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Chapter Six: Table of Contents
6.1 Amendments to the Faculty Handbook
6.2 Sanction of The Board of Trustees
6.1 Amendments to the Faculty Handbook
Amendments to Chapter Two, Section 2.2 , Chapter Three , Chapter Four , Chapter Five , and Chapter Six of the Faculty Handbook may be proposed by Faculty Standing Committees, University Committees, ad-hoc committees or task forces, individual faculty members, the Provost, the President, or the Board of Trustees. Recommendations for such changes are submitted first to the Executive Committee of the Faculty, then to the faculty, then to the Provost and President, then to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees, and then to the full Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees must act to effect any substantive change in the Faculty Handbook and has committed itself to approve changes or additions only after giving opportunity for advice and counsel from the Faculty, the Provost, and the President. Substantive changes approved by the Board of Trustees are to be reprinted and distributed promptly. Unless otherwise directed by the Board, policies in effect for a given academic year are those published in the Faculty Handbook.
A “Substantive Change” is defined as an addition, deletion, or revision of policy or procedure in the Faculty Handbook. When proposed amendments to the Faculty Handbook involve simple editing for clarity, the Executive Committee of the Faculty will incorporate the revisions in the Faculty Handbook and notify the faculty and Academic Affairs.
Faculty Review and Vote
The Executive Committee will publish all proposed substantive changes to the faculty in accordance with the Faculty Bylaws, who then will vote on the matter. If the proposed substantive change was initiated by the administration, the faculty must vote on the matter within 45 calendar days of receiving the proposed change (excluding the period of time between the end of the traditional nine-month full-time faculty contract period and the beginning of the new nine-month full-time time faculty contract period), unless an extension is agreeable to both the President of the University and the Executive Committee of the faculty and is expressed in writing.
A proposed substantive change initially referred by the administration and either not voted upon by the faculty within the time prescribed or not approved by the faculty may, at the option of the President, move forward to the Board of Trustees. In such a case, both the faculty and the President shall have the right to provide the Board of Trustees with memoranda setting forth their positions on the proposed substantive change.
Administration Review
The President, upon receipt of a proposed substantive change approved by the faculty, either will accept or reject the proposed change within 45 calendar days of receiving the matter (excluding the period between nine-month full-time faculty contracts).
If the administration agrees with the proposed substantive change approved by the faculty, it will be forwarded to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
If, however, the President does not accept the proposed substantive change, the President (or the President’s designee) will state the reasons in writing to the faculty. If a resolution mutually acceptable to the parties cannot be reached and ultimately approved by the faculty, the President will submit the proposed amendment to the Board of Trustees for a final decision. Both the faculty and the President shall have the right to provide the Board of Trustees with memoranda setting forth their positions on the proposed substantive change.
Board of Trustees Review
Any proposed amendment causing a substantive change to Chapter Two, Section 2.2 , Chapter Three , Chapter Four , Chapter Five , and Chapter Six of the Faculty Handbook will be submitted by the President to the Board of Trustees for review and approval, which shall have the ultimate authority to adopt the proposed amendment.
If the Board of Trustees either (a) does not approve a proposed amendment approved by the faculty or (b) approves a proposed amendment the faculty has not voted affirmatively to approve, the Board of Trustees will provide the faculty with a memorandum detailing its rationale.
In engaging in the procedural processes outlined above and in appreciation of the principles of shared governance and in the interest of the general well-being of the University, the administration and Board of Trustees will weigh heavily the faculty’s recommendations pertaining to the policies published in Chapter Two, Section 2.2 , Chapter Three , Chapter Four , Chapter Five , and Chapter Six of the Faculty Handbook. The faculty, administration, and Board of Trustees shall work meaningfully and sincerely with each other in addressing these matters of institutional importance.
Conflict with Federal, State, or Local Law: If any provision of the Faculty Handbook is in conflict with federal, state, or local law, or is otherwise illegal, the remainder of the Faculty Handbook shall not be affected. The Faculty shall make it a priority to meet and resolve the conflict in conjunction with the administration. In no circumstances, however, will the University violate the law or engage in illegal conduct, and legal compliance is required over policy compliance.
*Note: These revision procedures do not apply to amendments to the Faculty Bylaws or descriptions of the faculty standing committees published in Chapter Two of the Faculty Handbook. Amendments to the Faculty Bylaws or descriptions of the faculty standing committees are governed by the process published in Article V of the Faculty Bylaws.
6.2 Sanction of The Board of Trustees
Subject only to the limitations imposed upon the Board of Trustees by the Constitution and the laws of the State of Ohio, by the Charter of the University and its Code of Regulations, and by the practical exigencies of enrollment and finances available as judged by the Board, the applicable provisions set forth in the Faculty Handbook shall be deemed a part of the University’s contractual commitment to each faculty member in consideration of the individual’s faithful adherence to the faculty member’s own contractual commitments to the University. The President of the University (or the President’s designee) shall employ faculty members and enter into binding contracts with them on this basis, subject to confirmation by the Board of Trustees.
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