HOUGHTON-The Michigan Tech Board of Control approved a change in the employment policy for professional staff and authorized a new degree program at its regular meeting Friday (Sept. 18).
In March of this year the University Senate had requested that the Board change the language on the professional staff employment application to indicate that staff would no longer be considered "at will" employees, but instead would be employed under a "satisfaction" contract. Under an "at will" contract, employees have their jobs at the will of their employer and employment can be terminated "with or without cause, with or without notice, at any time." Under a "satisfaction" contract, employment can be terminated if an employee fails to perform to a level of satisfaction determined by the employer. The Senate had also asked that procedures be adopted to arbitrate any contract claims regarding termination.
In its Friday action, the Board approved a policy whereby all employees who complete a nine-month probationary period and who agree to arbitrate any contract claims over the termination of their employment shall be "satisfaction employees," unless they are employed pursuant to a contract, collective bargaining agreement, or the university tenure policy. Others excepted include temporary employees, student employees upper administrators, and probationary employees, all of whom, along with those who do not agree to arbitrate termination claims, shall be "at will" employees.
The termination of employees for lack of satisfactory performance after their probationary period shall normally come through progressive disciplinary procedures set forth in the University's Procedures Manual. The University reserves its right to end any program and or service, which may include the necessity of laying off employees for appropriate business and economic reasons.
The Board also gave final approval to a proposal from the College of Engineering to establish a Master of Engineering degree. The proposal had already been endorsed by the State Academic Affairs Officers.
The new degree is intended to be a terminal professional degree with an advanced independent design component. It will allow students to gain either greater depth or more breadth in professional skills and will be especially valuable for students planning careers in industry, small- to medium-sized businesses, or other professional areas, according to University officials.