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200.00 Faculty Governance

SECTION CONTENTS
210.00 Faculty and Professional Staff
211.00 Faculty
211.01 Rights and Responsibilities of Tenurable and Emeritus Faculty
211.02 Rights and Responsibilities of Academic Support Faculty
212.00 Professional Staff
213.00 Department Head (Primary Administrator)
220.00 Faculty Council
220.01 Faculty Council Membership
230.00 Faculty Council Standing Committees
231.00 Faculty Affairs Committee
231.01 Faculty Affairs Committee Membership
232.00 Faculty Executive Committees
232.01 Faculty Executive Committee Membership
240.00 Faculty Council Issues Committees
240.01 Authority to Develop Standard Operating Procedures
241.00 University Promotion and Tenure Committee
242.00 Conciliation Committee
242.01
Conciliation Committee Membership
242.02 Responsibilities
243.00 Grievance Committee
243.01 Grievance Committee Membership
243.02 Election of the Chair
243.03 Duties of the Chair
244.00 Salary Review Committee
244.01 Membership
245.00 Intellectual Property Committee
250.00 Faculty Caucuses 251.00 Research Faculty Caucus 252.00 Adjunct Faculty Caucus
260.00 University Governance Council
270.00 University Governance Council Committees
271.00 Steering Committee 272.00 Nominating Committee
210.00 Faculty and Professional Staff
The faculty of Montana State University-Bozeman are the academic faculty on
tenurable appointments (321.00),
academic support faculty (330.00),
researchers with academic responsibilities (341.00), and
those on emeritus appointments (350.00).
211.01 Rights and Responsibilities of Tenurable and Emeritus Faculty
Tenurable and emeritus faculty have the rights, responsibilities and
privileges identified and defined in this Handbook, relevant sections of the
MSU-Bozeman Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and the Montana University
System Policy and Procedures Manual.
211.02 Rights and Responsibilities of Academic Support Faculty
Individuals on nontenurable instructional appointments are the academic
support faculty and have the rights, responsibilities, and privileges identified
and defined in relevant sections of this Handbook the MSU-Bozeman Personnel
Policies and Procedures Manual, and the Policy and Procedures Manual of the
Montana University System.
212.00 Professional Staff
Professional Staff are not covered by the Faculty Handbook, but instead by
the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, as well as by Board of Regents'
Policy.
213.00 Department Head (Primary Administrator)
Pursuant to the Board of Regents' policies (see Sec. 510, Item 5), the Head
of a Department is the primary administrator of that academic unit. If the
Department Head is also a member of the faculty, then he or she may not
participate formally as a voting member on that department's hiring committee or on
that department's promotion and tenure committee. In the case of a hiring decision,
these procedures are addressed in the University's Recruitment and Hiring
Manual.
(Revised July 1, 2005)
220.00 Faculty Council
The Faculty Council is the chief governance body of the faculty of Montana
State University - Bozeman and, together with Professional Council, is a
constituent of the University Governance Council. Within the authority and
constraints of the Montana University System powers as described in the
Constitution of the State of Montana, Faculty Council has authority to frame
policy and standards that foster a climate of academic freedom throughout the
University; promote equity in tenure, promotion in academic rank, workload, and
salary; and uphold standards and procedures of accountability concerning faculty
ethics and responsibilities.
Faculty Council provides a means for faculty and administration to interact
and discuss University business, including long range and strategic planning,
budgeting, curriculum, accreditation, and graduation requirements.
Faculty Council develops policies and standards that promote 1) the effective
and efficient use of University resources; 2) the general economic well-being of
faculty; 3) the professional development of faculty through leave programs and
other beneficial activities; 4) quality educational resources such as the
libraries, facilities, laboratories, and creative activity equipment and
services; and 5) optimal learning environments across campus.
220.01 Faculty Council Membership
Each voting member of Faculty Council must be tenurable faculty holding
appointments of .25 FTE or greater who do not hold administrative appointments
at the level of department head or above. Each member is elected for a three (3)
year term by his/her constituency from each academic department (or college
where further division is not made). The College of Nursing and MSU Extension
shall select one (1) additional member to represent their off-campus interests.
Members may be reelected, but no member may serve more than two (2) consecutive
terms. The Chair is elected by and from the Faculty Council membership.
Nonvoting ex officio Members are the Parliamentarian and the Secretary of
Faculty Council.
230.00 Faculty Council Standing Committees
Faculty Affairs and Faculty Executive Committee are Faculty Council standing
committees.
231.00 Faculty Affairs Committee
The Faculty Affairs Committee considers matters of policy relating to
promotion, tenure, leave, standards of performance, professional ethics and
responsibilities, academic freedom, affirmative action, and faculty compensation
and benefits.
