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2. GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR PERSONNEL ACTIONS

2.1 FULFILLMENT OF OBJECTIVES
    2.1.1 The excellence of the University is the primary objective of allpersonnel decisions. Departmental PACs should commit themselves to fulfilling this goal.
    2.1.2 In keeping with the objective of excellence, the departmental PACshould make every effort to develop evaluations of colleagues into constructive programsto improve faculty performance. Departmental PACs should also contribute to the excellenceof the University by making wise, if difficult, judgments affecting appointment,retention, tenure and promotion of colleagues.
    2.1.3 The following statement on tenure, adopted as MSU Board ofTrustees Resolution Number 2099, of June 7, 1995, Feasible Transfer of ResponsibilitiesUnder NJAC9:6 and 6A, must be followed in making personnel decisions:

"A reappointment conferring tenure may be offered only to faculty members whopossess an appropriate terminal degree or its equivalent, except under unusualcircumstances when the granting of tenure to an individual not having these qualificationsis judged by a College Board of Trustees as being in the best interests of theinstitution."

(See Appendix II, Section 15 for Criteria)

 2.2 DEVELOPING DEPARTMENTAL PROCEDURES

Each department must develop, and approve by departmental vote, then publish anddisseminate, formal, regular and systematic procedures for personnel actions. Within theguidelines for development of student questionnaires presented in 2.5.2, a department or aCollege/School may develop its own student questionnaire to be used uniformly forevaluation. This form must be approved by the departmental or, in case of aCollege/School-wide questionnaire, by the College/School faculty. Procedures andquestionnaires must be submitted to the Overview Committee for acceptance. The content ofthe procedures is not subject to appeal or grievance.

2.3 PROTECTION CLAUSE

A faculty member must be notified by the departmental chairperson or elected designee,PAC chairperson or designee, at least one week prior to the observation, of the name ofthe individual who will observe the candidate. The faculty member, for valid and relevantreasons, may request that there be a different observer.

2.4 RECOMMENDATION FORMS

Recommendation forms will be completed by relating the evaluations to specifics and notto vague generalities. Teaching effectiveness sections should detail specific strengthsand weaknesses.

The candidate must receive copies of all the completed personnel action forms. Thesemust contain the evaluations and recommendations at all levels. The candidate may append comments to the document, if pertinent.

 2.5 PROVISIONS FOR STUDENT INPUT INTO FACULTYPERSONNEL DECISIONS

     2.5.1 TYPE OF PROCESS

    Student input into faculty personnel decisions will be limited toinformation concerning teaching effectiveness which will be obtained by questionnairesurveys of the individual's classes. The procedures outlined below apply to student inputfor reappointment, tenure, and promotion recommendations and for self-assessment under theCareer Development Program.

    For the reappointment, tenure and promotion processes, summariesof student questionnaires administered within the last 12 months are required,but the evaluations are not limited to the last year. For self-assessment under the CareerDevelopment Program, questionnaires administered during the previous three (3) academicyears are acceptable.

     2.5.2 DESIGN AND APPROVAL OF STUDENT QUESTIONNAIRES

    A joint Union-Administration Committee on Student Questionnaireswill be established to guide the development of student questionnaires.
        2.5.2.1 Committee Structure
        The Committee will consist of three facultymembers appointed by the Union and three administrators appointed by the President. To theextent possible, all members will have expertise in questionnaire design.
        2.5.2.2 Committee Functions and Target Date
        The Committee will:

• Determine the several areas or aspects of the teaching/learning process that must be covered in all questionnaires and inform departments or Colleges/Schools of these areas.

• Recommend questions that will cover these areas(several questions per area).

• Review departmental or College/School questionnaires to make sure that all areas are covered and that the results will be tabulated in an objective manner. When differences within the Committee or between the Committee and a department  or a College/School cannot be resolved, they will be submitted to the Overview Committee.

• Make recommendations and/or suggestions in regard to additional questions a department or College/School may wish to add beyond those needed to cover the areas identified by the Committee.

• Make all possible efforts to have each questionnaire fit a system that allows for optical scanning and the creation of a computer printout.

The Committee will make all possible efforts to assure implementation of the above by May 1,1992.

2.5.3 ADMINISTRATION OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE

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        The department PAC will make arrangementswith the student groups or with other non-faculty personnel to administer thequestionnaire in the classes of the involved faculty members. The student groups used maybe SICs, student subject matter organizations, or another non-faculty group developed forthis purpose. Student groups may obtain faculty assistance in the tabulation process, ifdesired, provided the faculty member involved is not a candidate for reappointment,tenure, or promotion.

        The forms should be submitted to the classesby no more than two individuals during a time period previously arranged with theinstructor. The instructor may not be present when the forms are filled out.

        The non-faculty group is responsible forcollection and tabulation of the results of the questionnaire. The computer center may beused for such tabulations.

         2.5.4 EXTENT OF EVALUATION

        When the evaluations are administered, theymust be given to all of the regularly scheduled classes of the individual concerned.

         2.5.5      TABULATIONOF THE RESULTS

        The non-faculty group must provide thefaculty member involved with a copy of the tabulation of the class survey at least threedays before that tabulation is sent to the department PAC chairperson.

        The non-faculty group must provide thedepartment PAC chairperson with a copy of the tabulation to be attached to the file beingdeveloped for personnel action.

        The faculty member shall have the right,within two (2) working days, to comment on any aspect of the administration or tabulationof the questionnaire (except the content and form of the departmentally approvedquestionnaire itself) in writing, and will send copies of these comments to the departmentchairperson and the PAC and include a copy in the personnel action file prior to finalrecommendation by the PAC and chairperson.

         2.5.6 DISPUTED TABULATIONS

        In the event questions arise about theaccuracy of the statistical summary data, a committee consisting of a representative ofthe non-faculty group, the department PAC Chairperson, and the department chairperson willreview the data and the tabulation submitted at the request of the candidate.

        2.5.7 RETENTION OF FORMS

        The individual student questionnaires are tobe kept by the department for two years, and can be examined by the faculty member at theend of the semester after grades have been submitted.

     2.6 IMPLEMENTATION DATES

        2.6.1 RELATIONSHIP TO ADMINISTRATIVECALENDAR

        Each year, the dates for personnel actionsare developed by the administration in consultation with the Association/Union. Thesedates will be published annually in the administrative calendar.

     2.6.2 EXCEPTIONS

    Requests for exceptions to the published dates must be submitted tothe Overview Committee for its written approval.

    Such requests must provide the same opportunity for review andreaction by the candidates as stated in the existing procedures.

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