AF.03.01 2002-2003 Annual Report
The Senate Bylaws provide for a standing Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure (AFT),
whose investigative duties include possible infringement of academic freedom, and allegations of violations of the role of faculty in governance as specified in the University Statutes and unit bylaws. As appropriate, the Committee shall conduct hearings, and shall submit recommendations and reports to the Chancellor and the Senate. The following is a summary of issues considered by the Committee during the 2002-2003 academic year.
Promotion and Tenure Questionnaires.
Annually since 1981, AFT has received for examination the Promotions and Tenure (P&T) Questionnaires from the Office of the Provost. This year, the Provost’s Office asked the Committee to consider if academic units needed to continue to submit their P&T procedures each year. AFT recommended that a complete database (including each campus academic unit) of P&T procedures be assembled and posted on a website administered by the Provost’s Office. Once this is established, units only need to update their procedures when changes have been made to these procedures.
After co-sponsoring and participating in a February 17 Senate Committee of the Whole discussion about the Evaluation of Electronic Scholarly Publications, and meeting with the Provost to discuss campus policy regarding this matter, the Committee decided to conduct a survey of academic units to determine current practices regarding the consideration of electronic publications in promotions and tenure decisions. Based on the responses to the survey, the Committee will recommend changes to the Promotions and Tenure Questionnaire.
Evaluation of Ability to Work.
AFT was charged by the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) with reviewing provisions of this proposed university policy. AFT submitted a series of recommendations to the Senate Committee on General University Policy (GUP) for incorporation into the final document. The thrust behind many of AFT’s recommendations was the inclusion of sufficient protections for the faculty member from possible arbitrary administrative actions.
Implementation of Severe Sanctions Other Than Dismissal for Cause.
While GUP was charged with taking the lead on this proposal, AFT, along with the Senate Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (USSP) were charged with reviewing GUP’s work within the parameters of each committee’s charge. All of AFT’s substantive recommendations were included in the document that will be presented for Senate action at its April 28 meeting. Other Business.
Complaints.While the Committee reviewed no formal faculty complaints during this academic year, faculty should be aware that the AFT Committee is available for informal consulting at any time.
Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Tenure
Emily Watts, Chair
Clifton Brown
Matthew Finkin
Elizabeth Hearne
Trudy Kriven
Mosbah Kushad
Trent Maurer
Billie Theide