DRAFT SUMMARY OF
COMMENTS/QUESTIONS RAISED
AT FAIRFAX FORUM
SEPTEMBER 17, 2008
Mason Hall, room
D3 – 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.
DISCUSSED AT
FACULTY HANDBOOK REVISION COMMITTEE MEETING
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
– Mason Hall, room D3 – 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Present: September 17th Forum and September 18th meeting: Kevin Avruch, Associate Director and Professor of Conflict Resolution, Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution; Lorraine Brown, Professor of English, College of Humanities and Social Sciences; Rick Coffinberger, Associate Professor of Business and Legal Studies, School of Management,Chair; Martin Ford, Senior Associate Dean, College of Education and Human Development;. Dave Harr, Senior Associate Dean, School of Management; Suzanne Slayden, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science.
Introductory Remarks: Chair Rick Coffinberger welcomed faculty to the meeting. The purpose of the forum is mostly to listen and consider inputs received in the forum as well as by email. After the forums are concluded, the Faculty Handbook Revision Committee will meet to discuss all inputs received and decide whether suggestions made will be included in the draft to be presented to the Faculty Senate at a special meeting to be held Wednesday, October 15th at 3:00 p.m. in Robinson Hall, B113. Should the Faculty Senate vote to approve the revised Handbook, it will be presented to the Board of Visitors at a subsequent meeting for approval.
After introducing the committee members present above, the Committee also wishes to acknowledge the contributions of former committee members Marilyn Sanders Mobley (former Associate Provost for Educational Programs) and the late David Rossell, Associate Provost for Personnel and Budget.
The draft revision has also been reviewed by the President’s Office, the Provost’s Office, Office of the University Counsel, and by AAUP through the efforts of Lorraine Brown, past president of the AAUP Chapter at GMU. Linda Harber, Associate Vice President for Human Resources and Payroll, has also reviewed some issues.
The committee’s work (over 60 meetings conducted) is also unusual in this respect – we acheived consensus; although we did not always reach unanimous agreement. Discussions were very professional; even when disagreements arose, everyone got along very well.
Comment One:
Section 2.10.2 Professional Ethics (C2 p. 74)
If terms “workplace
bullying....threatening behavior” included, need for clarification of some
terms must be made ...one person's verbal abuse may be another's (crude)
joke. Also, unless they are placed
elsewhere in the document, no procedures to deal with those ethical issues
beyond stating where they can be first directed.
Comment Two:
Section 2.10.2 Professional Ethics (C2 p. 74)
Fully support the spirit of the addition of bullying,
harassment, etc. to the list of unprofessional activities, but really worries
about the lack of definition of the terms used.
If I tell a student for the third time that his thesis is overdue and he
needs to get it done, is that harassment?
We should all treat everyone with respect, but if we are going to make
aspects of bad behavior unethical, we need to define what we mean by the terms. Similar observation about use of “abusive
conduct” in Section 2.9.3 Termination
of Appointment of Tenured, Tenure-Track, and Term Faculty Members for Cause (C2
pp. 68-71), although the
extensive procedural safeguards probably render these misgivings moot.
Discussion: At the time of this writing, there is no written policy for bullying.
Once policy in place, expectation (will contain) appropriate procedural
safeguards. Committee members disagreed
about need to add statement referencing as yet non-existent policy. Provost suggestion to include in the Handbook
a new committee to decide such cases was
earlier rejected by the Handbook committee.
The Associate Vice
President for Human Resources and Payroll is adamant that need for policy
exists; need to develop a better infrastructure to deal with (existing)
problems involving faculty. A Task Force
is now working on this issue; reviewing policies at other univresities. One faculty member has already been elected
to serve on this committee; other faculty who also wish to serve are
welcome. National experts will also be consulted. All administrative and classified employees
of the university are governed by Human Resources policy language (taken) from
State of Virginia. The old Faculty
Handbook does not contain similar language.
Should term “bullying” be avoided?
Important modifier “workplace” as well as “pattern” or repeated
(incidents). Need for procedure,
consistency, and one place to go to file grievances; need to get out from under
dept. chair/dean, pathway may be blocked; no place for faculty to grieve. Example of Mason's sexual harassment policy (situation) must be
“severe” or “pervasive” a more generous interpretation than State of
Virginia where must be “severe and pervasive”. Situations involving faculty and students
addressed by the Dean of Students; new policy would apply to situations when
individual behaves toward another repeatedly in a very uncivil way.
Revision: 2.10.2 Professional Ethics – new text in blue, green text para. 1 moved
from end para. 3.
