II.E. Procedures for Changing the Faculty Handbook
II.E.1. Charge of the Committee
The Faculty Handbook Committee shall determine if any changes in, additions to or deletions from the Faculty Handbook are to be recommended for approval. With the exception of changes to Section VI, all proposed or required changes in, additions to or deletions from the Faculty Handbook shall be reviewed by the committee. In the case of changes to be made to the official version of the Faculty Handbook correcting errors, as well as changes mandated by state or federal law or regulation, and changes reflecting new or modified policies of the university, the committee's responsibility is to inform the faculty of these changes through notice to the speaker. Any changes in, additions to or deletions from Section VI shall be accomplished through the procedures set out in the Constitution of the Faculty Senate and shall become effective as outlined therein. Any changes recommended to the committee in this section shall be referred to the speaker.II.E.2. Receipt of Suggestions
II.E.2.a. Timelines for Suggestions
Each academic year, the committee will consider suggestions for changes to the Faculty Handbook that are submitted to the committee by a deadline set by the committee.II.E.2.b. Notice to Faculty
Each year, the chair of the committee will send a message to the faculty of the university notifying them of the deadline for submission of suggested changes to the Faculty Handbook.II.E.2.c. Form
Such recommendations shall be brought before the committee for consideration and recommendation. The Suggested Changes Form is the mechanism that has been approved by the committee. A copy of the form is available on the committee Web site.II.E.2.d. Tracking of Suggestions
The committee will compile a list of suggestions made by the deadline each year and track the consideration and disposition of each suggestion. Once approved by the committee, the list will be posted on the Web site.II.E.2.e. Eligibility to Suggest Changes
Any member of the university community may recommend a change to the Faculty Handbook by contacting a committee member or the office of the Provost. Recommendations shall be brought before the committee for consideration and recommendation, except for suggestions made anonymously or by persons outside of the university community, which need not be considered by the committee.II.E.2.f. Acknowledgement of Receipt
Suggestions made anonymously or by persons outside of the university community require no response. Otherwise, each suggestion will receive an acknowledgement from the chair of the committee.Return to top
II.E.3. Committee Processing of Suggestions
II.E.3.a. Timing of Consideration
Suggestions received by the committee by the deadline will be considered by the committee, although consideration may be continued into the next year's committee work for specific suggestions. Suggestions not considered in one year will be carried forward to the next year's cycle for consideration at that time. Suggestions received after the deadline will be held until the next year's cycle for consideration at that time.II.E.3.b. Committee Consideration
The committee will consider suggestions, and will vote to take one of the following actions on each suggestion:(1) The committee may recommend approval of the suggestion,
(2) The committee may decline to recommend approval of the suggestion,
(3) The committee may modify the suggestion in any way it deems appropriate for a recommendation of approval,
(4) The committee may refer a suggestion for discussion by the Faculty Senate.
If the committee refers a suggestion for discussion by the Faculty Senate, it will postpone consideration of the suggestion to allow the Faculty Senate to hold at least two meetings to discuss the suggestion. After that time has passed, the committee may decide to either take up the suggestion for consideration, or carry it forward to the next year's cycle for consideration at that time.
II.E.3.c. Invitation to Appear Before the Committee
The committee may invite any appropriate person to appear before the committee to discuss a suggestion, but this is at the sole discretion of the committee, and there shall be no right to a hearing on a suggestion before the committee.II.E.3.d. Suggestions Not Recommended
Only recommendations for changes will be sent forward to the next step for review. A decision by the committee to decline to recommend approval of a suggestion will not be sent forward, but will end the committee's consideration of the suggestion. A decision by the committee to refer a suggestion for discussion by the Faculty Senate will postpone consideration of the suggestion.Return to top
II.E.4. Procedures for Considering Other Policies
II.E.4.a. Academic Affairs Policies
Any new or revised policy proposed for the Division of Academic Affairs and under consideration by the Provost concerning the employment relationship between an instructional faculty member and the university shall be sent to the committee for a recommendation concerning its inclusion in the Faculty Handbook. The committee shall consider including any such policy sent to it that would impact the provisions of the Faculty Handbook, or that it deems should be included in the Faculty Handbook.II.E.4.b. Other Division Policies
Other divisions are expected to send proposed new or revised policies to the committee if the policies would affect provisions of the Faculty Handbook or if they would have a significant impact on the employment relationship between faculty members and the university. The committee shall consider including any such policy that would have an impact on the provisions of the Faculty Handbook, or that it deems should be included in the Faculty Handbook.II.E.4.c. University Policies
The committee may consider the inclusion of or reference to policies contained within the Manual of Policies and Procedures and other university policy documents in the Faculty Handbook, as it deems appropriate.Return to top
