MINUTES OF THE FACULTY HANDBOOK REVISION COMMITTEE
Tuesday June 17,
2008
Mason Hall, room
D1; 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Present: 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.
Discussion: External Review Process
· To schedule three forums (one per campus) in mid-September – early October.
· Special Faculty Senate meeting to consider revised Handbook in its entirety – October 15, 2008
· To email draft text of Handbook revisions three weeks ahead of forums/FS meeting.
· Key to make process clear to all parties.
· To collect inputs received from Handbook Forums; committee to meet to consider as soon as possible after Forums completed – or by late September if one forum takes place in early October. After consideration of suggested revisions, to present to Faculty Senate in its entirety at October meeting.
· To find a way to systematically respond to comments/suggestions received and outcome. To use a form letter acknowledging receipt of comments. To communicate results of decisions made in FHC Minutes posted; respond to individual suggestions/comments as needed.
· Important that all members of FHC, whether instructional or administrative faculty, be acknowledged for their contributions and expertise.
Discussion: Presentation to the BOV
· Assuming Handbook receives endorsement by Faculty Senate and administration, then presented to BOV.
· BOV will at least want some information re process, endorsement by entities, significant changes.
· We may need to meet with Rector Volgenau and/or the Executive Committee of the BOV before presentation to the full Board.
· Two-page Executive Summary of major/significant changes; drafted from earlier version to Provost.
Revisions: Preface to the 2009 edition: page 1 of 2:
The 2009 1994 edition of the GMU Faculty Handbook becomes
effective on July 1, 2009 1994. It defines and describes the
conditions of full-time instructional, research, and clinical faculty
employment; the structures and processes through which the faculty participates
in institutional decision-making and governance; and the academic policies of
the University as established by its Board of Visitors.
The
Faculty Handbook is a contractual document, binding on the University
and on individual faculty members. Insofar as applicable, its provisions are
incorporated by reference in all faculty employment contracts. Faculty and
academic administrators are expected to read the Faculty Handbook
and to be familiar with its contents provisions.
Revisions
Amendments to the Handbook may be
proposed by any parties who have participated in its adoption: the Board of Visitors;
the Faculty Senate, acting on behalf of the General Faculty; and the central
administration. If a proposal to amend the
Handbook originates with the Board or the central administration, the Board of
Visitors, through the President, will notify the Faculty Senate of the proposed
amendment and will ask the advice of the Senate at least twenty-one days before
the Board acts on any such amendment. Senate representatives and other
appropriate faculty will be given an opportunity to appear before the Board or
the appropriate committee of the Board to explain the faculty position.
Proposals to revise the Handbook originating from
any of these entities will be considered by a joint committee of the faculty
and the central administration consisting of three faculty appointed by the
Faculty Senate, at least one of whom must be a Faculty Senator, and two
administrators appointed by the Provost.
The chair of the Faculty Senate appoints the committee chair from the
three faculty members. However, it is
not necessary to convene a committee for the following cases:
·
Revisions proposed and approved by the Faculty
Senate, and approved by the Provost;
·
Revisions proposed by the central administration,
and submitted to and approved by the Faculty Senate.
All revisions amendments, however,require the formal approval of the Board
of Visitors. Each revision such
amendment shall be incorporated,
as of the effective date fixed by the Board, in all existing and future faculty
employment contracts, whether with or
without term, except that no revision such amendment shall operate retroactively
to change materially the substantive rights of any faculty member. For example,
the conditions of employment governed by the Handbook may be changed
prospectively and criteria for tenure may be changed for faculty who have not
been awarded tenure but may not be changed for faculty already tenured. Where
no effective date is fixed for a revision an amendment, it shall become effective on July 1st
following its approval by the BOV at the
end of the academic year in which it is enacted.
(end page 1 of 2)
·
Addition
of full-time instructional, research, and clinical faculty – cannot say “term”,
as includes administrative/professional faculty also.
·
To
change charge of Senate O&O (Organization and Operations) Committee to
include revision and automatically provide one member to the review
committee.
· “amend” changed to “revise” in several places; “revision” replaced by “amendment” in several places.
· Inclusion of July 1st as effective date of revision following change(s) approval by the BOV in absence of other defined date.
· Chair of the Faculty Senate appoints committee chair from among three faculty members.
