SP.99.04
March 22, 1999

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA-CHAMPAIGN SENATE
University Statutes and Senate Procedures
(Second Reading; Action)

SP.99.04 Tenure Code Rollbacks

BACKGROUND

The University Senates Conference (USC) has been considering a uniform tenure code rollback policy at the request of Vice President Manning. The USC appointed an ad hoc committee to recommend proposed changes to the Statutes. The Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures (USSP) has considered the proposal from that committee (OT-146) as well as comments from the Committees on Academic Freedom and Tenure and General University Policy. USSP is now proposing language that conforms to that suggested by the ad hoc committee, and includes revisions suggested by Senate Council.

RECOMMENDATION

The Committee on University Statutes and Senate Procedures recommends approval of the revisions to the Statutes, Article IX, Section 6.g and Article X, Section 1.b(1). Text to be deleted is indicated in [square brackets] and text to be added is underscored.

PROPOSED REVISION TO THE STATUTES, ARTICLE IX, SECTION 6.g

• 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. Unless otherwise
• recommended and agreed upon in advance by the chancellor, [T]time spent on a leave of
• absence without pay [does not] ordinarily counts toward the probationary period of a faculty
• member on definite tenure, [nor] but does not [it] ordinarily count as service in establishing
• eligibility for a sabbatical leave with pay[, unless recommended and agreed upon in advance].

• PROPOSED REVISION TO THE STATUTES, ARTICLE X, SECTION 1.b(1)

• b.(1) An appointee receiving a first contract for more than fifty percent (50%) of full-time
• service at this University as assistant professor enters a probationary period not to exceed
• seven academic years of service[.] , except when by special written agreement between the
• appointee and the appointee's chancellor the appointee is granted an interruption of the
• probationary period (rollback) ordinarily for one year. Except under extraordinary
• circumstances such rollbacks may not be granted in the year in which a decision on the
• appointment to indefinite tenure is expected to be made. No more than two such rollbacks
• will be granted. Prior academic service at other academic (or equivalent) institutions may be
• counted up to a maximum of three years toward the fulfillment of the probationary period.
• The amount of any such service counted may be negotiated as may other terms of the
• appointment and shall be stated in the first appointment contract, as provided for all contracts
• for definite terms in subparagraph 1b(5) below. Unless otherwise recommended and agreed
• upon in advance by the chancellor, [A] an initial appointment [for a period of less than a full
• academic year] that begins after the eighth week of the academic year ordinarily does not
• count toward the probationary period of a faculty member on definite tenure nor does it
• ordinarily count as service in establishing eligibility for a sabbatical leave with pay [, unless
• recommended and agreed upon in advance].

University Statutes and Senate Procedures
Robert Fossum, Chair
H. George Friedman, Jr.
Harry H. Hilton
John W. Kindt
Saba Malek
Robert F. Rich
Heather Suchobrus
Robert C. Damrau, Ex officio
Thomas M. Eakman, Observer
C. K. Gunsalus, Ex officio (designee)
Vera V. Mainz, (PAC Liaison)