2.3 Recruitment and Appointment of Faculty

2.3.1 Policies on Recruitment and Appointment of Faculty

The Board of Visitors has full authority over faculty personnel matters, including the responsibility to approve faculty appointments. To carry out this function effectively, the Board selects a President, who appoints other academic officers. Academic administrators share responsibility with the faculty for ensuring that appropriate qualitative standards are fostered; that equity and due process are the rule; that judgments in the selection, retention, and promotion of faculty are in the best long-term interests of the University; and that affirmative action, equal opportunity, and fair employment practices are followed (see Appendix A).

Initial review and evaluation of qualifications are carried out by peers in the local academic unit to which the candidate is to be appointed. Faculty recommendations for appointment are forwarded to the dean or director of the academic unit in which the appointment is to be made. If concurring with the faculty recommendations, the dean or director will forward them to the Provost and the President.

2.3.2 Procedures for Recruitment and Appointment of Tenured and Probationary Faculty

Requests for new faculty appointments to allocated positions normally originate with the local unit administrator, acting upon the recommendation of the unit's faculty. In particular, the administrator seeks the assistance of the faculty in defining the requirements of the position to be filled and the qualifications to be sought in the appointee. Authorization from the appropriate dean and the Provost is necessary before a search is initiated to fill a vacancy or a new position.

The local academic unit establishes, usually by election, a faculty committee possibly a committee of the wholeto advise and assist the local unit administrator in carrying out a search. These committees handle correspondence; review the dossiers of applicants and make recommendations concerning them; establish the schedule and make other arrangements for the on-campus interview of finalists; and perform other search-related duties as necessary. All full-time faculty of the local academic unit will have an opportunity to meet with the finalists. The unit's faculty then evaluates the finalists and formulates a recommendation. The local unit administrator transmits the faculty recommendation, together with her or his own, to the collegiate dean or to the Provost. A copy of the local unit administrator's recommendation is furnished to the unit's faculty. Faculty appointments to any local academic unit require the concurrence of that unit's faculty.

Before extending an offer of appointment, the local unit administrator or the chair of the faculty search committee must secure affirmative action clearance and the concurrence of the relevant dean or director and the Provost. All offers of appointment at rank above assistant professor must include the statement "conditional upon approval by the President of the University and upon election by the University's Board of Visitors." Offers of employment in any rank must include the statement "Contingent upon availability of funding for the position" and must be made and accepted in writing.

Tenured and probationary faculty receive initial letters of appointment; acceptance in writing of these letters constitutes a contract between the University and individual faculty members. Letters of initial appointment to probationary faculty also indicate the expiration date of terms of appointment. Tenured and probationary faculty also receive annual letters indicating salary.

2.3.3 Procedures for Recruitment and Appointment of Other Faculty

The procedures for the appointment of non-probationary full-time faculty are similar to those described in 2.3.2, but as dictated by circumstances, they may be somewhat less formal. The faculty of an academic unit may or may not wish to be consulted about the hiring of part-time faculty, depending upon their custom. In any event, the local unit administrator has considerable discretionary authority in the recommending of part-time faculty, consistent with the University's personnel policies and commitment to affirmative action.

Non-probationary full-time faculty receive letters of initial appointment which also indicate the expiration date of the appointment. Acceptance in writing of these letters constitutes a contract between the University and individual faculty members. Part-time faculty receive an appointment form indicating the terms and conditions of appointment. Acceptance in writing of this form likewise constitutes a contract between the University and the individual.