1.1. The Rector and Board of Visitors – 2009
Revision
Responsibility for the governance of George Mason University is vested by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the Rector and Board of Visitors. Members of the Board of Visitors are appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth to serve fixed terms of four years. The Rector is a member of the Board, elected by the Board to serve as its chair.
Without limiting the generality of its powers, the Board
of Visitors exercises its authority principally in policy-making and
oversight. With the exception of
meetings convened in executive session, meetings of the Board of Visitors and
its committees are open to the public. The Board recognizes as official observers three
senators appointed by the chair of the Faculty Senate to be its liaison
representatives. These senators receive notices of Board meetings, agendas, and
other documents concerning business to be considered by the Board, and report
regularly to the Senate about Board meetings. The voting
membership of the General Faculty (see Section 1.3.1) shall elect a non-voting
representative to the following committees of the Board: the Equity and
Diversity Committee, Faculty and Academic Standards Committee, Finance and
Resource Development Committee, Land Use and Physical Facilities Committee, and
University Life Committee. To
accomplish this, the Faculty Senate shall conduct bi-annual elections. The candidates will come from the voting
membership of the General Faculty. The
Faculty Senate will notify the Rector of the outcome of the election. A separate faculty member may be selected by
the Board to serve as a nonvoting, faculty liaison to the Audit Committee. The chair of the Faculty Senate sits as a
non-voting member of the full Board. No
faculty member may serve concurrently on more than one committee. No faculty member can serve more than two
consecutive 2-year terms, although subsequent reelection is permitted.
·
add “by the Board” to second paragraph
sentence so it now reads: “A separate faculty member may be selected
by the Board to serve as a nonvoting, faculty liaison to the Audit Committee.”
1.2.1 The President – 2009 Revision
The Board of Visitors appoints elects the President of the University,
who serves at its pleasure. The President is the chief executive officer of the
University and reports to the Rector and Board of Visitors. As chief executive
officer, the President is charged with carrying out the policies of the Board
and providing leadership to of
the University's faculty, staff, and students in achieving major objectives.
Within guidelines established by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia and
the Board of Visitors, the President is in charge of day-to-day administration
and operation of the University.
· President appointed, not elected by BOV.
1.2.2 The Provost – 2009 Revision
The Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and
Provost (hereafter abbreviated as Provost) is the chief academic officer
of the University and is responsible for all educational matters. The Provost
is appointed by the President and serves at the President's pleasure.
· Retain Provost title as written – if he wishes to change it, he will.
The
Board of Visitors provides for the participation on
presidential search and reappointment committees by of faculty who are elected by the General
Faculty. The search and selection process includes opportunities for the
General Faculty to meet with candidates who are finalists for the
presidency.
The President provides
for faculty participation on search and reappointment committees for a Provost
by faculty who are peer-elected by the General Faculty. also serve on search
committees for a new Provost. Here, too, The search
and selection process includes opportunities for the General Faculty to
meet with finalist
candidates who are finalists for the Provost position.
The
Provost provides for participation on search and reappointment committees for
college,
school, or institute The
appointment of collegiate deans and directors by faculty who are
elected from and by the faculty of the college, school, or institute in which
the appointment will occur is likewise
preceded by a search and selection process in which peer-elected faculty of the
college or school participate. The search and selection process includes opportunities for
the college, collegiate school, or institute
faculty to meet with finalist candidates who are
finalists for the position.
The
Faculty Senate will assist in conducting elections by the General Faculty.
· New first paragraph adapted from Section 1.3, moved here; faculty play an important role in search and reappointment processes for the President, Provost, and deans and directors.
· In penultimate year of contract, formal review by deans and directors of President/Provost.
· Not a search committee in effect, but more like a subcommittee. This does not change procedures – if there will be no reappointment committee, no obligation.
The faculty conducts its work business and participates in institutional
governance at the University level, the college, school, or institute
level, and the level of the local academic unit (defined in Section 1.3.4).
The faculty is organized accordingly, to provide for the exercise of its
responsibilities at all three levels, as described in Sections 1.3.1 through
1.3.6 below. In accordance with the best traditions of American
universities, the faculty plays a primary role in two types of determinations: (i)the University's academic offerings;
and (ii)faculty personnel
actions. The faculty also plays a vital role in academic organization and
institutional change. Faculty
participation in the decision-making process in these two areas is described in
Chapter II of this Handbook.
