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ACADEMIC POLICIES & PROCEDURES

Faculty Personnel Policy

Department Head Selection and Retention

Both departmental faculty and academic administration are involved in the process of selecting department heads. A department head may be appointed from within the university or from the result of a search and interview process as determined by the Vice President for Academic Affairs in consultation with the department faculty and dean. Searches outside the university will be handled in accordance with established faculty search procedures, including the role of faculty in searching for, interviewing, and recommending candidates. The steps for appointment within the university are as follows:

  1. The dean will meet with the faculty of the department to discuss the role, responsibilities, and compensation of the department head. The faculty and dean will develop a written description of the qualifications necessary for a head of that department from duties and responsibilities outlined in the Academic Policies and Procedures Manual.
  2. The dean will ask the faculty to submit nominations of candidates.
  3. The dean will interview the nominees to determine their willingness to serve and their leadership philosophies.
  4. The faculty of the department will meet to nominate one, two, or three acceptable candidates, identifying the strengths of each candidate and rank-ordering the nominees (if submitting more than one). The decision will be reported in writing to the dean.
  5. The dean will submit a recommendation on the faculty’s nominee(s) to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
  6. Within two weeks of receipt of the dean’s recommendation, the Vice President for Academic Affairs will submit a recommendation on the faculty’s nominee to the President.
  7. Within two weeks of receipt of the Vice President’s recommendation, the President will notify the dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs of his/her decision.
  8. If the recommendation is not approved by the President, the process will be repeated, beginning with Step 4.

Any situation which is not covered in the aforementioned selection procedure will be handled cooperatively by the department faculty and the dean.

Terms of Appointment

  1. Because the University operates on a year-round basis, the head normally is appointed on a 12-month basis.
  2. The length of the initial and subsequent appointments shall be fixed at three years.

Evaluation of the Department Head

Department Heads will be evaluated annually by their dean and departmental faculty. For evaluating the administrative effectiveness of the head, the dean solicits formal input from the entire faculty and staff of the department.

These evaluations, together with the dean’s evaluation of the department head’s performance, will be discussed with the department head and considered in future decisions regarding reappointment, rank, and salary.

Replacement of Department Heads for Cause

If the department faculty believe a head should be replaced prior to the end of the appointment period, a request containing the signatures of sixty percent of the full-time faculty who have taught in that department for three or more semesters may be submitted to the dean. After consultation with departmental faculty, the dean will determine whether or not the request is in the best interest of the department. If the dean disagrees, the decision and justification will be submitted in writing to the faculty, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the President. If the dean agrees, he/she will, with the written approval of the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the President, initiate the selection process immediately.

If the department head’s dean believes that the department head should be replaced prior to the end of the appointment period, the dean shall consult with the faculty and, in writing, notify the VPAA of the reasons for seeking a new department head. The written notification will state whether such action is supported by a majority of the faculty. If the VPAA concurs with the dean’s recommendation, the VPAA will seek the President’s approval to begin a new selection. If the President concurs, the faculty of the department will be notified that a selection process will begin.