Policies

d. Governance of schools and similar campus units within a college:

(1) The internal structure, administration, and governance of a school within a college shall be determined by its faculty under bylaws established by the faculty. Bylaws of the school shall be consistent with those of the college.

(2) The school has the fullest measure of autonomy consistent with the maintenance of general college and university educational policy and with appropriate academic and administrative relations with other divisions of the University. In questions of doubt concerning the proper limits of this autonomy, the school may appeal directly to the dean and the executive committee of the college and shall be entitled to appeal subsequently to the chancellor.

(3) An executive committee selected according to the bylaws of the school shall be the primary advisory body to the director of the school. The director is ex officio a member and chair of the committee. The executive committee shall advise the director on the formulation and execution of school policies and unless otherwise provided by the faculty of the school on appointments, reappointments, nonreappointments, and promotions. It shall advise the director on the preparation of the budget. The committee shall provide for the orderly voicing of suggestions for the good of the school, recommend procedures and committees that will encourage faculty participation in formulating policy, and perform such other tasks as may be assigned to it by the faculty of the school. Any faculty member shall be entitled to a conference with the executive committee or with any member of it on any matter properly within the purview of the committee. If the committee is in session to prepare its advice on appointment of the director or to review the director's performance, the director shall not be a member, and the committee shall be chaired by a committee member elected by the committee for that purpose.

(4) Departments within a school shall be governed as specified in Article IV except that communications and recommendations to the college, campus or the University shall be transmitted through the school for approval, comment, or information as appropriate. Other subunits shall be governed by regulations set forth in the school bylaws.

(5) Executive officers of departments or subunits of a school shall be evaluated at least once every five years in a manner to be determined by the faculty of the school and college.

(6) An intermediate unit within a college, such as an institute, center, hospital, or laboratory in which academic staff appointments are made in accordance with Article X, Section 1, shall be governed as a department as specified in Article IV. Other intermediate units within a college shall be governed as stated in the bylaws of the college.

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Section 5. The Dean or Director of a School or Similar Campus Unit

a. In a school or similar campus unit independent of a college, the chief executive officer shall be a dean or director appointed annually by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the chancellor and the president. On the occasion of each recommendation, the chancellor shall seek the prior advice of the executive committee of the faculty concerned. Within the school or similar campus unit, the duties of a director or a dean shall be the same as those of the dean of a college. The performance of the dean or director shall be evaluated at least once every five years in a manner to be determined by the faculty of the unit.

b. In a school or similar campus unit included within a college, the chief executive officer shall be a director appointed annually by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the dean of the college, the chancellor, and the president. On the occasion of each recommendation, the dean shall seek the prior advice of the executive committee of the unit. The director shall (1) call and ordinarily preside at meetings of the school faculty to consider questions of school and subunit governance and educational policy at such times as the director or the executive committee may deem necessary but not less frequently than once in each academic year; (2) formulate and present policies to the faculty for its consideration, but this shall not be interpreted to abridge the right of any member of the faculty to present any matter to the faculty; (3) make reports on the work of the school; (4) have general supervision of the work of students in the school; (5) be responsible for the educational use of the buildings and rooms assigned to the school and for the general equipment of the school as distinct from that of the separate subunits; (6) serve as the medium of communication for all official business of the school with the college, the students, and the public; (7) represent the school in conferences except that additional representatives may be designated by the director for specific conferences; (8) prepare the budget of the school in consultation with the executive committee of the school; and (9) recommend the appointment, reappointment, nonreappointment, and promotion of members of the academic staff. Regarding recommendations of appointments, reappointments, nonreappointments, and promotions of the members of the faculty, the director shall consult with the department's or subunit's executive officer who shall provide the director with the advice of the appropriate committee(s). Such recommendations shall ordinarily originate with the subunit or in the case of a group not organized as a subunit with the person(s) in charge of the work concerned and shall be presented to the director for transmission with the director's recommendation to the dean of the college. The performance of the director shall be evaluated at least once every five years in a manner to be determined by the faculty of the school and college.

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ARTICLE IV. DEPARTMENTS

Section 1. The Department

a. The department is the primary unit of education and administration within the University. It is established for the purpose of carrying on programs of instruction, research, and public service in a particular field of knowledge. The staff of a department includes persons of all ranks who upon the recommendation of its head or chair are appointed or assigned to it. The faculty of a department shall be as specified in Article II, Section 3a of these Statutes. All appointments which carry academic rank, title, or tenure indicative in any way of departmental association shall be made only after concurrence of the department(s) concerned.

b. The department has the fullest measure of autonomy consistent with the maintenance of general college and university educational policy and correct academic and administrative relations with other divisions of the University. Should a dispute arise between the department and another unit of the campus concerning the proper limits of this autonomy, the department may appeal for a ruling directly to the dean and the executive committee of the college and when the chancellor considers it proper to the chancellor, who shall make a decision after appropriate consultation.

c. A department may be organized either with a chair or with a head.