· New first paragraph in Section 1.2.5 adapted and moved from earlier revision of Section 1.3.
The General Faculty is
responsible for faculty participates in governance at the
university level. All members of the University's
teaching and research community
may attend meetings of the General Faculty and participate in the debate of
matters that come before it. The voting membership of the General Faculty
consists of all full-time tenured, tenure-track, and term tenured and probationary faculty and professional librarians.
Without
relinquishing the generality of its powers, the General Faculty delegates by
Charter to the Faculty Senate the responsibility for participation in governance at the
university level (see Appendix B, Charter of the
Faculty Senate).
The
General Faculty is required to meet at least once each semester. Meetings are
scheduled by the President of the University, who serves as presiding officer.
Additional meetings may be scheduled at the President's discretion. If at least
10% of the voting membership petitions for a called meeting of the General
Faculty, the President is obliged to schedule it within thirty days, or within
ten days if the purpose of the call is to modify the authority the General
Faculty has granted the Faculty Senate, or to reverse specific decisions of the
Senate, or to amend the Senate charter.
·
Addition of
“by Charter”
·
Deletion of
reference to Appendix B.
Under
powers delegated to it by the General Faculty, the Faculty Senate is the
principal faculty advisory body to the President. It has particular
responsibility for the formulation of university-wide academic policies and is
the principal voice of the faculty in matters affecting the faculty generally.
It advises the President and other members of the central administration concerning
matters that affect the welfare of the University as a whole.
The principal function
of the Faculty Senate is to represent the faculty on all academic and governance
issues not internal to any single school, college, or institute. This
includes, but is not limited to, curricular matters, matters concerning terms
and conditions of faculty employment, and matters of academic organization and
institutional change. In these matters, the Provost and Senate will consult
during the process of planning and implementing changes. To ensure timely
consultation about these and other matters, the Provost meets regularly monthly with the Senate's executive
committee. Meetings with the President and/or other members of the central
administration occur as needed.
The Senate meets at
least monthly during the fall and spring semesters. Meetings of the Senate are
open to all members of the university community, who may speak to any item of
business on the agenda. Only members of the Senate, however, may introduce motions and vote. The
Faculty Senate deliberates in a respectful and open manner, consistent with existing principles
of university discourse.
Three members of the Senate are appointed by its chair to
serve as liaison representatives to the Board of Visitors. They regularly
attend meetings of the Board and its committees and report to the Senate about
them.
·
replaced “positive” with “respectful” in
last paragraph.
The
schools and colleges of the University are communities of teaching, learning, research
and scholarship, and service established by the faculty and administration
and approved by the Board of Visitors. They house faculties and programs
representing shared educational interests, and may or may not be sub- divided
into departments. Colleges may also be subdivided into schools.
As an organizational
unit the college or school meets four functional criteria: (i) it has a tenured
and tenure-track probationary
faculty directly and specifically appointed to it or to its departments by the
Board of Visitors; (ii) its faculty establishes degree requirements; authorizes
the conferral of degrees; proposes, reviews and approves courses and programs; actively
participates in decisions concerning the creation, reorganization and
dissolution of units within the college or school; and plays a key role in
faculty personnel actions such as hiring, promotion, and entenurement;
(iii) it has an instructional budget that includes FTE-funds for the payment of
its faculty's salaries as well as funds for goods and services in support of
its programs; and (iv) its chief administrative officer is a dean who reports
directly to the Provost.
The faculties of
schools and colleges define their own voting membership. Together with their deans,
they determine the processes and procedures of governance they will employ, but
all schools and colleges, and if so sub-divided, their departments, must act
within the following guidelines, which prescribe that they
a.
operate in a democratic manner and in accordance with the best
traditions of the academic profession;
b.
adopt bylaws or standing rules that are made available to all members
and that undergo periodic review;
c.
meet often enough to assure good communication and the timely conduct
of business;
d.
hold meetings that follow an agenda distributed in advance;
e.
record the proceedings of the meetings in minutes that are distributed
to and approved by the faculty.
· addition of “research and” before scholarship in first sentence.
