Faculty Handbook
(Revised April 2009)
Introduction
This electronic version of MSU-Bozeman's Faculty Handbook was created to provide an easily accessible online reference which can be updated when policies change. Also, the hypertext links included in this document assist the reader in locating information. The electronic version also reduces the need for printed copies, which are much more difficult to keep current.
Please address questions or comments about the Faculty Handbook to Leslie Taylor via e-mail to lesliet@montana.edu or by phone to 406-994-4570, or Gale Gough via e-mail to gough@montana.edu or by phone to 406-994-4341
TABLE OF CONTENTS 100.00 Mission and Vision Statements 110.00 Mission and Vision of the Montana University System 120.00 Mission and Vision of Montana State University-Bozeman 200.00 Faculty Governance 210.00 Faculty and Professional Staff 220.00 Faculty Senate 230.00 Faculty Senate Standing Committees 240.00 Faculty Senate Issues Committees 250.00 Faculty Caucuses 260.00 University Governance Council 270.00 University Governance Council Committees 300.00 Appointment and Employment 310.00 Types of Employment Contracts 320.00 Appointment to the Tenurable Academic Faculty 330.00 Appointment to the Nontenurable Academic Faculty 340.00 Research Appointments 350.00 Emeritus Status 360.00 Post-Retirement Employment 400.00 Rights and Responsibilities 410.00 Academic Freedom 420.00 Ethical and Professional Standards 430.00 Policy on Research Misconduct 440.00 Conflict of Interest 450.00 Rights Relative to Appointment/Reappointment 460.00 Rights Relative to Annual Review 470.00 Rights and Responsibilities Relative to Formal Review of Faculty for Retention, Tenure and Promotion 480.00 Faculty Responsibilities: "Workload Policy" 490.00 Parental Leave 500.00 Tenure 510.00 Board of Regents Policy 520.00 University Policies 600.00 Review of Faculty 610.00 Types of Review 620.00 Role, Scope, Criteria, Standards and Procedures Documents 630.00 University Criteria and Standards for Retention, Promotion, Tenure and Special Review 640.00 University-wide Standards for Retention 650.00 University-wide Standards for Tenure 660.00 University-wide Standards for Appointment and Promotion 700.00 Annual Review 710.00 Purpose of Review 720.00 Procedures for Conducting Annual Reviews 730.00 Faculty Rights Relative to Annual Review 740.00 Annual Review of Academic Administrators 750.00 Annual Review of Academic Support Faculty and Researchers 760.00 Review of Extension Specialists, Faculty Directors/Center Directors and Other Faculty with Dual-Reporting or Jointly-Sponsored Assignments 800.00 Formal Review of Faculty and Academic Administrators 810.00 Procedures for the Conduct of Formal Reviews of Faculty 820.00 Responsibilities of the Provost/Vice President for Academic Affairs 830.00 Responsibilities of the President 840.00 Review of Academic Administrators 900.00 Research and Creative Activity 910.00 Board of Regents Copyright Policy 920.00 Board of Regents Patent Policy 930.00 Intellectual Property Policy 1000.00 Outreach and Service 1100.00 Compensation in Excess of Contracted Salary 1110.00 MSU-Bozeman Policy 1120.00 Additional Compensation 1130.00 Consulting 1140.00 University Sponsored Research Appointments 1200.00 Faculty Benefits 1210.00 Leaves 1220.00 Sabbatical Assignments 1230.00 Other Benefits 1300.00 Conciliation and Grievance 1310.00 Applicability 1320.00 Conciliation Procedures 1330.00 Grievance Procedures 1340.00 Responsibilities of the President 1400.00 Resignation, Non-renewal and Termination 1410.00 Resignation 1420.00 Non-renewal 1430.00 Termination of Tenurable Faculty Appendices Appendix A Faculty Handbook Amending Procedure Appendix B Faculty Handbook Style Manual 1999 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2000 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2001 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2002 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2003 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2004 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2005 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2006 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2007 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2008 Faculty Handbook Revisions
2009 Faculty Handbook Revisions 2013 Faculty Handbook Revisions
Foreword
The MSU-Bozeman Faculty Handbook (Handbook) contains policies and procedures governing personnel employed by Montana State University-Bozeman, the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Montana Extension Service. The official Faculty Handbook is maintained in the offices of the Provost and University Legal Counsel. All other versions and copies are unofficial and provided only for the general information and use of the employees of the University.
Those personnel covered by this Handbook are current employees on Board of Regents contracts, Letters of Appointment, and Professional Hourly, Emeritus or (faculty) Post-Retirement appointments, including to a limited extent, academic support, research and professional employees.
Policies and procedures affecting all employees are available at http://www2.montana.edu/policy/personnel/, the University's computer information system, and in the Renne Library. These include the non-discrimination/affirmative action policy, the grant and contract research policies, the care and use of vertebrate animals policy, the biosafety policy, the computer use policy and facilities policies.
Policies and procedures governing professional and administrative employees are found in the MSU-Bozeman Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual and the Montana University System Policy and Procedures Manual. Policies and procedures governing classified employees are the respective union contracts and the MSU-Bozeman Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual. Thus, this Handbook should be used in conjunction with other publications and policy manuals including but not limited to the following:
- Montana University System Policy and Procedures Manual
- MSU-Bozeman Undergraduate/Graduate Bulletin
- MSU Extension Service Policy and Procedures Manual
- MSU-Bozeman Personnel Policy and Procedures Manual
- MSU-Bozeman Long Range Plan
- MSU-Bozeman Affirmative Action Plan
- MSU-Bozeman Recruitment and Hiring Manual
Copies of these publications are available in the Renne Library and in the office that originates and/or maintains the policy. In most cases, these documents are available at http://www2.montana.edu/policy/ and through deans and department heads.
This Handbook is limited, so far as is possible, to those matters which pertain directly to the interests of academic faculty at MSU-Bozeman. To the extent these policies and procedures affect the employment of tenurable faculty, they describe the contractual obligations of the University and the faculty in regards to the terms and conditions of employment. Copies of this Handbook are available in the faculty member's department, college and in the Renne Library. An electronic copy is available at http://www2.montana.edu/policy/faculty_handbook/.
When Board of Regents policies, state statutes and advisory opinions of the state Attorney General are quoted, they are identified using small caps.
Amendments to any part of this Handbook not required by state statute or Board of Regents Policy require compliance with the amending procedures set forth in Appendix B. Such policies become effective at the beginning of the next contract term, unless otherwise approved by Faculty Senate. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of the MSU-Bozeman Faculty Senate are made in accordance with the amending provisions contained in those documents and become effective as specified therein. Other University policies and procedures become effective immediately upon the signature of the President or her or his designee.