231.01 Faculty Affairs Committee Membership
One voting member is elected for a three (3) year, staggered term from the
faculty of each college, including MSU Extension and Libraries. Nonvoting ex
officio members include the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and
the Director of Affirmative Action. The Chair is appointed by Faculty
Council.
232.00 Faculty Executive Committee
This Committee may act for the Faculty Council when timely action is deemed
necessary by the Chair of Faculty Council or by two (2) members of the Faculty
Council Executive Committee when convening the entire Faculty Council is
impractical.
232.01 Faculty Executive Committee Membership
This Committee is comprised of tenurable faculty members of the University
Governance Council Steering Committee.
240.00 Faculty Issues Committees
Faculty Issues committees are those university committees which have
responsibility for the terms and conditions of a faculty member's appointment as
specified in this Handbook.
240.01 Authority to Develop Standard Operating Procedures
Any committee identified herein may adopt Standard Operating Procedures that
provide necessary interpretation of these policies and do not conflict with the
policies and procedures outlined in this Handbook. Such procedures must be
approved by the Chair of Faculty Council and the Provost.
241.00 University Promotion and Tenure Committee
The University P & T Committee reviews, recommends changes, and approves
all department and college role and scope statements, procedures, criteria, and
standards related to faculty tenure and promotion. This committee is responsible
for conducting independent and substantive reviews of candidate dossiers that
are subject to review, and forwards recommendations concerning the retention,
tenure, and/or promotion of faculty under review to the Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs. This committee provides oversight for every
review to assure it is conducted in substantial compliance with procedures of
each department and college as defined in the Faculty Handbook.
241.01 University Promotion and Tenure Membership
The University P& T Committee shall be composed of the chair of the
Faculty Affairs Committee and one (1) elected representative from each of the
colleges, including the Extension Service and the Libraries. The Human
Resources/Affirmative Action Director shall serve ex officio, without
vote. An administrator for academic affairs (e.g., Vice Provost for
Academic Affairs), designated by the Provost, shall serve as a chair of the
committee, without vote.
At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of the committee shall
be women; if this membership is not achieved by election, the Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs shall appoint such additional membership as may
be necessary to achieve that representation.
- A.
- Election of Members
-
- Elected members of the UPT Committee serve three (3) year terms and are
elected according to the calendar and procedures established by the Provost
and dean of the college. Colleges may elect alternates to serve should the
elected member be unable to serve. Members may not be reelected to consecutive
terms.
-
- B.
- Eligibility
Only tenured faculty at the Associate Professor or Professor rank shall be
eligible for election to the UPT Committee. No faculty member up for review
shall be a member of the Committee. No faculty member may serve as a member of
a departmental or college review committee and of the University committee
simultaneously.
- C.
- Start of Appointment
Members assume their appointments with the beginning of Fall
semester.
241.02 Responsibilities
- A.
- The Committee reviews, makes suggestions for change, and approves all
departmental and college role and scope statements, procedures, criteria, and
standards related to tenure and promotion.
-
- B.
- The Committee conducts an independent and substantive review of dossiers
of all candidates subject to review.
-
- C.
- The Committee makes and forwards to the Provost its recommendation
concerning the retention, tenure and/or promotion of each faculty member
reviewed. The Committee also determines, to the best of its ability, whether a
candidate's preceding reviews were conducted in substantial compliance with
the procedures set forth by the department, college and this Handbook.
241.03 Standard Operating Procedures
As stated in 240.01, the Committee may adopt "Standard Operating Procedures"
that divide its responsibilities among sub-committees, provided the member from
the appropriate college is present when the dossiers of faculty from that
college are reviewed.
242.00 Conciliation Committee
The Conciliation Committee reviews complaints and potential grievances and
makes nonbinding recommendations to resolve conflicts in order to avoid a formal
grievance hearing.
242.01 Conciliation Committee Membership
The Committee on Conciliation is composed of three (3) faculty elected by
Faculty Council and augmented by a pool of faculty, also elected by Faculty
Council. Committee members will be elected on a rotating basis for terms of
three (3) years, the third year of the term will include chairing the
committee.
242.02 Responsibilities
The Committee will review all faculty complaints (potential grievances) in
accordance with sections
1310.00 and
1320.00.
Before June 1, the committee shall file a written report indicating the number
of cases heard during the year with the Chair of Faculty Council.
243.00 Grievance Committee
The Grievance Committee conducts formal grievance hearings once the
conciliation process has taken place, and makes recommendations to the President
regarding formal grievances.