In such schools, colleges, and institutes
as may be subdivided administratively to reflect disciplinary differences and
intellectual traditions, the academic department is the local unit of faculty
organization. Departments are established to carry on programs of instruction,
research and scholarship, and public service in particular fields of
knowledge. Accordingly, they are organized on the basis of disciplines or
fields of study.
Departmental
faculties determine their own voting membership. Together with their chairs,
they determine the processes and procedures of governance they will employ, but
all departments must act within the guidelines listed in Section 1.3.3.
· addition of “and scholarship” after research in second sentence.
In such schools,
and colleges, and institutes as may be subdivided
administratively to reflect disciplinary differences and intellectual traditions,
the academic department is the local unit of faculty organization. Departments
are established to carry on programs of instruction, research and
scholarship, and public service in particular fields of knowledge.
Accordingly, they are organized on the basis of disciplines or fields of study.
Departmental
faculties determine their own voting membership. Together with their chairs,
they determine the processes and procedures of governance they will employ, but
all departments must act within the guidelines listed in Section 1.3.3.
·
addition of
“and scholarship” after “research” in second sentence.
A center is a unit of the University intended to advance
the University's mission of research and/or public service. Normally housed
within a department, college/school or academic institute, a center does
not develop or administer academic degree programs, nor does it possess instructional
faculty appointed to primary affiliation with it. From time to time, centers
with large grants or contracts may require the presence of research, clinical,
and/or professional faculty whose affiliation with the center is
coterminous with the life of the grant or contract. Faculty appointed to a
center under externally funded grants or contracts may not receive tenure-track
probationary or tenured
appointments through the center. A center is chartered for a specific period of
time by the Provost and the President
on the recommendation of appropriate faculty and dean(s) or institute
director(s). Renewal of a charter, when called for, is subject to favorable
review of a center's performance and accomplishments. For information
regarding Center rechartering, see www.gmu.edu/departments/provost/documents/recharter.doc
.
A
center is administered by a director who is appointed for a fixed term by the
local unit administrator of the unit within which the center is housed.
Whenever possible, centers are expected to derive most of their operating
budgets from a source or sources other than state appropriations.
·
addition of
“clinical”
This section defines the
faculty and the various types of faculty appointment at George Mason
University.
2.1.1 Tenured Appointment – 2009 Revision
Although the word
"tenure" does not appear in the Code of Virginia, the University
grants "election without term." This status is the contractual
equivalent of tenure. The University defines tenure as the right to continued
employment unless separated from the University under conditions outlined in Section
2.9 of this document. For the University, tenure is a major safeguard of
academic freedom, of the quality of education offered here, and of the
continuity and stability of the institution. For the faculty member on whom
tenure is conferred, it is a privilege granted by the University to those who
have consistently demonstrated their value to the institution over an extended
period of time. The appointment
issued successively each year to persons elected without term to the faculty of
the University by the Board of Visitors. Faculty on tenured appointments normally hold the rank of
Associate Professor or Professor.
Tenure, once conferred,
resides in the University, and is not affected by the reorganization of
academic units. In the event of program discontinuation or financial exigency,
the institution will make a good faith effort to protect and retain its tenured
faculty members and to provide them with opportunities for professional
development and training for other roles in the University.
·
“This, however, does not imply that the faculty
member is automatically entitled to retain tenure even if such an alternate
position is found.” consensus to remove because alternate
position may be administrative/other position ineligible for tenure.
2.1.2 Tenure-Track Probationary
Appointment – 2009 Revision
This is an instructional faculty appointment
for a fixed term in which service is applied to consideration for tenure. These
appointments are issued for terms of up to three years. The University can, but
is not required to, renew such appointments for of additional terms up to a total of six
seven years of service (not
counting any time period off the tenure clock). An instructional faculty member in the final term of a
probationary appointment cannot subsequently be given another probationary
appointment but can subsequently be considered for another type of fixed term
appointment. Faculty on tenure-track appointments may hold
the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor. These
titles may be modified by the terms Research or Visiting or Clinical or Field.
A visiting appointment denotes someone whose appointment is temporary, usually
for one academic year. A clinical appointment denotes someone whose major
responsibility is to supervise students in clinical instruction, whether within
the University or in another setting. A field appointment denotes someone whose
major responsibility is to supervise student field work, which may be
geographically removed from the University, and who does not normally undertake
class responsibilities.
