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Academic Planning Process
Application of NSHE Code Sec. 5.4.6
March 7, 2011
I. An administrative unit, project, program or curriculum may be discontinued, reduced in size, or reorganized for bona fide reasons pertaining to the University's mission as a consequence of the Academic Planning Process, which has been approved by President Glick. The discontinuation, reduction, or reorganization may result in the layoff of a faculty member.
II. For the purposes of this Academic Planning Process, a change or elimination of a major, minor, degree, academic department, or college that could result in elimination of tenured, tenure track, or other positions constitutes the discontinuation, reduction in size, or reorganization of an administrative unit, project, program, or curriculum and the Academic Planning Process must be followed. The decision not to fill a position that already exists does not require the implementation of the Academic Planning Process.
III. A proposal for the discontinuation, reduction, or reorganization of a unit, project, program, or curriculum (the Proposal) must include a statement of the basis for the discontinuation, reduction, or reorganization and the information and data upon which the rationale for the discontinuation, reduction, or reorganization is based.
IV. The Proposal under this Academic Planning Process must be initiated by the Provost, Dean(s), department chair(s), or Faculty Senate.
V. A faculty member who is furloughed or given notice of lay off for curricular reasons as a result of the Academic Planning Process as set forth in Code section 5.4.7 shall be continued in employment in an appropriate qualified professional capacity within the University if possible and if the employment does not result in the termination of employment of another faculty member.
VI. Written Proposals for the discontinuation, reduction in size, or reorganization of an administrative unit, project, program, or curriculum must be submitted to or proposed by the Provost by March 9, 2011, and must be sent concurrently to the department chairs and deans whose administrative unit, project, program, or curriculum is the subject of the Proposal.
VII. Any administrative unit, project, program, or curriculum that is the subject of a Proposal shall review the Proposal and, through the Department Chair, submit any data or other documentation supporting or challenging the Proposal (the Department's Response) to the appropriate Dean and the Provost by April 1, 2011. The administrative unit, project, program or curriculum may suggest alternatives in writing by April 1, 2011, for consideration. If a Proposal is made to lay off fewer than all of the faculty members in an administrative unit, project, program or curriculum, the Chair will suggest in writing to the Provost the criteria by which specific faculty are to be selected for lay off by April 1, 2011.
VIII. Each Dean shall establish a College Review Committee to consider the Proposal, and the Department's Response. The College Review Committee shall make a recommendation in favor of or against the Proposal to the college faculty who shall vote in favor of or against the Proposal. The College Review Committee may make additional suggestions regarding the Proposal, but must make a recommendation for or against the Proposal. The College Review Committee's recommendation and the results of the vote of the college faculty shall be sent to the Faculty Senate Chair and the Provost by April 15, 2011.
IX. The Faculty Senate shall establish a Faculty Senate Review Committee to review all department responses, college recommendations, suggested alternatives and the results of all college faculty votes and shall make recommendations to the Senate. The Senate shall vote in favor of or against the recommendations and the results of the Senate's vote shall be sent to the President and the Provost as recommendations for action by May 16, 2011.
X. The President and Provost shall review the recommendations of the units, colleges and Faculty Senate and suggested alternatives and make decisions regarding the recommendations. If a decision is made to recommend to the Board of Regents to lay off fewer than all of the faculty members in an administrative unit, project, program or curriculum, the President and Provost shall specify in writing the criteria by which specific faculty are to be selected for lay off. Faculty whose employment is affected by the decisions shall be notified within a reasonable time but in any event no later than June 30, 2011.
XI. A faculty member may seek reconsideration of the furlough or lay-off decision as set forth in Code section 5.4.7.
