/unit, subject to approval by a dean or director [5] and the provost.
Evaluation areas should be consistent with the established academic standards for each discipline. The decision to apply for promotion would be one the NTT faculty member could elect or not; annual reviews should be valuable indicators of the applicant’s readiness for promotion. The decision on a promotion application of a NTT academic appointment should not carry automatic rewards (apart from change in title) or penalties from the college, school or academic unit provided, however, that a Librarian I considered for promotion to Librarian II during his or her sixth year of employment as a Librarian I and who is not promoted to Librarian II may be subject to automatic nonrenewal.
Evaluation of the candidate’s application for promotion should focus on the specific area of appointment – teaching, research, clinical/professional practice, extension or library – as well as service and professional activities related to that primary responsibility. In promotion considerations, the total contribution of the faculty member to the mission of the school, college or academic unit over a sustained period of time should be taken into consideration. This includes comprehensive documentation of the position, including a letter of appointment identifying home department or unit and the initial position description, communications detailing changes in position responsibilities, and any other statements regarding expected performance.
Each campus shall adopt a promotion process that involves at least one faculty committee composed of one or more NTT faculty, at the promotable rank or above, and one or more tenured faculty, if such NTT faculty and tenured faculty exist. The committee or committees shall make recommendations to the Chancellor or designee who shall make the final decision.
Academic Freedom
Prior to the stated ending date of their term appointments, NTT faculty members have the same academic protections regarding academic freedom as tenured and tenure track faculty.
Accordingly, adequate cause for dismissal prior to the stated ending date of their term appointments must be related directly and substantially to the faculty member's fitness or performance in the professional capacity as teacher, researcher, clinician, extension, librarian or clinical department faculty. More information can be found in CR&R 310.020 and related sections in the campus bylaws.
Participation in Faculty Governance
NTT faculty members’ role in faculty governance shall be articulated by the individual campus within the limits of the University of ��ӰԺ Collected Rules and Regulations. The goal is to identify ways for the NTT faculty members to have a voice within their campus and college, school or academic unit and to be involved in faculty governance where appropriate.

[1] The categories of NTT, unranked, non-regular faculty, and part-time, non-regular faculty include different faculty titles associated with each category. Section B of this document lists the faculty titles associated with the NTT group. Titles associated with the unranked, non-regular faculty group include, but are not limited to, instructor, lecturer, senior lecturer and visiting professor. The title of visiting professor shall only be used for those faculty on temporary appointments. Part-time or courtesy appointments shall be considered adjunct appointments and include such titles as adjunct professor, adjunct instructor, etc.
[2] All other non-regular faculty members would receive the title of instructor (or equivalent full-time title), adjunct instructor (or equivalent part-time title), or other non- regular academic appointment titles that are not faculty titles (i.e., post doc, resident, etc.).
[3] Clinical Department faculty are titles limited to the Schools of Medicine at MU and UMKC.
[4] For purposes of this Guideline only, the term "department" shall be interpreted broadly to encompass any of the following: school, college, department, division, unit, center, institute or any other campus approved academic organizational unit for which the campus has approved the assignment of NTT faculty.
[5] On campuses with no schools or colleges and, therefore, no deans, there is no requirement for approval by the dean.
[6] As used in these Guidelines only, on campuses with no schools or colleges, the terms "school" or "college" shall be interpreted to mean the provost or such subordinate academic unit as specified by the provost.