University Senate
of
See Proposals 9-06 and 10-06
Proposal 20-05
(Revised)
(Voting Units: Academic Senators)
Transfer of Tenure
and Rank Between Academic Units
Background: Faculty tenure at Michigan Tech is based in
the University and not in a particular academic unit. However, a faculty member needs a designated
home department for administrative purposes.
At times, it may be in the best interests of a faculty member or the
University for the faculty member to transfer to another academic unit in the
University. At other times, a transfer may be mandated due to elimination,
consolidation, or creation of academic units. This proposal describes the
central principles associated with the transfer of tenured faculty between
academic units and provides procedures for transfers voluntarily initiated by a
faculty members and for transfers mandated from elimination, consolidation, or
creation of academic units.
Principles
1.
Faculty tenure and rank are based in the university and not
in a particular academic unit. Under no circumstances may a faculty member be
asked to give up tenure or rank before moving to another academic unit or
administrative assignment.
2.
All affected parties must have an opportunity to provide
input into the process of arranging transfers between academic units before a
transfer occurs. Resource issues of the gaining and
losing academic units must be clearly addressed.
3.
The faculty in the gaining academic unit must provide input
on the acceptability of transfers to its unit.
4.
Deans must work with faculty members desiring to transfer to
other academic units or facing transfer due to the elimination, consolidation
or creation of new academic units.
5.
Any plan to eliminate, consolidate, or create academic units
must indicate where affected tenure and tenure-track faculty members are
proposed to be affiliated.
6.
In the event of transfer due to the elimination,
consolidation, or creation of new academic units, the Provost must resolve any
disputes following a good-faith effort to find a satisfactory solution.
Procedure
for a transfer voluntarily initiated by a faculty member
1.
The transferring faculty member will intiate this
procedure with a written request by to the unit supervisor responsibility
for implementing this procedure is delegated to the dean of the college in
which he/she member’s
home department currently resides. In case of schools, the provost will appoint
a facilitator who is a person with academic rank. For the remainder of this procedure,
the facilitator refers to the appointed person or the dean of collegeresides with
copies to the
Provost and the Dean of college (if applicable). This request
must provide reasons for the transfer, describe how the
transfer will benefit the faculty member and the gaining academic unit, and
how it may affect the losing unit.
1.2.
The Provost, with input from the transferring faculty
member and the affected unit supervisor(s), will appoint
a facilitator who will be authorized to implement this procedure. The
facilitator could be an affected unit supervisor or a person with academic
rank.
2.3.
A copy of this procedure will be given to the
transferring faculty member and to department chairs and school/college deans
of the losing and gaining academic units.
1.
A faculty member requesting a transfer must make a
written request to the dean of his/her current college or school. This request
must provide reasons for his/her transfer, describe how the transfer will
benefit the faculty member and the gaining academic unit, and how it may
affect the losing unit.
4.
The facilitator will meet with the faculty member to discuss
the voluntary request for transfer to one or more academic units.
5.
The facilitator will ask the gaining unit supervisor to
arrange for a visit of the transfering faculty member to the unit.
6.
Each unit charter must describe the process of accepting a
transferring faculty member in its unit.
7.
If the gaining academic unit as per its charter procedure declines
to accept the transferring faculty member, the matter is settled. The faculty
member may reapply to the same academic unit under this procedure after 12 months
have passed or may reapply to another academic unit after six months have
passed.
8.
If the gaining unit recommends acceptance of the transferring
faculty member, then the facilitator will discuss transfer arrangements with
the losing academic unit. The dean must
approve transfers within a College. Both
deans must approve transfers between Colleges and/or Schools. It is recommended that the transfering
faculty member spend one academic year with shared duties in the losing and
gaining academic units before making the decision final.
9.
The facilitator will inform all parties of the final
decision. All documents related to this transfer process will be forwarded to
the Provost’s office where the records will be maintained.
Procedure for mandatory transfers due to elimination,
consolidation, or creation of academic units
1.
The Provost will initiate The responsibility for
implementing this procedure is delegated to the dean of the college in which
the tenured faculty member’s home department currently resides or, in the case
of schools, to a facilitator who is a person with academic rank. For the
remainder of this proposal, the facilitator refers to the appointed person or
the dean of college.his procedure.
2.
The faculty member facing mandatory transfer must be informed
of the proposed transfer in writing in a timely manner.
3.
The Provost with input from the affected faculty
member and the affected unit supervisor(s) will appoint a facilitator who will be
authorized to implement this procedure. The facilitator could be
the affected unit supervisor or a person with academic rank.
1.
3.4.
A copy of this procedure will be given to the
affected faculty member, department chairs and college/school
deans of the losing and gaining academic units.
4.5.
The facilitator shall meet with the affected
faculty member to identify the academic unit(s) where he/she can
contribute. Potential administrative
appointments may also be discussed at this stage. The facilitator and the
affected faculty member will agree upon a list of potential receiving units,
which the facilitator will maintain. The affected faculty member can request
additional units for consideration at a later date by a written memo to the
facilitator.
5.6.
The facilitator will ask department chairs/school
deans of the potential receiving units to arrange arrange a visit of the
affected faculty member to their units. The purpose of the visit is to seek as
well as to provide information about teaching and research areas in which the
affected faculty member can contribute.
6.7.
Each unit charter must describe the process of
accepting a transferring faculty member in its unit. Each charter must also include a provision that
allows the unit’s qualified faculty (as defined in its charter) to provide a
written description to the unit’s supervisor of the transfering faculty
member’s potential contributions in education, scholarship, and service to the
unit. A copy of this description and any relevant documentation will be
provided to the facilitator.
7.8.
The unit supervisor will then write a memo to the
facilitator that addresses the suitability of the transfer to the unit’s
functions, possibilities of an administrative appointment (e.g., student
counselor, learning center supervisor), if appropiate, and any resource issues
associated with the transfer. This memo as well as the faculty’s descrption
will become part of the affected faculty member’s procedural dossier.
9. This step is relevant
only
for transfers within a college and if the college
dean is not the facilitator. Copies of all documents up to step 9 will be given to
college dean. The college dean will make his/her recommendations
and address all resource issues affecting
units within the college. The dean’s memo will become part of the affected
faculty
member’s procedural dossier.
8.10.
After all visits to the various units are completed,
the facilitator will arrange another meeting with the affected faculty member
to discuss potential appointments. This appointment could be in a single unit
or joint appointments in more than unit.
9.11.
The affected faculty member will then write a memo
to the facilitator than identifies his/her choice of an appointment in single
or multiple academic units and prioritizes various appointment possibilities.
The memo becomes part this procedural dossier.
10.12.
After receiving the memo, the facilitator will discuss
part time or full time appointment of the affected faculty member with the
supervisor(s) of the losing and gaining units. The unit supervisor(s) can add
additional material to the dossier at this time. The facilitator will attempt to resolve any outstanding
issues in a timely manner. The
facilitator will then forward the affected faculty member’s entire dossier to
the Provost along with his/her recommendation regarding the placement of the
affected faculty member.
11.13.
In case of conflicting recommendations, the
Provost
will meet with the disputing parties may and establish an ad hoc
process to resolve the conflicts within thirty days. If no resolution
can be found, the Provost shall determine the new home for the affected
faculty member. The Provost’s decision
shall be be binding.
12.14.
The Provost’s office shall maintain the final
record of transfer decision.