Section 2. Department Organized with a Chair

a. The chair shall be appointed annually by the Board of Trustees on recommendation of the chancellor and the president after consultation with the dean of the college and with the executive committee of the department concerned. The performance of the chair shall be evaluated at least once every five years. As one component of this evaluation, views shall be solicited from the entire department faculty.

b. In each department organized with a chair, the executive committee shall recommend individuals for academic appointment in the department. With the consent of the executive committee or as specified in the department bylaws, persons who are not members of the department faculty may be invited by the chair to attend meetings of the department faculty but such persons shall have no vote.

c. The faculty of the department shall have power to determine such matters as do not so affect relations with other departments or colleges that they properly come under the supervision of larger administrative units.

d. In each department organized with a chair, there shall be an executive committee elected annually by and from the faculty of the department by secret written ballot. At least one-half of the members of the departmental executive committee shall be elected from those faculty members who have at least a 50-percent salaried appointment in the University. The faculty may choose to elect members of the executive committee for staggered two- or three-year terms. The chair of the department is ex officio a member and chair of the executive committee. The chair and the executive committee are responsible for the preparation of the budget and for such matters as may be delegated to them by the faculty of the department. In a department which has a faculty of not more than five members, the executive committee shall consist of the entire faculty. In all other cases, the size of the executive committee shall be determined by the faculty of the department. If the executive committee is in session to evaluate the chair's performance, the chair shall not be a member and the committee shall be chaired by a committee member elected by the committee for that purpose.

e. In each department organized with a chair, that officer shall be responsible for the formulation and execution of departmental policies and the execution of University and college policies insofar as they affect the department. The chair shall have power to act independently in such matters as are delegated to the chair by the executive committee. The chair shall (1) report on the teaching and research of the department; (2) have general oversight of the work of students in the department; (3) collaborate with the executive committee in the preparation of the budget and be responsible for the expenditure of departmental funds for the purposes approved by the executive committee; and (4) call and preside at meetings of the executive committee and at meetings of the department faculty of which there shall be not fewer than one in each academic year for consideration of questions of departmental governance and educational policy. The chair together with the executive committee is responsible for the organization of the work of the department and for the quality and efficient progress of that work. Any faculty member shall be entitled to a conference with the executive committee or with any member of it on any matter properly within the purview of the committee.

f. In the administration of the office, the chair shall recognize the individual responsibility of other members of the department for the discharge of the duties committed to them by their appointments and shall allow proper scope to the ability and initiative of all members of the department.

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Section 3. Department Organized with a Head

a. The head of a department shall be appointed without specified term by the Board of Trustees on recommendation by the chancellor and the president after consultation with the dean of the college and all members of the department faculty. The head may be relieved of title and duties as head of the department by the chancellor on the recommendation of the dean of the college. The performance of the head shall be evaluated at least once every five years. As one component of this evaluation, views shall be solicited from the entire department faculty.

b. In each department organized with a head, the head in consultation with the advisory committee shall recommend individuals for academic appointment in the department. In consultation with the advisory committee or as specified in the department bylaws, the head may invite other persons who are not members of the department faculty to attend meetings of the department faculty, but such persons shall have no vote.

c. The head of the department shall have the power to determine such matters as do not affect other departments or properly come under the supervision of larger administrative units.

d. In each department organized with a head, the head shall have general direction of the work of the department. The head shall (1) consult with the departmental advisory committee in regard to departmental policy; (2) consult with each member of the department regarding the nature and scope of the work in the charge of that member; (3) call and preside at meetings of the departmental faculty for explanation and discussion of departmental policies, educational procedure, and research, of which there shall be at least one in each academic year for consideration of departmental governance and educational policy; (4) be responsible for the organization of the work of the department, for the quality and efficient progress of that work, for the formulation and execution of departmental policies, and for the execution of University and college policies insofar as they affect the department; (5) report on the teaching and research of the department; (6) have general supervision of the work of students in the department; (7) prepare the departmental budget in consultation with the departmental advisory committee; and (8) be responsible for the distribution and expenditure of departmental funds and for the care of departmental property.

e. In the administration of the office, the head shall recognize the individual responsibility of other members of the department for the discharge of the duties committed to them by their appointments and shall allow proper scope to the ability and initiative of all members of the department.

f. In each department organized with a head, there shall be an advisory committee elected annually by and from the faculty of the department by secret written ballot. The department faculty may choose to elect members of the advisory committee for staggered two- or three-year terms. In a department which has a faculty of not more than five members, the advisory committee shall consist of the entire faculty. In all other cases, the size of the advisory committee shall be determined by the faculty of the department. The functions of the committee shall be to provide for the orderly voicing of suggestions for the good of the department, to recommend procedures and committees that will encourage faculty participation in formulating policy, and to perform such other tasks as may be assigned to it. Any faculty member shall be entitled to a conference with the committee or with any member of it on any matter properly within the purview of the committee. If the advisory committee is in session to evaluate the head's performance, the head shall not be a member, and the committee shall be chaired by a committee member elected by the committee for that purpose.

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Section 4. Change of Departmental Organization

On the written request of at least one-fourth of the faculty of the department, as defined in Article II, Section 3a(1), and in no case fewer than two faculty members that the form of the organization of the department be changed, the dean shall call a meeting to poll the departmental faculty by secret written ballot. The names of those making the request shall be kept confidential by the dean. The dean shall transmit the results of the vote to the departmental faculty and to the chancellor together with the dean's recommendation. If a change of organization is voted, the chancellor shall thereupon transmit this recommendation to the president for recommendation to the Board of Trustees. Faculty of the department may communicate with the Board of Trustees in accordance with Article XIII, Section 4 of these Statutes.

