TO: Craig Parks, Chair of Senate

FROM: Judith McDonald, Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee

SUBJECT: Proposed changes to the Faculty Manual

The Faculty Affairs Committee has the following suggested changes to the Faculty Manual:

  1. Three paragraphs went missing from the Faculty Manual during the last round of edits. On Page 61 of the Faculty Manual, at the start of bullet (f), insert these three paragraphs:

“Tenure must be granted or denied. Granting of tenure becomes effective on August 16 for academic-year appointees and on July 1 for annual appointees. Upon denial of tenure, notification of nonreappointment will be given at least twelve months in advance of the termination of service.

Notification of the granting or denial of tenure shall be given in writing to the faculty member by the Provost and Executive Vice President within three working days after a decision has been made. While notification of the final tenure decision will be communicated by the Provost and Executive Vice President, the dean or relevant area administrator will provide more detailed analysis.

If the Faculty member resigns within ninety calendar days after notification of denial of tenure, no reference will appear in his or her personnel file that tenure was denied or that a recommendation to deny tenure was made. The effective date of such resignation shall be the date upon which the appointment would have been terminated if tenure had been denied, or earlier, if mutually agreed to by both parties.”

  1. Remove the requirement that colleges, departments, schools or other units send copies of their tenure criteria to the Executive Secretary. These documents should be available online at the college, department, school or other unit website, as well as at the Provost’s office. The suggested edits are:

Page 54, second to last paragraph:

“After administrative approval, a copy of the criteria shall be provided to every faculty member of the college, department/school or unit and a copy shall be filed with the Executive Secretary of the Faculty Senate.”

Page 57, end of first paragraph:

“After administrative approval, a copy of the new or revised criteria and description of the process shall be provided to every faculty member of the college department, school or other unit, and an additional copy shall be filed with the Executive Secretary of the Faculty Senate.”

  1. At the request of HR, SECTION III: FACULTY PERSONNEL POLICIES has been updated to include a new section:

“III C. Workplace Violence and Bullying Policy

The University is committed to maintaining an environment that is free from all acts or threat of violence perpetrated by or against employees, students, or members of the public, including workplace bullying. WSU policy on workplace violence and bullying is detailed at “

In support of this policy, make updates to the Faculty Manual as listed below in section II F. DISCIPLINARY PROCESS/PROCEDURES, Part 3. Faculty Conduct Subject to University Discipline

a)Bullet 8) on page 20 reads:

“Retaliation against any individual for engaging in protected activity, including but not limited to,filing a good faith complaint of discrimination, harassment or misconduct against another. Retaliation is defined as taking adverse employment action against another.”

Replace bullet 8) with:

“Retaliation against any individual for engaging in protected activity, including but not limited to, filing a good faith complaint of discrimination, harassment, misconduct, workplace violence or bullying. This includes, but not limited to, creating a hostile work environment or taking adverse employment action against another. Such acts form independent grounds for taking appropriate formal or informal discipline.”

b)Bullet 19) on page 21 reads:

“Detention or physical abuse of any person or conduct which threatens imminent bodily harm orendangers the health or safety of any person on any property owned or controlled by theUniversity, or in connection with approved University functions.”

Replace bullet 19) with:

“Violation of the University policy prohibiting Work Place Violence and Bullying as outlined in the Business Policies and Procedures Manual Section 50.30.1”