Faculty in
their sixth year of tenure-track service at George Mason University stand for tenure at
that time if they wish to retain their position beyond the seventh
year (see Section 2.7.2 for policy on
notification to faculty terminated for failure to receive tenure). Earlier consideration
for a tenured appointment is possible. Experienced faculty hired on tenure-track appointments from other institutions will not normally
be expected to serve a six-year tenure-track period, although there is no requirement
that they stand for tenure prior to their sixth year of tenure-track service. Credit toward
tenure may be given for prior faculty service at other institutions. Such credit is manifested through
consideration of accomplishments prior to employment at George Mason University,
not through a reduction in the available six-year tenure-track period (assuming
that the criteria for tenure-track contract renewal are met.
· Seven years corrected to six years in first paragraph – must stand for tenure not later than 6th year.
· There is no requirement that faculty stand for tenure prior to their sixth year of tenure-track service, although they may choose to do so; new references to “experienced” faculty- including accomplishments prior to service here.
· Reference to exceptions to the tenure clock included.
·
Removal of revised sentence: “An instructional faculty
member in the final term of a probationary appointment cannot subsequently be
given another probationary appointment but can subsequently be considered for
another type of fixed term appointment.” because contrary to
equity policies – if you compete in an open search and win.
· A tenure-track faculty member could transfer to a term appointment with Provost’s approval – would have to win search; if failing in tenure-track, Provost likely to say no, but if successful and wishes to change status, Provost may approve.
· Not to make language too negative or restrictive; could be interpreted in a way not intended.
2.1.3 Other Types of Full-Time Fixed-Term Appointments
· After some discussion whether to add modifier “term” to titles listed such as “Research Assistant Professor,” etc. decided to retain as is. Research and Clinical substantive modifiers.
· Important distinctions made between Associate Professor (with tenure) and term Associate Professor in terms of employment; expectations of tenure-line and term faculty vastly different
· Titles consistent with offer letters; term faculty once described as contract faculty.
2.1.4
Part-Time Appointment – 2009 Revision
Faculty who are appointed to
part-time positions with the sole responsibility of covering the teaching and
advising responsibilities associated with a specific course (or a set of
specified courses) are called adjunct faculty.
Adjunct appointments are for the duration of the assigned
course(s).
Faculty
who are appointed to part-time positions with assignments that exceeded those
associated with adjunct faculty positions are known as part-time term
faculty. Such assignments may include
research, service, clinical practice, administrative program development, or instructional
responsibilities that go beyond the boundaries of specific courses. Part-time term faculty positions are
governed by the same appointment, rank, and title requirements as full-time
term faculty positions. However, the
dean/director is the final approval level for part-time faculty hires, and the
maximum length of a part-time term faculty position is one year, with
exceptions requiring the approval of the Provost.
Faculty
with significant teaching, research, service, or administrative assignments who
are not on the University payroll may be designated as affiliate faculty with
an appropriate academic rank.
Recommendations for affiliate faculty appointments are initiated by a
local academic unit and must be approved by the Provost.
Part-time faculty are not considered voting members of the General
Faculty and are not covered by the provisions of this Handbook.
·
Removal of “and
instructional revision” after advising in the first line.
·
Faculty appointments are
initiated, not recommended by LAU (para. 3)
·
Dean/Director as final
approval for part-time faculty hires.
2.1.5 Definition of Primary Affiliation – 2009
Revision
Although tenure resides in the University as a whole (see
Section 2.1.1 2.7.3), tenure-track
probationary and tenured faculty with the exception of university professors,
are appointed directly and specifically to one or more local academic units.
Term faculty are also appointed directly and specifically to one or more local
academic units. The status
established by such an appointment is called in this document "primary
affiliation." Primary affiliation is
determined in accordance with procedures described in Sections 2.7 and 2.8.Primary
affiliation in one unit does not, however, preclude the possibility
of subsequent assignments to part-time or full-time service in to other units.
in which a faculty member does not hold an appointment to primary affiliation.
An
appointment to primary affiliation requires the concurrence of the faculty of
the local unit to which the appointment is to be made and may not be
transferred from one local academic unit to another except with the concurrence
of the faculty of the unit to which a transfer is proposed.
·
First
sentence did not address term faculty.