243.01 Grievance Committee Membership
Members of the Grievance Committee are elected by the colleges for three (3)
year terms. Colleges of more than twenty (20) tenurable faculty shall each elect
three members to the Committee to serve rotating terms. Colleges with fewer than
twenty (20) tenurable faculty or fewer than twenty (20) tenurable faculty
resident at the Bozeman campus shall each elect one (1) member to serve a three
(3) year term.
Members of the Committee shall be faculty on tenured and tenurable
appointments, not including department heads. Elections to the committee shall
be conducted annually according to the calendar and procedures established by
Faculty Council. Committee members assume their appointments at the beginning of
fall semester.
Members of the Committee may be re-elected; however, no member shall serve
more than two consecutive three (3) year terms.
At least twenty five percent (25%) of the members of the Committee shall be
women; if this membership is not achieved by election, the Chair of Faculty
Council shall appoint such additional membership as may be necessary to achieve
that representation.
243.02 Election of the Chair
The Chair of the Committee shall be elected by Faculty Council from among the
members who have served a minimum of two (2) years on the Committee. (Until a
cohort of members who have served two (2) years is established, Faculty Council
will elect the Chair of the Committee from the membership.) Members who are
serving a second term on the Committee shall be eligible for election as Chair
at any time. The Chair may not serve more than two (2) consecutive one (1) year
terms.
243.03 Duties of the Chair
The Chair presides at meetings of the Committee and is responsible for
performing the functions outlined in
1330.00 and
any standard operating procedures that may be adopted by the Committee.
If the Chair of the Grievance Committee cannot chair a Grievance Hearing or,
in the opinion of the Chair of Faculty Council, cannot be impartial, the Chair
of Faculty Council shall choose a temporary Chair of the Hearing Board for the
case from among the members of the Committee who have had two (2) or more years
of service on the Committee. (Until a cohort of members who have served two (2)
years is established, the Chair of Faculty Council may select the temporary
chair from among the members of the Committee.)
244.00 Salary Review Committee
This Committee establishes procedures for the implementation of the
University's salary administration program for faculty and for reviews salary
recommendations to insure they conform to the equitable application of
standards. This Committee does not hear appeals or grievances from individual
faculty regarding their salaries.
Three (3) tenured faculty members serve three (3) year staggered terms, and
are appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs from
nominations submitted by Faculty Council. Voting ex officio members include the
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice Provost for Academic
Affairs, and the Chair Elect of Faculty Council. Nonvoting ex officio members
include the Director of Affirmative Action and the Director of Institutional
Research. The Chair is the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.
The SRC is chaired by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and
composed of the following voting members:
- a.
- the chair-elect of Faculty Council, and
-
- b.
- Three (3) tenured members of the faculty, selected by the Provost from
nominations submitted by Faculty Council, and
c. The Human Resources/Affirmative
Action Director and the Director of Institution Research shall serve ex officio,
without vote.
At least twenty five percent (25%) of the voting members of the committee
shall be women or minorities.
245.00 Intellectual Property Committee
The Intellectual Property Committee (IPC) advises the Vice President for
Research, Creativity and Technology Transfer and the Director of the
Intellectual Property Management Office on policy issues regarding intellectual
property.
245.01 General Responsibilities
The IPC makes recommendations on policy issues affecting the management of
intellectual property and the administration of intellectual property policies.
Specifically, the Committee:
- a.
- reviews and recommends policies and procedures pertaining to intellectual
property and technology transfer used by all campus offices and agencies
concerned with intellectual property.
-
- b.
- reviews and makes recommendations regarding employee appeals of the
intellectual property decisions of the Office of the Vice President for
Research, Creativity and Technology Transfer.
-
- c.
- the Committee may also be asked to assist in the evaluation of
intellectual property disclosed to the university.
245.02 Responsibilities for Dispute Resolution
The IPC will assist in resolving disputes concerning intellectual property
and may hear appeals from employees who disagree with a decision or action of
any of the administrative committees and offices described in
Section 900.00.
- a.
- There shall be seven (7) voting members of the IPC. Members shall be
faculty and research professional employees with a record of accomplishment in
creating intellectual property. The membership shall have expertise in the
various areas of intellectual property generated by faculty and staff of the
University, such as patents, copyrights, biotechnology, computer software,
etc.
-
- b.
- Non-voting, ex officio members shall be the University Legal Counsel, the
Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee or his or her designee and not more
than two (2) representatives of the office of the Vice President for Research,
Creativity and Technology Transfer.
-
- c.
