The University Senate of Michigan
Technological University
PROPOSAL 16-07
(Voting
Units: Academic Departments)
AMENDMENT OF PROPOSAL 9-06
TRANSFER OF TENURE
AND RANK BETWEEN ACADEMIC UNITS
Background
In academic year 2005, the Senate Academic Policy Committee
introduced a proposal similar to this one on the floor of the University
Senate. That proposal was tabled because
at the time it appeared that it would no longer be a Senate issue and that it
would be dealt with by the AAUP.
However, as negotiations proceed, it appears that those issues dealing
with shared governance and that have traditionally been within the
responsibility of the Senate will largely remain the responsibility of the
Senate, with salaries and wages and benefits being likely notable
exceptions. Rather, the current thinking
seems to be to protect the departmental/school Charters and Senate policies
through language within the AAUP contract, while avoiding as much as possible
the inclusion there of the details.
Hence, this proposal once again comes to the Senate, but as a new
proposal.
Faculty tenure at Michigan
Technological University is based in the University and not in a particular
academic unit. However, a faculty member
needs a designated home department/school 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 document describes the central principles associated with the
transfer of tenured, tenure-track, and
other long-term faculty between academic units and provides procedures for
transfers voluntarily initiated by a faculty member and for transfers mandated
by elimination, consolidation, or creation of academic units.
Policy Proposal
1. Faculty
tenure and rank are based in the university and not in a particular academic
unit. A faculty member may not be asked to give up
tenure or rank before moving to another academic unit or administrative
assignment.
2. Likewise,
departments/units and faculty shall be afforded the same courtesies for
transfer of non-tenured, tenure-track faculty and other long-term faculty as
for tenured faculty.
3. 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 and
agreed upon by the units concerned.
4. Selection
of faculty is a fundamental responsibility of the faculty of a unit. Hence, before a faculty member is
transferred, the faculty in the gaining academic unit must provide input on the
acceptability of transfers to its unit. In particular, the promotion, tenure, and
reappointment committee should evaluate the credentials of the incoming faculty
member, discuss with the faculty member the departmental expectations for
achieving promotion (if not already at
the highest rank) or tenure (if not
already achieved) in that
department, and make recommendations to their department regarding the
transfer. Any "grandparent"
agreements prior to or as a result of the transfer should be provided in
writing to the faculty member, department, and the Provost.
5. 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.
6. Any plan to
eliminate, consolidate, or create academic units must indicate the proposed new
affiliation of affected tenure and tenure track faculty members.
7. 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.
8. The final
decision on faculty transfers among units rests with the President.
9. Current
Senate policies regarding financial stress or financial crisis take priority
over any conflicting policies and procedures in this transfer policy.
Introduced in Senate:
13 December 2006
Adopted by Senate: 17 January 2007
Approved
by Administration: 8 February 2007
Passed
Referendum: 14 April 2008 (out of 347 possible votes; there were 112 Yes votes
and 14 No votes)
Became Senate Policy 708.1