ARTICLE V. GRADUATE COLLEGES

Section 1. The Campus Graduate College

a. On a campus with a Graduate College, the Graduate College shall have jurisdiction over all programs leading to graduate degrees as determined by senate action and approved by the Board of Trustees. It is the responsibility of the Graduate College to develop and safeguard standards of graduate work and to promote and assist in the advancement of research in all fields.

b. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the Graduate College shall be governed by the same regulations as govern other colleges.

c. The faculty of the Graduate College consists of the president, the chancellor, the provost or equivalent officer, the dean, and all those who on the recommendation of the departments or of other teaching or research divisions have been approved by the executive committee and the dean of the Graduate College to assume appropriate academic responsibilities in programs leading to graduate degrees. Other administrative staff are members of the faculty of the Graduate College only if they also hold faculty appointments and have been recommended and approved as provided above.

d. An executive committee shall be the primary advisory committee to the dean of the Graduate College. It shall advise the dean on the formulation and execution of policies and on other activities of the Graduate College. The executive committee consists of fourteen members holding office for staggered two-year terms: eight elected members, four elected annually for two-year terms by the faculty of the Graduate College and six members, three appointed each year for two-year terms by the chancellor on the recommendation of the dean of the Graduate College in consultation with the members elected that year. The dean of the Graduate College is ex officio a member and chairs the committee. When meeting to give advice on the appointment of the dean, the senior faculty member (in terms of service at the University) on the executive committee shall be chair and the dean shall not be a member of the committee.

e. The principal administrative head of the Graduate College is the dean, who shall be appointed in the same manner as are the deans of other colleges.

f. On the recommendation of the dean of the Graduate College and the chancellor, the president may appoint annually associate or assistant deans of the Graduate College as required.

g. On a campus with a Graduate College, the recommendation of its dean shall be secured for the appointment to or promotion on the staff of any campus unit of a person who may be expected to assume or who has academic responsibilities in programs leading to graduate degrees.

h. On a campus without a Graduate College, the provost shall be responsible for the functions of the graduate dean.

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Section 2. Special Units of the Graduate College

a. On the recommendation of the Campus Research Board, the executive committee and the dean of the Graduate College with approval by the president and the chancellor, the Board of Trustees may create special units of the Graduate College for the purpose of carrying on or promoting research in areas which are broader than the responsibility of any one department. Any such unit may be abolished by similar action.

b. Persons shall be appointed to the staff of such special units by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the unit concerned, the dean of the Graduate College, the chancellor, and the president. Appointments of persons who already have academic rank and title indicative of departmental association shall be made only after consultation with the department concerned. Appointments which carry academic rank and title indicative of departmental association of persons who do not already have departmental association shall be made only after concurrence of the department concerned.

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ARTICLE VI. THE CAMPUS LIBRARY

a. The campus library is an academic unit serving the entire campus. Its collection includes all books, pamphlets, serials, maps, music scores, photographs, prints, manuscripts, micro-reproductions, and other materials purchased or acquired in any manner and preserved and used by it to support instruction and research. Such materials may include sound, electronic and magnetic recordings, motion picture films, slides, film strips, other appropriate audiovisual aids, and computer files.

b. The campus library shall be in the charge of the campus librarian who, as the chief executive officer of the library, is responsible to the chancellor for its administration and service.

c. As specified in Article II, Section 3, the library shall be governed internally under bylaws established by its faculty. Except as otherwise stated in this Article, the library shall be governed by the same provisions as govern a college.

d. With the approval of the chancellor, the campus librarian may establish branches on the campus when efficiency in reference work, circulation, cataloging, ordering, and other matters of library service and administration, and the general welfare of the campus, college, school, department, or other unit will thereby be promoted. Appointments to the academic staff of branch libraries established under this subsection and the advancement of such staff will be recommended to the chancellor with the advice of the executive officer(s) of the unit(s) served by such libraries.

e. The campus librarian shall be appointed annually by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the chancellor with the concurrence of the President of the University. On the occasion of each such appointment, the chancellor shall seek the advice of the library committee of the campus senate and of the library executive committee. The performance of the campus librarian shall be evaluated at least once every five years in a manner to be determined by the faculty of the campus library and the library committee of the campus senate. As part of the evaluation, views shall be solicited from the library committee of the campus senate, from other concerned faculty, and from the entire faculty of the campus library.

f. The library committee of the campus senate shall advise the campus librarian regarding the allocation of book funds and other policies of the campus library.

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ARTICLE VII. SPECIALIZED UNITS

Section 1. General Considerations

In addition to the campus units described in the previous Articles, there are special purpose educational and administrative units whose responsibilities and roles extend substantially beyond one campus. The organization and mission of such units, including clearly defined lines of responsibility to University or campus officers, shall be specified in these Statutes, in The General Rules Concerning University Organization and Procedure, or in such other documents as shall be deemed appropriate by the president. These specialized units may include but need not be limited to organizations designated as bureaus, councils, departments, divisions, institutes, and services. The staffs of these units shall have campus membership and status upon recommendation of the appropriate chancellor or chancellors subject to the Statutes and The General Rules governing the campus operations.