·
Last
sentence removed, redundant.
2.1.6
Academic Year Appointments and Fiscal Year Appointments - 2009 Revision to FIG
Text.
ACADEMIC YEAR APPOINTMENTS (9 MONTHS)
For
administrative purposes, the academic-year for instructional faculty is the
9-month period from August 25 through May 24. This is the period during which faculty are paid and benefits
authorized. For academic purposes, The Governor’s Consolidated Salary
Authorization contractually obligates faculty on 9-month appointments are expected
to be available for work approximately two weeks prior to the
beginning of classes until two weeks after the end of classes. Benefits are authorized provided the
appointment is for one FTE and more than six months. Faculty on academic-year appointments who work less than the full
9-month period will be paid the appropriate percentage of the full 9-month
salary. Faculty accrue receive 15 days of sick leave annually. Annual leave is not authorized for
academic year appointments.
FISCAL-YEAR APPOINTMENTS (12-MONTHS)
Faculty who are required to perform duties year round are
placed on 12-month or fiscal year appointments for the period June 25 through
June 24. These faculty receive 24 days of annual leave and accrue 20 days
of sick leave. Annual leave is not authorized for certain 12-month faculty
appointments that which are
funded through special sponsored programs. Benefits are authorized provided the
appointment is for one FTE and more than six months. Faculty on fiscal-year
appointments who work less than the full 12-month period will be paid the
appropriate percentage of the full 12-month salary.
·
Sick leave accrued
not received, on an annual basis.
·
Discussion whether to
remove reference to sick leave as one of many other benefits. Annual leave is only one difference between
9 month and 12 month faculty. To retain
as informational for 9 month faculty?
·
Sick leave pooled for
9 month faculty as a whole – not assigned to you until you make a claim on it.
·
When you accrue your
maximum number of sick days, you cannot get (any) more; no financial payout
(for sick days not used). Faculty may
loan out sick leave days to other people.
·
(For 12 month faculty)
Annual leave could be paid out if specified in individual’s offer letter.
2.1.7 Categories of Faculty Employees – 2009 Revision
INSTRUCTIONAL/RESEARCH
/CLINICAL FACULTY
This category
of faculty includes
those on contractual appointments who customarily teach, conduct research
or engage in clinical practice public
service activities as a principal activity. Instructional faculty
usually work a 9 or 12 month year and may be full-time (1.0 FTE) or part-time
(less than 1.0 FTE).
ADMINISTRATIVE/PROFESSIONAL
FACULTY
Administrative/professional faculty perform work directly related to the
administration and support of the educational and general activities of the
university as well as activities related to Professional faculty perform professional work in education,
research, athletics, student affairs, and development. activities. Administrative/professional
faculty are usually on contractual appointments of 12-months duration and may
be full-time (1.0 FTE) or part-time (less than 1.0 FTE).
·
Original
text based on Faculty Information Guide.
2.1.8 6
Faculty With Governance Responsibilities
- 2009 Revision
Faculty possess governance responsibilities in local
academic units in which they hold primary affiliation and in the larger units
of which their local academic units are a part. Local and collegiate units may
also choose to extend voting rights to other faculty who are employed in those
units. For purposes of participation in governance beyond the local and
collegiate levels, the General Faculty
is defined in Section 1.3.1. as those
persons holding tenured or probationary appointments.
An instructor holds the Masters’ degree or
equivalent academic and/or professional qualifications and gives promise of excellent teaching..
Instructors do not receive tenure-track probationary
appointments; therefore, time spent in this rank is not counted as part of the probationary period for consideration
for tenure.
· To keep job as Instructor, must have high competence, not genuine excellence.
From time to time the University will encounter
opportunities to recognize current members of the faculty or appoint to
its faculty women and men of unusually great national or international reputation stature
and eminence from the world of national and international achievement.
The rank of University Professor is reserved for such eminent
individuals. Since the value of these
individuals to the University's academic community transcends the boundaries of
departments, colleges, schools, and institutes, university professors are
appointed as at-large members of the General Faculty. At the discretion of
local or collegiate unit faculties, however, university professors may be
invited to accept primary affiliation in one or more departments, colleges,
schools, and/or institutes.
