Faculty Handbook Revisions: Creation, Elimination, or Merger of a School, College, Academic Department, or Degree Program

At the May 5, 2025 Senate meeting, senators were provided with an overview of a proposed draft creation/merger/elimination policy to the Faculty Handbook. In presenting the document, Senate President Slouber stressed its importance due to budget issues. 

The current Handbook policy is outdated and in conflict with the CBA and, as a result, he and Vice President McPhee-Shaw have been meeting with UFWW leadership and the Provost to discuss a new policy. The Provost drafted the initial new policy, which Senate Executive Council reviewed. Senate Executive Council made numerous recommendations, which are included in the draft that was presented to senators. 

Senators were informed that the draft would be voted on at the May 19 Senate meeting. In the meantime, they were asked to provide feedback and to think about how the process might work at the college/department levels.

On May 15, 2025, a motion from Senate Executive Council to approve the proposed Creation, Elimination, or Merger of a School, College, Academic Department, or Degree Program Faculty Handbook revision was brought to the floor. 

During consideration, a series of five amendments were offered on behalf of UFWW, all of which were adopted unanimously. A summary of each amendment follows:

• Strengthening Faculty Governance Language: Moves all of language about shared governance in Section 2a and Section 2g to the preface and explicitly links the shared governance process to the principles in Section II.B.
• Collective Bargaining Agreement: Harmonizes the CBA and this section by:
  • Offering the definition of “program reduction” from the CBA in section 2b
  • Eliminating the reference to “financial exigency” and “financial emergency” from section 2b as unnecessary
  • Rewriting the description of when a RIF must be invoked in section 2h to reflect the full scope of the CBA’s RIF provision
• PRP Scope: Adds a provision to section 2 clarifying the scope of the Program Reduction Process by noting that it applies to the merger or elimination of any program involving faculty duties. It also clarifies the range of administrators who might make such a decision.
• Senate PRP Role: Describes how the Senate might deal with a PRP in section f. This is not prescriptive, but serves to highlight the Senate’s tools and powers under the Constitution and Faculty Handbook to ensure effective consideration of a PRP.
• Minor Edits: Makes minor clarifications to the criteria that the administration may use in proposing a PRP and on timing, as well as a few clerical changes.

The Senate passed the motion to approve the proposed Creation, Elimination, or Merger of a School, College, Academic Department, or Degree Program Faculty Handbook revision, as amended, by a vote of 24 yes, two abstentions.

Provisions will become effective following adoption of the complete revised Faculty Handbook by the Senate and the Board of Trustees, or delegated authority of the Board.