Section 2. University Press

a. The University Press is responsible for developing and conducting the University's program of publishing books, monographs, and journals.

b. The director of the University Press shall be appointed annually by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the president. The director shall be the principal administrative officer of the press and shall be responsible to the president.

c. There shall be a University Press Board composed of the director of the press, the deans of the Graduate Colleges or their representatives, and six appointed faculty members. Appointments to the board shall be made by the president after consultation with the director of the University Press and the vice president for academic affairs. The University Press Board shall advise the director of the press regarding policies and administration. The chair shall be elected from among the faculty membership.

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Section 3. Councils on Teacher Education

a. At each campus engaged in teacher education, there shall be a Council on Teacher Education composed of the deans and directors of the respective colleges, schools, and similar units at that campus which offer curricula in the preparation of teachers for the elementary and secondary schools. The chair of the council shall be named by the campus chancellor.

b. The duties of the council are to formulate policies and programs of student selection, retention, guidance and preparation, and placement in elementary and secondary schools in conformity with educational policies established by the campus senate.

c. At each campus, the council is authorized to appoint area-of-specialization committees in each of the major teaching fields, committees on teacher placement, and such other committees as may be needed. These committees shall be composed of representatives from the College of Education or comparable campus program and from major subject-matter fields represented in any given curriculum.

The area-of-specialization committees shall be responsible for the improvement of their respective teacher-education curricula, counseling procedures in their areas, and other activities related thereto. Each committee shall recommend action to the Council on Teacher Education on its campus.

d. Students shall not be eligible for university approval of their status as prospective teachers unless they have elected a curriculum approved by the campus Council on Teacher Education.

e. All curricula in teacher education shall be approved by the area-of-specialization committee, by the departments, by the respective colleges offering the curricula, by the appropriate Council on Teacher Education, and by the respective senates.

Section 4. Agricultural Experiment Station

The Agricultural Experiment Station shall be administered by a director, who shall be appointed annually by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the president.

The Agricultural Experiment Station of the University of Illinois was established in 1888, under the provisions of acts of Congress, "to aid in acquiring and diffusing among the people of the United States useful and practical information in subjects connected with agriculture, and to promote scientific investigation and experiment respecting the principles and applications of agricultural science."

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Section 5. Cooperative Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics

a. The Cooperative Extension Service in Agriculture and Home Economics shall be administered by a director appointed annually by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the president, concurred in by the Secretary of Agriculture.

b. Under the provisions of the Smith-Lever Act, approved by the President of the United States on May 8, 1914, and of subsequent acts of Congress, and under the provisions of a concurring joint resolution of the Illinois General Assembly, the University is designated the agency in Illinois responsible for cooperative agricultural and home economics extension work.

This work shall consist of the giving of instruction and practical demonstrations in agriculture and home economics to persons not attending the University and of imparting to such persons information on these subjects through field demonstrations, publications, and otherwise. This work shall be carried on in such a manner as may be mutually agreed upon by the Secretary of Agriculture and the University.

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ARTICLE VIII. CHANGES IN ACADEMIC ORGANIZATION

Section 1. Formation of New Units

a. Departments. The formation of a new department or similar academic unit within a school or college may be proposed by the faculty or executive officer of that school or college. The president shall submit the proposal for the new unit together with the advice of the faculty of the school or college of each higher unit, of the appropriate senate and chancellor, and of the University Senates Conference to the Board of Trustees for action.

b. Intermediate Units. An academic unit of intermediate character, such as a school organized within a college, may be proposed by the faculty or the executive officer of the higher unit. The president shall submit the proposal for the intermediate unit together with the advice of the higher unit, of the appropriate senate and chancellor, and of the University Senates Conference to the Board of Trustees for action.

c. Colleges and Independently Organized Campus Units. A college or other independently organized campus unit, such as a school, institute, center, or similar campus unit not within a school or college, may be proposed by the appropriate senate or chancellor. The president shall submit the proposal for the unit together with the advice of the senate and chancellor and the University Senates Conference to the Board of Trustees for action.

d. Units Organized at the University Level. Units organized at the university level, such as institutes, councils, and divisions, may be formed for the development and operation of teaching, research, extension, and service programs which are statewide or intercampus in their scope and which cannot be developed under a campus administration. Such an organization may be proposed by a senate, a chancellor, the University Senates Conference, or the president. The president shall submit the proposal for the new organization together with the advice of the senates and chancellors and the University Senates Conference to the Board of Trustees for action.

e. Campuses. The formation of a new campus may be proposed by the president, by a senate, or by the University Senates Conference. The president shall submit the proposal for the new campus together with the advice of the senates and chancellors and the University Senates Conference to the Board of Trustees for action. If the proposal is adopted, the University Senates Conference shall serve as an advisory body to the president in developing procedures to implement the action of the board.

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Section 2. Changes in Existing Units

From time to time, circumstances will favor changes in academic organization such as the termination, separation, transfer, merger, change in status (e.g., department to school), or renaming of the academic units specified in Section 1. The procedures for the various changes shall be the same as those specified for formation of such a unit, except that the proposal may originate in the unit(s) or at any higher administrative level. The advice of each unit involved shall be requested. For transfer, merger, separation, and change in status, the procedures shall be those applicable to the type of unit which would result. Units affected may communicate with the Board of Trustees in accordance with Article XIII, Section 4, of these Statutes.