Although no set of rules or professional code can
guarantee or take the place of a scholar's personal integrity, the University
believes that the "Statement of Professional Ethics" and the
"Statement on Plagiarism" promulgated by the American Association of
University Professors at http://www.aaup.org/aaup
serve as a reminder of the obligations assumed by all members of the
professoriate. Faculty members must also
adhere to the ethical standards of their respective professional associations and
to university policies related to professional ethics (e.g., Research and
Scholarship Misconduct, Responsible Use of Computing) while employed by the
University. Please see University Policies at http://www3.gmu.edu/facstaff/policy/newpolicy/
. In
addition, unethical or unprofessional conduct may include, but is not limited
to, repeated instances of workplace bullying, intimidation, harassment,
verbal abuse, sabotage, and threatening behavior.
Generally accepted
standards of professional ethics require faculty members who plan to resign or
retire to give notice in writing to their local unit administrator no later
than May 15. Only in personal emergencies or for other compelling reasons
should faculty members leave the institution during the academic year, except
when this coincides with the expiration of their contractual obligations.
Allegations of
unethical or unprofessional conduct may be brought to the attention of the
Provost, President, employee relations specialists in the Human Resources and
Payroll office, or the appropriate
University or local academic unit grievance committee (see Sections 2.11.2.1
and 2.9.3). In all cases, all parties have a right to procedural due process.
Comment: Section
3.2 Salary Increases (C3 p. 2)
A statement should be added specifying that any funds coming from Richmond that address regional cost-of-living adjustments must be used exclusively for this purpose. These cannot be divided into cost-of-living adjustments and merit pay, since they have nothing to do with individual merit.
Response: Section
3.2. revised to add the following sentence:
“In the case that funding from the state is designated as a cost-of-living
adjustment, it is the responsibility of the University to ensure such funds are
dispersed accordingly.
Question/Comment:
Preface (C1 p.3)
Amendment procedures described imply that amendment may take place routinely or frequently. Should there be a statement about amendment(s) as rare event?
Response: Concern
about rush to add extraneous things not in the interest of faculty
acknowledged. Should such amendments be
proposed, and the Faculty Senate and
University administration not agree, will be considered by the Provost and
Executive Committee before submitted to BOV.
As issues arise, modifications to be addressed, not a “rare”event; Handbook
functions as a “living document.” No
further revision to text.
Question: Section
2.1.2 Tenure-Track Appointment (C2 p. 4)
Section includes tenure-track rank of professor. Can someone actually be hired as a professor and not be tenured?
Response: Yes,
situation has occurred, although rarely.
No further revision to text.
Comment: Use of “Full” Professor in Sections 2.2.6 Distinguished Service Professor (C2 p. 17), 2.2.7 Emeritus Status (C2 p. 18) and 2.3.3 Criteria and Promotion for Appointment, Reappointment, and Promotion of Term Faculty. “Full” is not really included in the rank's title.
Response: After
reviewing the examples cited above, committee decided “full” should not be
deleted. No further revision to text.
Comment: Section
2.7.3 Procedures for Promotion and Tenure A.4 (C2 p. 52) : add “peer” between “two” and level so
that revised text reads: 4.
The School of Law is exempt from the provisions specified in paragraphs
(1) and (2), but it is not exempt from the requirement for two-level peer review.
Response: Revision accepted.
Comment: Section 2.7.3.2 Tenure Clock Extension for
Serious Illness (C2 p. 56): add
“be” between “will” and “handled” on line 9 so that revised text reads:
Response: Revision accepted.
Question: Section 2.8.1 Appeal Board (C2 pp. 61-62) and Section 2.7.3 Procedures for
Promotion and Tenure (C2 pp. 51-54): Does not the BOV make the final decision when
a negative tenure outcome is appealed (2.8.1)? Thought the BOV made all final personnel
decisions, (2.7.3) indicates that this body made the final original
negative tenure ruling.
Response: The Board makes decisions on hiring; if you never get to tenure, no
decision made; more of a notification for termination. President does not take termination cases to
BOV, rather as notification of separation.
Not (appropriate) to have BOV make personnel decisions except in extreme
cases when (members of) appeal board do not agree; appeal would go to
BOV with one positive vote . No
further revision to text needed, depends on path taken.
Question
One: Section 2.9.3 Termination of
Appointment of Tenured, Tenure-Track, and Term Faculty Members for Cause (C2
pp.68-71): Section describes
a series of 14-day intervals and involves a Hearing Committee and Grievance
Committee. Faculty on 9-month contracts
have no obligation to be present during summers, and it is not unlikely that
summer might be the time period involved.
Are there any contingency plans in this case?
Response: 9-month instructional faculty generally available during summer for a
good reason; use of email for those away from vicinity. No further revision to text.