University Professors invariably hold
tenured appointments. They
are appointed by the President and the Board of Visitors with the advice and
consent of a standing an ad hoc
faculty committee appointed by the Provost of the
President's own choosing..
University Professor appointments are normally reserved
for full professors. The criteria for
such appointments include substantial research or scholarship or arts credentials,
as appropriate to the discipline.
Distinguished Service Professors should be named by the Provost, either directly or
following a recommendation by the
dean or director of the unit in which she or
he holds academic rank. Since service may take many forms over a long period of
time, the Distinguished Service
Professorship should be used to recognize individuals whose careers have had a major
impact on their field or on the university community that go well beyond the
ordinary levels of service. In other
words, the intention of this designation is not simply to recognize someone for
many years of employment at the university.
Criteria for naming someone to this rank are listed below.
A.Full Professor
B.Sustained contribution to the good of the university and the academic
unit
C.High level service that
goes considerably beyond the routine
D.Contributions to the field that extend beyond the boundaries of the
university
Upon retirement from
George Mason University, full-time tenured Associate professors and
Full Professors with ten or more
years of continuous academic
service may be recommended to the Board of Visitors for election to the honorary rank of Emeritus/Emerita in recognition of
outstanding dedication to the university. A letter reviewing the candidate's
history of teaching, research and scholarship, and service at GMU is normally
initiated by the individual's LAU. The letter is forwarded to the LAU
Dean, the Provost and the President for accompanying recommendations.
Upon retirement from
George Mason University, full-time tenured
Associate professors and Full
Professors with ten or more years of continuous
academic service may be recommended to
the Board of Visitors for election to the
honorary rank of Emeritus/Emerita in
recognition of outstanding dedication to the university. A letter reviewing the
candidate's history of teaching, research and scholarship, and service at GMU Recommendations for this honor are
is normally initiated by the individual's LAU
peer faculty and. The
letter is forwarded to the Board of Visitors like other
faculty personnel matters, i.e., with accompanying recommendations from the
local unit administrator, the
LAU Dean, the Provost and the President for
accompanying recommendations.
·
To specify “Full”
Professors in first sentence.
2.2.7 Affiliate
Faculty – 1994 Handbook Text
Individuals
not on the University payroll who assume significant responsibility for
research, clinical or field activities or who perform other services for
academic programs, can be designated affiliate faculty with an appropriate
academic rank. Appointments of affiliate faculty are recommended by the faculty
of the local academic unit or program and by the local unit administrator or
program director, and must be approved by the Provost.
·
Delete entire
section - already defined in Section
2.1.4.
Each person appointed to an
administrative/professional faculty position is assigned an academic rank.
Initial appointment will normally be at the rank of Instructor. Individuals
holding a terminal degree may be appointed at the rank of Assistant Professor.
An academic unit and the Provost must confer academic rank beyond Assistant
Professor. As exceptions, certain senior administrative positions will be
assigned the rank of Associate Professor in keeping with the executive status
of their position. Assignment of rank must be in accordance with The
Commonwealth of Virginia’s Consolidated Salary Authorization for Faculty
Positions in Institutions of Higher Education, 20012002. (The assignment of rank to
administrative/professional faculty does not confer, nor does time assigned to
administrative/professional duties contribute to, tenure.)
Instructional or research faculty who are appointed to administrative/professional
faculty positions, if tenured, retain their tenured positions while so
serving. or,
If on a tenure track appointment, they may continue in that
status while so serving. In that
the latter case, the tenure
clock may be stopped during the term of the administrative appointment, but
must be formally requested in accordance with the guidelines outlined in The Tenure Clock Exceptions to Standard
Procedures, available on the Provost Office website. .http://www3.gmu.edu/departments/provost/documents/TenClock.doc .
If on a term appointment, the faculty member
has no automatic right to return to their previous instructional or research
position.
·
To
verify The Commonwealth of Virginia’s Consolidated Salary Authorization …” with
Linda Harber, Associate Vice President for Human Resources
·
Removal
of “research faculty” in second paragraph as they are not tenured faculty.
2.3.1.1 Policies on Recruitment and Appointment of
Faculty – 2009 Revision
The Board of Visitors has full authority over faculty
personnel matters, including the
responsibility to approve faculty appointments. To carry out this
function effectively, the Board selects a President, who appoints other
academic administrators officers.