Section 3. Academic Units Not Requiring Board of Trustees Approval

Any proposal for creation or change in organization (such as termination, separation, transfer, merger, or change in status) of any unit engaged in academic activities the creation of which does not require Board of Trustees approval shall be referred to the executive committee of the campus senate for its information and advice prior to approval by the appropriate administrator. If the unit is not organized within one campus of the University, the proposal shall be referred to the University Senates Conference rather than to a senate executive committee. Academic staff appointments in such units may not be made to ranks subject to the provisions of Article X, Section 1, governing appointments for an indefinite term as defined in Article IX, Section 3c.

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ARTICLE IX. ACADEMIC AND ADMINISTRATIVE STAFFS

Section 1. Criteria for Employment and Promotion

The basic criteria for employment and promotion of all university staff, whether or not subject to the act creating the University Civil Service System of Illinois, shall be appropriate qualifications for and performance of the specified duties. The principles of equal employment opportunity are a part of the general policy of the University. Unless otherwise provided by law, employees are to be selected and treated during employment without regard to political affiliation, relationship by blood or marriage, age, sex, race, creed, national origin, handicap, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era.

Section 2. Employment of Relatives

No individual shall initiate or participate in institutional decisions involving a direct benefit (initial employment, retention, promotion, salary, leave of absence, etc.) to a member of the individual's immediate family. "Immediate family" includes an individual's spouse, ancestors and descendants, all descendants of the individual's grandparents, and the spouse of any of the foregoing. Each chancellor shall develop for the approval of the president campus procedures to insure against such conflict of interest.

Section 3. Appointments, Ranks, and Promotions of the Academic and Administrative Staff

a. All appointments, reappointments, and promotions of the academic staff, as defined in Article IX, Section 4a, shall be made by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the chancellor concerned and the president. All appointments, reappointments, and promotions of the administrative staff shall be made by the Board of Trustees on the recommendation of the chancellor concerned if a campus-level officer is involved and the president.

b. Appointments shall be made solely on the basis of the special fitness of the individual for the work demanded in the position.

c. The following ranks, and only these ranks, of the academic staff as defined in Article IX, Section 4a, are subject to the provisions of Article X, Section 1: professor, associate professor, and assistant professor. Modifying terms such as "research," "adjunct," "clinical," and "visiting" may be used in conjunction with these academic ranks (e.g., "research professor," "adjunct assistant professor," "clinical associate professor," "visiting professor"); but no appointment for an indefinite term may be made in which a modifying term is used in the academic rank. Furthermore, an appointment in which a modifier is used in the title will not count toward completion of the probationary period, as provided in Article X, Section 1, unless specially recommended by the executive officer of the unit and approved by the dean and by the chancellor or an officer authorized to act for the chancellor.

Other academic ranks recognized within the academic staff are: (1) lecturer; (2) instructor; (3) teaching associate, research associate, and clinical associate; (4) teaching assistant, research assistant, and clinical assistant.

Appropriate academic rank, with the rights and privileges pertaining thereto, may be accorded members of the administrative staff. This means that in addition to being members of the administrative staff selected administrative officers may also hold appointments with academic titles chosen from the ranks listed in the two preceding paragraphs.

Special classes of positions within the academic staff may be established to meet specialized professional or technical needs, in accordance with Article IX, Section 4a.

d. Recommendation to positions on the academic staff shall ordinarily originate with the department or in groups not organized as departments with the officers in charge of the work concerned and shall be presented to the dean of the college for transmission with the dean's recommendation to the chancellor. Whenever the appointment or promotion of members of the academic staff is involved, the dean before making a recommendation shall consult the chair or the head of the department after confirming that intra-departmental consultation procedures have been satisfied; if the college has no departments, the dean shall consult the executive committee of the college. If the appointment involves a person who may be expected to offer courses carrying graduate credit, the dean of the college shall consult the dean of the Graduate College, who shall have the right to make an independent recommendation to the chancellor, and to the president.

e. In determining appointments to, and salaries and promotion of the academic staff, special consideration shall be given to the following: (1) teaching ability and performance; (2) research ability and achievement; and (3) ability and performance in continuing education, public service, committee work, and special assignments designed to promote the quality and effectiveness of academic programs and services.

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Section 4. Principles Governing Employment of Academic and Administrative Staffs

The following principles shall govern the employment of the academic and administrative staffs of the University.

a. The academic staff which conducts the educational program shall consist of the teaching, research, scientific, counseling, and extension staffs; deans and directors of colleges, schools, institutes, and similar campus units; editors, librarians, and such other members of the staff as are designated by the president and the chancellors.

b. The members of the academic and administrative staffs shall be employed and salaries fixed by the Board of Trustees, except that members of the academic staff below the rank of assistant professor may be employed by the president of the University who shall report such appointments to the board.

c. Minimum salaries for the various ranks shall be determined by the Board of Trustees. The minimum for eleven months' service shall be approximately two-ninths greater than the minimum for the academic year.

d. The terms of employment for all members of the academic and administrative staffs shall be stated explicitly in the contract of employment.

e. The academic year shall consist of that period of the year so determined by the appropriate senate and approved by the appropriate chancellor, the president, and the Board of Trustees.

