Local 1904
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10. DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS
[State Contract, Article XVIII, page 28]
10.1 METHOD OF ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT
[State Contract Article XVIII.A]
Department chairpersons shall be elected by the members of the department and appointed by the President and shall serve for a term of three (3) academic years.
[State Contract Article XVIII.B]
In the event that the President rejects an elected individual, the President or his/her designee must deliver his/her reasons, either formally in writing or informally in person, to the department at a meeting called for that purpose. The department will then hold another election as soon as practicable.
[State Contract Article XVIII.D]
Terms of office begin on July 1. Elections occur in the spring of the preceding academic year and shall normally be completed by April 30.
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10.2 DEVELOPMENT OF CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
[State Contract Article XVIII.A]
Prior to the initiation of this process, the President or his/her designee shall meet with a committee of the department to address concerns, if any, regarding the departmental procedures, and to consult concerning the criteria for selection. In the event individuals from outside the department are to be nominated, the Faculty Committee and all voting members of the department shall be provided with comprehensive, relevant information regarding those candidates' qualifications.
10.3 COMPOSITION OF SEARCH COMMITTEE
[State Contract Article XVIII.C]
The Faculty Committee referred to above shall consist of five (5) members of the involved department elected by the membership of the department, unless the involved department consists of five (5) or fewer members, in which case the Faculty Committee shall consist of all the members of the involved department.
10.4 ACTING DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS
[State Contract Article XVIII.E]
Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the right of a President to appoint an acting department chairperson pending the completion of the procedures set forth.
10.5 LOCAL ELECTION PROCEDURES
The Association/Union and the administration promulgated guidelines for the election of department chairpersons as of February 1977. These guidelines must be followed in keeping with EO/AA regulations.
Each year, a representative of the administration and the Association/Union will meet with representatives of the PACs of those departments where the chairperson's term is about to expire, to distribute the EO/AA guidelines and to discuss the implementation of the procedure.
10.6 ELECTION DATE
10.6.1 By mutual agreement between the College administration and the faculty Association/Union, the election of a department chairperson will take place no later than April 30 of the final year of the incumbent's term of office. The name of the elected chairperson will be transmitted to the University Administration.
10.6.2 When a department chairperson vacancy occurs for reasons other than the expiration of an incumbent's term, the dean, in consultation with the department and Vice President for Academic Affairs, will determine when to hold the election for a department chairperson to fill out the academic year. Before the close of the academic year, a regular election will be held to fill the three-year term in accordance with established procedures.
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10.7 MIDTERM EVALUATION OF DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSONS
10.7.1 At the midpoint of the department chairperson's term, the department PAC chairperson will be notified by the College/School dean that the evaluation of the chairperson is due.
10.7.2 The PAC chairperson will initiate a formal departmental faculty vote of confidence to serve as this evaluation. Should a positive vote of confidence occur, the department will recommend to the dean that the chairperson will complete his or her term of office.
10.7.3 If a majority vote indicates a desire for change in leadership, the department faculty will submit to the dean, with a copy to the chair, information establishing just and sufficient cause for this action. Within two weeks, the chairperson will meet with the faculty and the dean regarding the no-confidence vote to present his or her response.
10.7.4 Following this step, the dean will consult again with the faculty to make a final assessment of the chairperson's status.
10.7.5 The dean, having made a determination based upon all available information, will make a recommendation to the VPAA and President as to whether or not the chairperson should complete his or her term of office.
10.7.6 When the dean's recommendation differs from the Departmental recommendation, he or she must inform the faculty in the department and the chairperson of the reasons for this recommendation. The process should be initiated by December 1 and completed by March 1 of the same academic year.
10.8 DEPUTY DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON
In departments where a deputy chairperson position exists the position must be filled by election by the departmental faculty.
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