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C35: Appointment and Continuation of Deans

Policy

(Adopted by the Faculty Senate, April 14, 1992;
Amended and reaffirmed by the Faculty Senate, February 25, 1997;
Amended and reaffirmed by the Faculty Senate, October 7, 1997;
Rewording to Section #3 was recommended by the Regents, November 13, 1997;
Amended and reaffirmed by the Faculty Senate, December 9, 1997;
Amended and reaffirmed by the Faculty Senate, March 22, 2011 )

The following policy procedures will be utilized for the appointment, periodic review, and terms of office of deans and their administrative equivalents at the University of New Mexico (UNM). All appointment policies will be in accordance with affirmative action guidelines.

  1. Deans will normally serve terms of five (5) years. Administrative equivalents at branch campuses will also serve terms of five (5) years.
  2. Annual evaluations of the dean by faculty and chairs in the college/school shall be required and will be administered by the Faculty Senate. These evaluations shall be used by the Provost or Executive Vice President for Health Sciences (EVPHS) for performance improvement and salary increment determinations for the dean. The results of the evaluations shall be made available to the Faculty Senate President by the end of the semester in which the evaluation is completed. The Faculty Senate President will review the evaluations of the appropriate deans or equivalent persons with the Provost or with the EVPHS.
  3. Terms of office may be renewable. Appointments and reappointments to terms of office are to be made by the Provost or EVPHS after consultation with departmental college/school faculty and chairs, UNM officers, and other such persons as they shall see fit. The consultation with college/school faculty and chairs shall include the taking of a vote by electronic secret ballot on any potential appointment or reappointment. The vote shall be administered by the Faculty Committee on Governance. The results of the vote shall be transmitted to the Provost or EVPHS and be made available to the faculty and department chairs of the respective college/school. Reappointment must also be guided by the stated willingness of the deans to continue in that position, the results of the evaluation in the fourth year, and the willingness of the faculty and chairs, evidenced by electronic secret ballot, to have the deans continue in office. The appointment or reappointment of the Dean of Graduate Studies shall be made by the Provost after appropriate consultation with the Senate Graduate Committee, UNM officers, the graduate faculty, and other interested persons.
  4. It shall be understood that a policy of terms of office for deans does not abrogate the long-standing policy of UNM that deans serve in any college or school at the pleasure of the Provost or EVPHS and that a dean's appointment and continuing appointment occurs with the advice of and in consultation with the faculty and chairs of the college/school. This means, simply, that deans may be replaced during a term of office; also, they may resign.

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