Question
Two: Section 2.9.3 Termination of
Appointment of Tenured, Tenure-Track, and Term Faculty Members for Cause (f)8.
(C2 p. 70): Witnesses may include, but are not limited to faculty members or
administrators from any institution of higher education accredited by a
regional accrediting association. Why is this sentence necessary? Statement appears to give no
information. Are certain people
prohibited from being witnesses?
Response: Statement slightly edited from 1994 Handbook. Famous plagiarism case in which outside
experts needed to prove case; in some cases Provost may wish to go outside to
get input. Expertise may exist outside
the university; wide reference – not meant randomly, such as jury selection. A rarely used but extra protection for both
parties. No further revision to text.
Question
Three: Section 2.9.3 Termination of
Appointment of Tenured, Tenure-Track, and Term Faculty Members for Cause (C2 pp. 68-69) Requested clarification of two-level review procedures – in present
Handbook, a committee of peers met to determine if prima facie case
against faculty member existed. The new Handbook
moves this role to the University Grievance Committee. While objectivity of peers may be an issue;
they are also likely to be the best informed.
Is the University Grievance Committee aware of what (new) burden this
imposes?
Response: Historically the University Grievance Committee has had little to do;
initially established as a place for research faculty with no place to go may
grieve; or grievances between two (local academic) units. This broadens definition of peers to include
faculty from various departments or schools.
The questioner withdrew his objection.
Question: Section 3.6.2 Leave Programs for Tenured
Faculty (C3 p.8): A faculty member who accepts a study leave must agree
to serve as a reviewer of future applications.
Is the commitment to
serve as a reviewer of future applications open-ended, or does it expire after
a few years?
Response: In practice, usually a one-year commitment; some faculty may wish to
serve more than once; others may wish to defer service to future. To add:
“at least once” so that revised text reads: A faculty member who accepts a study leave must agree
to serve as a reviewer of future applications at least once.
Question: Section 1.3.2 The Faculty Senate (C1 p.
18): Noticed that Robert's Rules of Order are not
specified as a modus operandi for the Faculty Senate, and wondered if there
would be openness at some point, to a discussion of a different set of rules
which have more affinity to consensus-building. Knows importance of Senate's traditions and culture
are important and assume that it would be very difficult to alter the rules for
engagement.
Response: Robert's Rules of Order – Newly Revised is the parliamentary
authority of the Faculty Senate, not a Faculty Handbook issue.
Question: 2.6.2 Post-tenure Review (C2 pp.41-43)
Very
troubled by new language requiring an overall unsatisfactory
rating before any post-tenure review process can commence. As the new language suggests, as long as a
faculty member receives a satisfactory rating in scholarship and service, even
if he or she were a terrible classroom teacher, it wouldn't matter, because the
overall rating would be satisfactory.
Indeed, what we would be saying is that it's perfectly acceptable to be
an unsatisfactory classroom teacher at GMU every year
for your entire career, and the Faculty Handbook will protect you and
your job if you are satisfactory in scholarship ans service. I realize that we are unlikely to have many –
if any- cases like this on the faculty.
But if we did, how would we justify such a case to the taxpayers of
Virginia (of which I am one)? And the Handbook
language as proposed certainly leaves open that possibility..(.if you retain
“overall” language), need to add that an exception to this would be an
unsatisfactory rating in teaching for more than three years in a row...
Discussion: Committee recalled that language changed from “three
unsatisfactory evaluations in five years” to two unsatisfactory evaluations n
four years”at request of Provost. In
sense that GMU has changed to a more research-oriented place, value of
centrality of teaching compromised, although strongly supported by
Provost. Unsatisfactory teaching should
be dealt with at the local level, individual situations may require flexibility
when working on long-term projects, etc.
Unlikely balance that unsatisfactory teachers would be superlative in other
areas. Chair to send response to faculty
member. No further revision to text.
Question: Section 1.3.6 Definition of Local Academic
Units (LAU) (C1 p. 23) and 2.1.6 Definition of Primary Affiliation (C2 p. 9)
University
has become more interdisciplinary since 1994 Handbook, more faculty opt
for multiple affiliations. Is it the
committee's intention to permit faculty to be in 3,4, or 5 local academic units, and if so, should FTE be associated with
it? Each department has its own by-laws
regarding membership and voting rights.
If FTE association with department, (e.g. .25 FTE, or .125 FTE),
difficult to say department cannot let you vote. If faculty member moves from one LAU to
another, process should be constrained to some extent; benefits should be
(removed) when you change to other units.
Some faculty may be hired as professors of X,Y, and Z (multiple LAUs).
Response: Not a Handbook issue – local units determine
voting right in diverse ways. Careful to
frame Faculty Handbook in such a way not to take benefits away from
faculty.
