C40: Appointment and Continuation in Office of Department Chairpersons

Policy

Adopted by the Faculty Senate on April 14, 1992; Amended and reaffirmed by the Faculty Senate on February 25, 1997; Amended and reaffirmed by the Faculty Senate on October 7, 1997; Rewording to Section #3 was recommended by the Regents on November 13, 1997; Amended and reaffirmed by the Faculty Senate on December 9, 1997

Preamble:

The following policy guidelines will be utilized for the appointment, periodic review, and terms of office of departmental chairs at the University of New Mexico unless a college faculty adopts a modified policy that would decrease the term by no more than one (1) year. All appointment policies will be in accordance with affirmative action guidelines.

1. Departmental chairs will normally serve terms of four (4) years. Administrative equivalents at branch campuses will also serve terms of four (4) years.
2. Annual evaluations of the chair by faculty shall be required. These evaluations shall be forwarded to the dean, and shall be used in salary increment determinations for the chair.
3. Terms of office may be renewable. The initial appointments and reappointments to terms of office are to be made by the dean after consultation with departmental faculty, University officers, and other such persons as they shall see fit. In the case of appointments to departments conducting graduate programs, consultation with the Dean of Graduate Studies will also be included. The consultation with departmental faculty shall include the taking of a vote by secret ballot on any potential appointment. Reappointment must also be guided by the stated willingness of the chairperson to continue in that position, the results of the evaluation in the third or penultimate year, and the willingness of the majority of the faculty, evidenced by secret ballot, to have the chair continue in office.
4. It shall be understood that a policy of terms of office for chairpersons does not abrogate the long-standing policy of the University that chairpersons serve in any college or school at the pleasure of the dean of that college or school. Additionally, a chair’s appointment and continuing appointment occurs with the advice of and in consultation with the faculty. This means, simply, that the chairpersons may be replaced during a term of office; also, they may resign.

Explanation:

As indicated in the preamble, any college or school may decide to decrease its term of office for chairpersons to three years.

Resolution of a disagreement:

In the case of a disagreement between the administration and the faculty in a department, an amicable resolution will be found. A chair serves at the pleasure of the dean, but a chair’s appointment and continuing appointment occurs with the advice of and in consultation with the faculty. A chair who has lost the confidence and support of their faculty cannot provide the positive leadership needed by the department and college or school.