Academic administrators share responsibility with the faculty for ensuring that
appropriate qualitative standards
are fostered; that equity and due process are the rule; that judgments in the
selection, retention, and promotion of faculty are in the best long-term
interests of the University; and that affirmative action, equal opportunity,
and fair employment practices are followed.
(see Appendix
A)
Initial
review and evaluation of qualifications are carried out by peers in the local
academic unit to which the candidate is to be appointed. Faculty
recommendations for appointment are forwarded to the dean or director of the
academic unit in which the appointment is to be made. If concurring with the
faculty recommendations, the dean or director will forward them to the Provost and the President.
·
“Officers”
used locally.
·
Should dean
not agree with faculty search committee recommendation, can stop at that level.
The
following section was revised and the paragraph sequence reordered; committee
to review; to avoid confusion did not reproduce old Handbook text here.
2.3.2
Procedures for Recruitment and Appointment of Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty
– 2009 Revision – p. 1 of 2
Requests
for new faculty appointments to allocated positions normally originate with the
local unit administrator, acting upon the recommendation of the unit's faculty.
In particular, the administrator seeks the assistance of the faculty in
defining the requirements of the position to be filled and the qualifications
to be sought in the appointee. Authorization from the appropriate dean/director
and the Provost is necessary before a search is initiated to fill a vacancy or
a new position. In unusual cases a waiver of the search process may be
requested by the local unit administrator, dean, or director (See Section
2.3.1.1).
The
local academic unit establishes a faculty committee to advise and assist the
local unit administrator in carrying out a search. After receiving
appropriate training from the Office of Equity and Diversity Services, this
committee reviews applicant credentials and makes recommendations
regarding potential finalists for the position. All full-time faculty of
the local academic unit will be provided with an opportunity to meet
with the finalists and offer input to the selection process. The search
committee then formulates a recommendation. The local unit administrator
transmits all previous recommendations, together with her or his
own, to the collegiate dean, director, or to the Provost. The faculty
shall be apprised in writing of the local academic unit administrator’s
recommendation at the time of its transmittal.
Before extending an
offer of appointment, the local unit administrator must secure the concurrence
of the unit’s faculty, relevant Dean or Director, the
Provost, and the Office of Equity and Diversity Services. All written
offers of appointment must include the elements specified in the appropriate
offer letter template located on the Mason website.
Hires
without term require special review as appropriate to local unit in conformance
with Section 2.7.3 Procedures for Promotion and Tenure.
All full-time faculty
receive initial letters of appointment specifying terms of employment and
seeking the faculty member’s consent to be governed by the administrative
policies and regulations of the University (currently in force and as amended
in the future). Acceptance in
writing of these letters constitutes a contract between the University and
individual faculty members. Letters of initial appointment for tenure-track
faculty also indicate the expiration date of terms of appointment.
Noncompetitive
or direct hires are hires in which the search process is waived. When hiring term, tenured, and tenure-track
faculty, competitive searches should be used except in very special
circumstances. These circumstances are
normally limited to situations (a) when the candidate has already established a
national/international reputation, the program has a unique opportunity to hire
the targeted candidate, and the area of specialization complements those of
faculty already in the program; (b) when the candidate is a spouse or partner
of a candidate being hired through formal search procedures and the university
is attempting to accommodate her or him; and (c) when an administrator is hired
and is considered for acceptance in a specific local academic unit (LAU). While an administrator is normally hired
using a competitive process at the administrative level, this policy applies
because s/he is not part of a competitive process at the LAU. Instructional term faculty may also be hired
without a search when classes must be staffed immediately due to unexpected
instructional or other needs. Waiver of
a search in this situation is only valid for one year.
Faculty
in the LAU review the credentials of any individual who is a candidate for a
noncompetitive hire using the same procedures as review of competitive hire
candidates. These include at a minimum
the opportunity to examine a curriculum vitae, meet with the candidate, attend
a job seminar or formal presentation by the candidate and review letters of
reference. The appointment process moves forward only when a majority of the
LAU faculty who are eligible to vote accept the candidate.
·
Some schools had to
vote on three strata to comply with letter of current Handbook text.
·
In one school, search
committee solicits recommendation of the faculty separate from search
committee.
Respectfully submitted,
Meg Caniano
Clerk, Faculty Senate