Comment:
The Faculty Handbook
lacks specific references to retirement policies; particularly proposed phased
retirement policy and should not be presented for approval until retirement
policy approved and included. What is
the rush?
Response: Lack of transparency on retirement issues
acknowledged, some faculty unaware of eligibility to take paid leave prior to
retirement. One of the committee members
is the person in unit faculty consult about retirement. Idiosyncrasies exist: people have many different personal needs –
not a generic set – need flexibility to address personal goals of prospective
retirees. Sometimes may be affected by
budget considerations when several faculty members retire at the same time. New revision mechanism allows inclusion of
new policies (once approved) such as Phased Retirement Policy, in real
time. Once approved, link also will be
posted on the Faculty Senate website. To
include new
Section 3.7 Retirement (C3 p. 10), (old Section 3.7 Conversion Factors
renumbered as 3.8.)
From time to time the University, and
particular academic units, may develop programs to assist faculty with
the transition to retirement. Faculty
contemplating this transition should discuss their options with their dean or
director and with the Human Resources and Payroll department.
Question: When the Faculty Handbook was reviewed by
AAUP, what did they do? Did they very
carefully go though text with approval?
Response: AAUP took document for review in late June, to meet an
August 1st deadline.
Vacationing AAUP members went through the document word by word – their
comments and suggestions were compiled, along with those of the Provost and the
University Counsel’s office. Then the Handbook
committee reviewed all three sets of comments sequenced. The AAUP also used a section of the Handbook
as an example to use a workshop they were teaching, they were that good!
Comment: Who represents the faculty on various committees? Need for language in which the administration consults with the Faculty Senate to make nominations to committees, not inform us that a faculty member has agreed to serve. Faculty member should be elected by Faculty Senate to serve on committee.
Comments: If the Grievance Committee finds a faculty
member in violation of the Faculty Handbook,
the BOV should be notified. The
charge of the Grievance Committee should be so amended.
Comment/Discussion: Need to include separate section on Freedom
of Speech and Expression, as very important areas of university life. Despite Faculty Senate efforts a few years
ago, no university policy exists.
Examples cited included shabby treatment of students by police and filming of public demonstrations on
campus by University Police. What kind
of lesson do we provide for students about First Amendment rights at a
university, an important part of our teaching responsibilities, especially at George
Mason University? What is the criterion for what gets into Faculty
Handbook and what doesn't?
Response: Committee concerned about ballooning; police and
students not covered by Faculty Handbook. To contact professor suggested with area of
particular expertise in this area to help develop a new policy. Should policy be developed and approved, then
to include in Faculty Handbook. No
further revisions made. The
following segments address in general faculty rights and privileges:
Preface (C1 p. 3)
The
provisions of the Faculty Handbook are incorporated by reference in
all full time instructional, research, and clinical faculty employment
contracts. These provisions are
binding on the University and on individual faculty members. The Faculty Handbook governs the employment relationship of
individual faculty members, and sets forth the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of faculty
members and of the University. Faculty and academic administrators are
expected to read the Faculty Handbook and to be familiar with its contents.
Section 2.11.1 Academic Freedom and Civil
Liberties
One of the vital activities of a university is the
critical examination of ideologies and institutions. It is essential that
faculty members have the right to express their views responsibly, and the
University is committed to upholding the principles of academic freedom to
protect the expression of faculty members without fear of censorship or retaliation.
The University defines academic freedom as:
1. the right to unrestricted exposition of
subjects (including controversial questions) within one's field, both on and
off the campus, in a professionally responsible manner; and
2. the right to unrestricted scholarly research
and publication in a professionally responsible manner within the limits
imposed by the acknowledgment of teaching as a faculty member's obligation and
the limits imposed by the resources of the institution.
The University is fully aware that faculty members must
enjoy, in addition to academic freedom, the same civil liberties as other
citizens. In the exercise of their civil liberties or academic freedom,
faculty have an obligation to make clear that they are not representing the
institution, its Board, or the Commonwealth of Virginia. All employees have an
obligation to avoid any action which appears or purports to commit the
institution to a position on any issue without appropriate approval.
Faculty
personnel actions, including initial appointment, reappointment, and
promotion and tenure will not be affected by non-academic considerations
such as the exercise of academic freedom and civil liberties.
QUESTION: Can we be assured in the revised Handbook that
there will be a second-level review when someone is granted tenure?
Response: Absolutely; the committee spent a lot of time on this
issue. See Sections 2.3.2
Procedures for Recruitment and Appontment of Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
(C2 pp. 23-24) , and 2.3.2.1 Awarding of Tenure at the Time of
Appointment in Competitive Searches (C2 p. 25).
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Caniano
Clerk, Faculty Senate