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Section 5. Services Rendered The University

a. No person employed on a full-time basis on the instructional or administrative staffs of the University shall be assigned any other university work which does not naturally come within the scope of that person's duties and for which additional compensation is to be paid without the prior approval of the chancellor.

b. No person employed by the University shall have any interests incompatible with that person's obligations to the University.

c. Full-time employees shall not receive compensation for services with the University in excess of a normal schedule except for a reasonable amount of instruction in continuing education and public service programs or for the grading of special examinations (outside regular course work) stipulated by the University, all to be done at a time that does not conflict with other university duties. Exceptions may be made to this rule in special cases which are approved by the dean of the college of which the employee is a member provided that if such additional payments exceed a nominal amount the advance approval of the chancellor shall be secured. These exceptions shall be held to a minimum.

d. The responsibilities to the University of full-time members of the academic staff are fulfilled by the performance appropriate to rank and terms of appointment of teaching, scholarly research, continuing education and public service, and committee work and special assignments. Such staff members may carry on some professional or business activities of an income-producing character so long as such activities are compatible and not in conflict with University interests. The head of the department of which the employee is a member should know and approve of these activities outside the University.

Section 6. Severe Sanctions Other Than Dismissal For Cause

a. Severe sanctions other than dismissal for cause may be imposed on a member of the faculty, as defined in Article II, Section 3a (1) of the Statutes, provided that procedures on a campus adopted by the campus chancellor in consultation with that campus senate are followed. In all cases, the chancellor or the chancellor's designee shall exercise the duties assigned to the president for academic staff who are members of campus units, and in all cases the process to be followed will be that of the campus on which the unit resides.

b. Campus procedures shall include, at a minimum,

(1) A determination by the provost, in consultation with a committee identified by the senate, that cause exists to initiate proceedings that may result in the imposition of serious sanctions,

(2) Notice to the faculty member of the charges and initiation of the sanction proceedings,

(3) Opportunity for a hearing before an elected committee specified by the senate,

(4) Provision that a recommendation by the elected committee against sanction will be final,

(5) The opportunity for the faculty member to file an appeal with the chancellor within 20 days following the provost's decision to impose sanctions,

(6) An appeal process encompassing both substantive and procedural objections, and

(7) A process wherein the chancellor's decision on the merits of an appeal is final.

These campus procedures are the exclusive process for determining whether severe sanctions other than dismissal for cause may be imposed.

c. The campus procedures will be initiated only after discussions are held between the faculty member and appropriate administrative officers looking toward a mutual settlement. The initiation or pendency of proceedings under this Section 6 shall not be deemed to prevent or delay the University or any other person from pursuing any other remedy available to such person against the faculty member for conduct allegedly violating Section 6d below.

d. Adequate due cause for severe sanctions other than dismissal shall be restricted to actions clearly related to University activities and shall be limited to the following:

(1) Engaging in professional misconduct in the performance of University duties or academic activities,

(2) Neglecting or refusing to perform reasonable assigned academic duties,

(3) Violating senate-approved campus or University regulations or policies related to conduct of academic duties,

(4) Acting outside the appropriate exercise of University responsibilities so as willfully to physically harm, threaten physical harm to, harass or intimidate a visitor or a member of the University community with the effect of interfering with that person's performance of University duties or academic activities,

(5) Willfully damaging, destroying or misappropriating property owned by the University or any property used in connection with a University function or approved activity, or

(6) Conviction in a court of law for a felony that is clearly related to the performance of University duties or academic activities.

Findings of fact made in prior proceedings under policies established by the president with the advice of the senates and University Senates Conference under procedures described in Article XIII, Section 8 of the Statutes shall be presumed to have been established subject to rebuttal on grounds inter alia of the thoroughness and fairness of the proceeding giving rise to them.

e. When misconduct is determined to have occurred, a severe sanction other than dismissal consists of suspension with or without salary (full or partial) for a period not to exceed one-half of the individual's normal appointment period. During the suspension period, health and retirement benefits shall be maintained.

Section 7. Leaves of Absence for Members of the Faculty

a. On the recommendation of the head or chair of a department with the concurrence of the dean of the college or on recommendation of the dean or director of an independent campus unit and subject to approval by the chancellor, the president, and the Board of Trustees a member of the faculty who has the rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor and who has served the University for the periods indicated below on full-time appointment as an assistant professor or in higher rank since the faculty member's original appointment or since the termination of that faculty member's last leave on salary is eligible to apply for and may be granted a sabbatical leave of absence with pay for the purpose of study, research, or other pursuit, the object of which is to increase the faculty member's usefulness to the University. The following options are available:

(1) After completion of eight appointment years of full-time service:

Two semesters at 2/3 salary

or

One semester at full salary

(2) After completion of six appointment years of full-time service:

Two semesters at 1/2 salary

or

One semester at full salary

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(3) After completion of three or four appointment years of full-time service, in cases where the interest of the department and the University would clearly be served thereby, and provided that granting of leave does not involve expense to the University in excess of the portion of salary which is released in consequence of taking such leave, the following options are available:

After three years: One semester at 1/2 salary

After four years: One semester at 2/3 salary

(4) Faculty on "Y" (11 month) appointments may be granted sabbatical leaves, subject to the other general conditions of this section as follows: After completion of nine years of full-time service, three-fourths of an appointment year at full pay; after completion of eight years of full-time service, one appointment year at two-thirds pay or two-thirds of an appointment year at full pay; after completion of six years of full-time service, one appointment year at half pay or one-half appointment year at full pay; after completion of four years, one-half appointment year at two-thirds pay; after completion of three years, one-half appointment year at half pay or one-fourth appointment year at full pay.

b. In recommending a leave with pay according to any of the options provided above, it shall be understood by all recommending officers concerned that the department in which the applicant is teaching or working undertakes, so far as is practicable, to carry on during the applicant's absence without increase in the departmental budget such part of the applicant's work as the interests of the department and of the University require to be continued without interruption during the period of absence.

c. Service credit for leave of absence with pay is not cumulative unless otherwise provided for in special cases. Each person who has been on leave of absence shall on the termination of the leave make a report through the usual official channels of communication to the chancellor concerning the nature of the studies, research, or other work undertaken during the period of absence.

d. A member of the faculty to whom any such leave of absence has been granted shall agree to return to the University on the expiration of the leave and to remain in its service for at least one year thereafter; and the University, on its part, shall agree to retain the faculty member in its service for the period of one year after the faculty member's return.

e. Leaves of absence granted in accordance with the foregoing terms and conditions, with the privileges pertaining thereto, are given to members of the faculty primarily for the purpose of enabling them to acquire additional knowledge and competency in their respective fields. No one to whom a leave of absence with pay has been granted shall be permitted while on such leave to accept remunerative employment or engage in professional practice or work for which pecuniary compensation is received. This prohibition, however, shall not be construed to forbid a faculty member while on leave from giving a limited number of lectures or doing a limited amount of work. But, in such cases, the approval of the chancellor to the giving of the lectures or the doing of other work shall be required. Nor shall the prohibition be interpreted to forbid the acceptance by a faculty member, while on leave, of a scholarship or fellowship carrying a stipend for the purpose of study, research, or scientific investigation or the acceptance of a grant of money made for such purposes, provided that the acceptance of the grant does not impose on the recipient duties and obligations the performance of which would be incompatible with the pursuit of the general purpose for which leaves of absence are granted.

f. The president shall establish regulations and procedures necessary for the administration of these provisions and is authorized to make appropriate adjustments in the terms of leave with pay to ensure equitable benefits for members of the faculty in exceptional cases where special consideration is warranted.

g. Leaves of absence without pay. On the recommendation of the head or chair of a department with the concurrence of the dean of the college or on the recommendation of the dean or director of an independent campus unit, a member of the faculty may be granted a leave of absence without pay by the chancellor for a period of one year or less. Such a leave may be renewed in special circumstances ordinarily for not more than one year. As recommended and agreed upon in advance, time spent on a leave of absence without pay under circumstances which allow for the pursuit of academic activities ordinarily counts toward the probationary period of a faculty member on definite tenure, while time spent on a leave of absence without pay under circumstances which do not allow for the pursuit of academic activities does not ordinarily count toward the probationary period of a faculty member on definite tenure. As recommended and agreed upon in advance, time spent on a leave of absence without pay under circumstances which do not provide service to this University does not ordinarily count in establishing eligibility for a sabbatical leave with pay.

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Section 8. Graduate Work of Academic Staff Members

No person shall be admitted to candidacy for an advanced degree in a department or division of the University who holds an appointment as professor, associate professor, or assistant professor in that department or division. Likewise, no person while engaged in graduate study shall be appointed to the rank of assistant professor or higher in the department or division of that graduate study.

A person in or accepting the rank of assistant professor or higher on a campus of the University may continue in or be admitted to advanced degree candidacy in a department or unit other than the person's appointing department or unit upon the special approval of the executive officer of each department or unit involved and the executive committee of the Graduate College if one exists on the campus.

Section 9. Privileges of Retired Members of the Academic Staff

a. A retired staff member who is provided with research assistance shall at the end of each academic year report to the chancellor, in at least general terms, on the work accomplished during the year. In no case may a research assistant be provided to a retired staff member for a longer period than one year at a time and such assistant may be continued only if the annual report of work shows progress or promise.

b. With the approval of the department head or chair and of the dean of the Graduate College and of the chancellor, a retired faculty member may offer conferences with graduate students if such retiree had offered similarly related graduate courses before retirement.

c. Retired faculty members may participate in meetings of their college or school faculties but shall have no vote.

Section 10. Dismissal of Administrative Officers

a. In the exercise of its authority to dismiss or request the resignation of administrative officers from their administrative positions, the Board of Trustees may take such action in respect to such officer prior to the expiration of the term for which the individual was appointed only after presentation by the board to the officer affected of a statement of the reasons accompanied by the facts in support thereof upon which the proposed action is based, together with notice served by registered mail of the time and place of the hearing thereon which shall be not less than 30 days after the date of notice. A copy of the statement and notice shall be sent by registered mail to each member of the Board of Trustees at least 30 days prior to the hearing.

b. The officer shall have the right to appear at the hearing, with counsel if desired, to comment on the reasons and to present evidence. The board shall not be bound by formal or technical rules of evidence and its decision shall be final.

c. In designating the effective date of dismissal or requested resignation, the board shall give due consideration to the time reasonably required for the adjustment of the officer's personal affairs.

