3335-6-06. Tenure initiating unit

(A) A tenure initiating unit is a division, department, school, or college approved by the council on academic affairs, the university senate, and the board of trustees. A tenure initiating unit has the following responsibilities for all faculty members assigned to it: to assist in professional development; to evaluate; to maintain official personnel records; and to initiate promotion, tenure, reappointment, and nonrenewal recommendations. The office of academic affairs shall be responsible for maintaining the official list of tenure initiating units.

(B) A single division, department, school, or college must serve as the tenure initiating unit for each tenure-track faculty member, including individuals with multiple appointments. Multiple appointments to the tenure-track faculty totaling fifty per cent or more of service to the university shall be considered to be the same as a single appointment of fifty per cent or more for the purpose of determining eligibility for tenure.

(C) A tenure-track faculty member may change from one tenure initiating unit to another voluntarily; or as a result of the restructuring of academic units, including consolidation, reorganization, or abolishment; or as a result of the abolishment of a tenure initiating unit during conditions of financial exigency. The following provisions govern such changes:

(1) A faculty member may voluntarily move from one tenure initiating unit to another upon approval of a simple majority of all tenured faculty members in the receiving tenure initiating unit and, following consultation with the appropriate dean(s), the executive vice president and provost. Administrative approval will be dependent on whether satisfactory fiscal arrangements for the change have been made.

(2) A faculty member's tenure initiating unit may be changed as a result of structural changes in academic units, including consolidation or reorganization of units, or abolishment of units, that are approved by the university senate and board of trustees.

(a) When academic units are to be consolidated or reorganized, resulting in the creation of one or more new tenure initiating units, the plan for relocating faculty to the new tenure initiating units shall be part of the approved restructuring proposal. Change in tenure initiating unit resulting from the consolidation or reorganization of academic units shall not require the consent of individual faculty members whose tenure initiating unit is changed. In addition, since a receiving unit does not exist when new units are being created, no vote of such a unit will be required in relocating faculty.

(b) When a tenure initiating unit is to be abolished and is not part of a plan to consolidate or reorganize two or more units into new tenure initiating units, every effort shall be made by the executive vice president and provost to transfer each tenure-track faculty member in that tenure initiating unit to another tenure initiating unit, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (C) of this rule. Should such agreement be impossible, the person's tenure responsibility shall reside with the executive vice president and provost. The executive vice president and provost shall assign the faculty member appropriate duties. If the faculty member's previous assignment has been at a regional campus, the executive vice president and provost shall consult with the dean and director of the regional campus regarding an appropriate assignment.

(3) A tenure-track faculty member whose tenure initiating unit is abolished during conditions of financial exigency, as described in rule 3335-5-02.1 of the Administrative Code, may be reassigned to a new tenure initiating unit under the terms of paragraph (C)(1) of rule 3335-5-02.2 of the Administrative Code.

(D) When tenure-track faculty members change tenure initiating units under paragraphs (C)(2) and (C)(3) of this rule, the new tenure initiating units shall make reasonable efforts to assist faculty members in adjusting to the expectations of the new unit. Faculty members who believe that some other unit may be more appropriate than their new tenure initiating unit may also explore the possibility of further relocation under the terms of paragraph (C)(1) of this rule.

Replaces: 3335-6-06

Effective: 7/1/2014
Promulgated Under: 111.15
Statutory Authority: 3335
Rule Amplifies: 3335.08
Prior Effective Dates: 08/08/1978, 11/05/1984, 04/02/1991, 02/02/1992, 05/09/1992, 08/05/1996, 03/26/1998, 12/04/1998, 05/23/1999, 09/01/2001, 08/19/2002, 07/01/2004, 08/01/2005, 07/01/2014