Recent Manual Revisions
Manual Revisions 2024-2025
| Section Name | Standing Committee | Presenter | Summary | Additional Information | Date Approved by Faculty Council | Date Approved by Board of Governors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Section B.2.6 University Centers, Institutes and Other Special Units | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The proposed changes reflected the actual process that is followed, as well as clarifying items that were not clear. | October 2024 | December 2024 | |
| Section E.2.1.6 Transitional Appointments | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The changes make it clear that a faculty member on a transitional appointment has retired from the university and is being given a new appointment. | The revisions are not a change in current policy. | October 2024 | December 2024 |
| Section E.2.2.1 Extension Faculty Appointments | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The changes clarify the names of the ranks that are used for Extension Faculty. | October 2024 | December 2024 | |
| Section E.3.1 Emeritus/Emerita/Emerit Status | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The revisions ensure faculty members are aware of concerns that administration may decide to recommend to the Board of Governors that requests for emeritus/emerita/emerit status be denied, and that they have a chance to address them through an appeal process. | October 2024 | December 2024 | |
| Section E.6 General Policies Relating to Appointment and Employment of Faculty | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The changes make it clear that if a tenure-track faculty member’s appointment is not renewed, they cannot apply for tenure or promotion. | The changes also call attention to the appeal process as outlined in Section E.17. | October 2024 | December 2024 |
| Section E.11 Appeal of Early Termination of Contract Faculty Appointments | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The changes made it clear that advisors may be present during interviews. The revisions also make it clear that the Report from the Appeal Committee will be sent to the Appellant, the Recommender, and the Provost. | The changes reflect standard practice, which was not stated explicitly in the previous language. | October 2024 | December 2024 |
| Section E.13 Advancement in Rank (Promotion) | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The revisions reflect the processes for promotion of Extension Faculty members, as seen in the Extension Code. | October 2024 | December 2024 | |
| Section E.13 Advancement in Rank (Promotion) | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The proposed changes address the fact that the current language describes an increase in rank, but not the process for a change in rank that is not a promotion, such as a change from a Senior Instructor to an Assistant Professor. | November 2024 | ||
| Section E.16 Appeal of Early Termination of Tenure-Track Faculty Appointments | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The changes made it clear that advisors may be present during interviews. The revisions also make it clear that the Report from the Appeal Committee will be sent to the Appellant, the Recommender, and the Provost. | The changes reflect standard practice, which was not stated explicitly in the previous language. | October 2024 | December 2024 |
| Section E.17 Renewal of Tenure-Track Faculty Appointments | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The changes made it clear that advisors may be present during interviews. The revisions also make it clear that the Report from the Appeal Committee will be sent to the Appellant, the Department Head, and the Provost. | The changes reflect standard practice, which was not stated explicitly in the previous language. | October 2024 | December 2024 |
| Section I.8 Student Course Survey | Committee on Teaching and Learning | Lumina Albert, Chair | This change is being proposed because making course survey results publicly available is not currently possible with the SmartEvals platform. | December 2024 | ||
| Section K Resolution of Disputes | Committee on Responsibilities and Standing of Academic Faculty | Bharad Kannan, Chair | The revisions eliminate the mediation process, which has been unsuccessful, and retain the successful conciliation process. It also renames “conciliation” as “mediation”. | Other edits were included to correct errors and clean up language. | October 2024 | December 2024 |
Manual Change Process
The Academic Faculty & Administrative Professional Manual is a living document reflecting current needs informed by deliberative processes. There are seven distinct steps in the manual change process, as described below.
Faculty Council leadership, a task force, a faculty group, or an administrator identifies a challenge or problem and some ideas.
One or more standing committees from Faculty Council deliberate over the concept and either refer to someone else or make Manual change recommendation.
A motion of the standing committee(s) goes before the Executive Committee of Faculty Council for their review. If the Executive Committee declares it ready to stand debate on the floor of Faculty Council, the Executive Committee approves it and moves it forward.
The Faculty Council receives the motion two weeks ahead of the meting if a Code change (Section C of the manual), or one week ahead of the meeting as part of the regular agenda.
At a regular meeting the Faculty Council votes on the motion, which is presented by the appropriate standing committee.
Other groups weigh in — the Office of General Counsel and the Administrative Professional Council, if the item pertains to administrative professionals.
The Board of Governors votes whether to approve the change to the manual. If approved, the change becomes part of the manual.