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Section 11. Nonreappointment of Academic Professional Staff

Notice of nonreappointment to the full-time academic professional staff, as defined in Article II, Section 5, shall be given as follows:

a. Except as provided in 10b and 10c below, written notice of nonreappointment shall be given by the Board of Trustees to academic professional employees in accordance with the following schedule:

b. Written notice of nonreappointment shall be given by the Board of Trustees to an academic professional employee on an appointment which notes that it is subject to receipt of funds in accordance with the following schedule:

c. Written notice of nonreappointment shall be given by the Board of Trustees to an academic professional employee who is the director of intercollegiate athletics or a coach of an intercollegiate athletic team in accordance with the following schedule:

d. In cases where the time remaining in the appointment year is less than the required minimum notice period, the notice of nonreappointment shall be accompanied by an offer from the Board of Trustees of a terminal contract for an additional appointment which will extend the current appointment through the period of minimum notice, viz., 2 months, 6 months or 7-12 months.

e. Computation of length of service will be on the basis of continuous employment in campus academic administrative and professional positions (or similar service at the university level for employees of the university administration). On a case-by-case basis, credit may be given for all or part of their relevant experience in other University of Illinois positions.

f. Excepted from the above provisions are the following administrative officers: President of the University; chancellors, provosts, and vice chancellors; officers of the Board of Trustees who are University employees; other university officers; and deans, directors, heads, and chairs of academic units. Academic professional staff whose title includes "visiting," "acting," "interim," or "adjunct" are also excepted from the above provisions.

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ARTICLE X. ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND TENURE

Section 1. Tenure of Academic Staff

a. Except under unusual circumstances evidenced by a special written agreement approved by the President of the University and the appointee, the tenure status for the academic ranks of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor shall be as provided in this section. The parts of Article X, Sections 1a and 1b, hereof relating to the probationary period or indefinite tenure do not apply to academic ranks other than those mentioned in the preceding sentence; nor to appointments at any rank which involve no salary or obligation to render services; nor to appointments for fifty percent (50%) or less of full-time service at ranks other than professor or associate professor; nor to appointments for less than seventy-five percent (75%) of full-time service during any period when the appointee is a candidate for a degree at this University.

In the case of academic-staff positions authorized in Article IX, Sections 3c and 4a, other than the ranks of professor, associate professor, and assistant professor appointments shall be for not longer than one year and shall be renewable.

(1) An appointment as professor or associate professor shall be for an indefinite term except that first appointments or temporary appointments may be made for shorter periods. An appointment at either of these ranks for fifty percent (50%) or less of full-time service shall be for an indefinite term at the specified percentage except that such first appointments or temporary appointments may be for definite terms.

(2) During the probationary period defined in Article X, Section 1b (1), an appointment as assistant professor shall be for not more than two years.

(3) An appointment for an indefinite term may require full-time service or some percentage of full-time service by the appointee. Completion of a probationary period shall entitle the appointee to indefinite tenure status at the lowest percentage (more than 50%) of full-time service counted toward completion of the probationary period. An appointee for an indefinite term and the Board of Trustees may at any time agree in writing to increase or to decrease the percentage of full-time service to be required of the appointee and the indefinite tenure status shall then apply to the new percentage of full-time service. An agreement that a full-time appointee for an indefinite term shall thereafter serve on a part-time basis shall specify either (a) that the appointment for an indefinite term will thereafter relate solely to service on the agreed part-time basis; or (b) that the appointee will return to full-time service for an indefinite term on a specified date.

These agreements are subject to modification by written consent of the appointee and the Board of Trustees. An appointee who has previously been on indefinite tenure status at this University shall not be required to serve a probationary period in order to regain that status.

This subsection, 1a (3), does not apply to sabbatical leaves of absence or to leaves of absence without pay.

(4) An appointment with the rank of clinical assistant, research assistant, or teaching assistant shall be for not longer than one year and notice of nonreappointment is not required. Appointments at these ranks may be conditional upon the availability of funds if so specified in the notice of appointment.

(5) Appointments which include in the title the terms "adjunct," "clinical," or "visiting," as authorized in the first paragraph of Article IX, Section 3c shall be for not longer than one year. Notice of nonreappointment is not required in such cases. An appointment with the rank of lecturer or instructor likewise shall be considered a temporary appointment for not longer than one year and notice of nonreappointment is not required.

(6) An appointment with the rank of teaching associate, research associate, or clinical associate shall be for not longer than one year. In the case of nonsalaried appointees and all appointments at these ranks conditional upon the receipt of nonappropriated funds as specified in the notice of appointment, notice of nonreappointment is not required. Otherwise, written notice of nonreappointment of full-time employees at these ranks is required. The notice need not be accompanied by an offer of a terminal contract if the notice is given not later than six months before the end of an annual appointment or by March 1 in the case of an academic-year appointment; if notice of nonreappointment in such cases is given later than six months before the end of an annual appointment or after March 1 in the case of an academic-year appointment it shall be accompanied by an offer from the Board of Trustees of a terminal contract for one additional year of