Policy Author:
Faculty Senate
Responsible Office-Department:
Faculty Senate
Effective Date of Policy:
Fall 2021
Purpose:
Establish appointment procedures and responsibilities of deans and department chairs.
Scope:
Faculty, Deans, and the VPAA
Policy Narrative:
Taken from Faculty Handbook:
https://my.daemen.edu/faculty-staff/faculty-handbook/full-time/handbook.pdf
III. DIVISIONAL DEANS AND DEPARTMENT CHAIRS
A. Divisional Deans
Each division shall be headed by a Dean appointed by the Vice President of Academic Affairs (VPAA) from the faculty in accordance with the procedure described below:
- Responsibilities. The Divisional Dean shall report directly to the VPAA and meet regularly with Department Chairs and divisional faculty. The Divisional Dean shall assume a leadership role with regard to the following:
a) Fiscal planning to include the divisional budget and grant
initiatives;
b) Division personnel issues including the evaluation of
Department Chairs and divisional faculty;
c) Long-range planning;
d) Program development and evaluation;
e) Coordination of the accreditation process;
f) Serving as liaison with institutional offices;
g) Participation in the search and hiring process of divisional
faculty in accordance with this handbook;
h) Coordinating the implementation of outcome initiatives;
i) Addressing student admission/retention issues within the
division.
Additional duties and responsibilities are updated as needed
on the Faculty Affairs website.
https://my.daemen.edu/faculty-staff/index.php
2. Appointment Procedure:
a) Upon notification by the VPAA that a vacancy exists or
that a term is about to expire, a meeting will be held
of all division faculty for the purpose of discussing and
recommending a possible candidate to the VPAA. The
President of the Faculty Senate will conduct the meeting.
The VPAA will not be present.
b) Any tenured faculty member with at least three (3) years of
teaching experience at Daemen who is interested in being
considered for Divisional Dean should make the fact known
by either self-nomination or nomination by a colleague at
or before such a meeting.
c) Within one (1) week of the meeting, the divisional faculty
by a majority vote shall select a candidate to recommend to
the VPAA. The Vice President of the Faculty Senate will send
out the ballot. Results of the election will be announced
to the faculty and VPAA.
d) Thereafter, the VPAA shall make the appointment and, if
someone other than the recommended candidate is selected,
the VPAA will discuss the reasons therefore at a meeting
with the divisional faculty.
3. Term of Service. The term of the Divisional Dean will normally be three (3) years; however, at the discretion of the VPAA, a shorter term may be established. If a Divisional Dean is unable to complete his/her term because of an extended leave, the VPAA may appoint an interim replacement until such time as the Divisional Dean returns or the term expires. A Divisional Dean will be limited to two (2) consecutive three (3) year terms.
4. Teaching Responsibilities. Divisional Deans have no teaching obligations; however, they are free to teach if they desire, and if necessary, for a department to deliver its curriculum. Any additional compensation for teaching must have the approval of the VPAA.
5. Removal. The VPAA may terminate the appointment of a Divisional Dean before the expiration of the term for the following reasons:
a) At the request of the Divisional Dean;
b) Upon the recommendation of the Faculty Senate which
contains supporting reasons;
c) At the VPAA’s discretion, but only after consultation
with the appropriate department chairs and any faculty
with vested interest warranted under the circumstances.
B. Department Chairs
Each department will be headed by a Chairperson appointed by the VPAA from the departmental faculty in accordance with the procedures described below. While there are no minimum criteria for Department Chair, the candidate should preferably have tenure and at least three (3) years of teaching experience.
1. Responsibilities. The Department Chairperson is responsible for overseeing the instructional program of the department and tending to the welfare of department students, staff, and faculty. The Chairperson shall also have the responsibility to manage the financial affairs of the department including the departmental budget. Finally, the Department Chairperson shall be required to interact with the administrative staff and the other academic units of the University. Department Chairpersons are directly responsible to the Divisional Dean.
2. Appointment Procedure:
a) Upon notification from the office of the VPAA that a
vacancy exists or that a Department Chair term is
about to expire, the appropriate Divisional Dean will
arrange a meeting of all the full-time faculty in the
department for the purpose of discussing and
recommending a possible candidate. The Dean will
oversee a confidential vote and pass on the
recommendation to the VPAA. In the Dean’s absence,
the President of the Faculty Senate will conduct the
meeting. The VPAA will not be present.
b) Following the meeting, the Divisional Dean must provide
a written recommendation to the VPAA for appointment
of the Department Chair. In addition, any member of the
department may send a written recommendation to the VPAA
proposing a candidate along with the reasons for the
recommendation. At the discretion of the VPAA or upon
the petition of a majority of the faculty of the
department, the VPAA will call a meeting of the department
faculty to discuss the candidates.
c) Thereafter, the VPAA will make the appointment and share
the rationale with the department faculty.
3. Term of Service. The term of the Department Chair will normally be three (3) years; however, at the discretion of the VPAA, a shorter term may be established. If a Department Chair is unable to complete a term because of an extended leave, the VPAA may appoint an interim replacement until such time as the Department Chair returns or the term expires.
4. Removal. The VPAA may terminate the appointment of a Department Chair before the expiration of a term for the following reasons:
a) At the request of the Department Chair;
b) Upon the recommendation of the appropriate Divisional Dean
which contains supporting reasons;
c) At the VPAA’s discretion, but only after appropriate
consultation with the Department faculty.