- Four (4) voting members of the Committee shall be elected by Faculty
Council from names submitted by the Committee on Committees. The Vice
President for Research and Creativity and Technology Transfer will appoint
three (3) voting members. The Chair of the Committee shall be elected by the
voting members of the Committee.
-
- d.
- Members of the Committee shall serve rotating three (3) year terms.
Members may be reappointed for an additional term but shall not serve more
than two (2) consecutive terms.
-
- e.
- The Chair of the Committee shall serve for one year. The Chair may be
re-elected for an additional term but shall not serve more than two (2)
consecutive terms.
-
250.00 Faculty Caususes
The adjunct and research faculty caucuses represent their constituents at
Faculty Council. They convene independently of Faculty Council to discuss issues
of concern to their constituents, plan strategies, and recommend policies to be
presented for review and action by Faculty Council.
251.00 Research Faculty Caucus
Under review.
251.01 Research Faculty Caucus Membership
Under review.
252.00 Adjunct Faculty Caucus
Under review.
252.01 Adjunct Faculty Caucus Membership
Under review.
260.00 University Governance Council
The university Governance Council provides a means for faculty,
professionals, and administration to interact and to discuss, formulate, and
recommend university policy to the appro0priate university authority, in
accordance with the Faculty Council and Professional Council Constitutions and
By-Laws. [see www.montana.edu/msuinfo/gov/ugc/]
The Faculty Council and Professional Council Constitutions and By-Laws
describe the powers of the University Governance Council to recommend policy,
always within the constraints of the Montana University System powers as
described by the Constitution of the State of Montana. Changes may be made to
committee structure and information only in accordance with Faculty Council and
Professional Council Constitutions and By-Laws. Authorization of changes comes
only through the Secretary to University Governance Council, with the approval
of the current Chair and Vice Chair of the University Governance Council.
260.01 University Governance Council Membership
The voting membership of the University Governance Council is comprised of
the combined total current membership of Faculty Council and of Professional
Council, and serve concurrently with their terms in Faculty Council or
Professional Council. Elected alternates to the regular members may attend and
vote in the absence of the members for whom they are an elected alternate. The
nonvoting members is the Parliamentarian of the University Governance Council.
Nonvoting ex officio members include the MSU President; the Provost and Vice
President for Academic Affairs; the Vice President for Administration and
Finance; the Vice President for Research, Creativity and Technology Transfer;
the Vice President for Student Affairs; the representative of Dean's Council;
the representative of Assistant Dean's Council; the Chair of CEPAC; the
President of ASMSU (or their designee); and the Secretary of University
Governance Council. The Chair is the elected chair of Faculty Council.
270.00 University Governance Council Committees
The Steering Committee and Nominating Committee are standing Committees of
the University Governance Council.
271.00 Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is the executive committee of the University
Governance Council that refers items of business to appropriate standing
committees and handles matters relating to the agenda of Faculty Council,
Professional Council, the University Governance Council. The Steering Committee
has the authority to act for the University Governance Council when the full
Council cannot meet and acts as an emergency advisory council to the MSU
President. The Steering Committee also serves as a Summer Executive Committee of
Faculty Council, Professional Council, and the University Governance Council;
makes appointments to administrative and ad hoc committees as necessary; and
studies the effectiveness of these committees in performing their duties.
271.01 Steering Committee Membership
The Steering committee serves one (1) year terms, and is comprised of three
(3) current members of Faculty Council and one (1) current member of
Professional Council, elected by their respective council's voting membership.
Voting ex officio members include the Chair and Chair Elect of Faculty Council;
the Chair and the Chair Elect of Professional Council; the Chair of Faculty
Affairs; the Chair of Professional Affairs; and the Chair of University
Governance Council Nominating Committee. Nonvoting ex officio members include
the past Chairs of Faculty Council and Professional council; the Director of
Affirmative Action or their designee; the President of ASMSU or their designee;
and the Secretary and Parliamentarian of University Governance Council. The
committee is chaired by the Chair of University Governance Council.
272.00 Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee screens nominations for standing committees and
presents a preliminary slate of committee members to the University Governance
Council, Faculty Council, and Professional Council for final approval. This
committee also recommends agenda items and performs duties not specifically
recited in these Council's Constitutions or By-Laws; makes tenure and
replacement decisions for standing committees; and studies the effectiveness and
prescribes changes for each standing committee as necessary.
272.01 Nominating Committee Membership
Voting membership of the Nominating Committee serve three (3) year, staggered
terms and is comprised of three (3) faculty members elected by Faculty Council
one (1) Professional employee elected by Professional Council, and one (1) Chair
elected by University Governance Council. Voting ex officio members include a
designee of the Director of Affirmative Action.
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