Warning: This is not the current faculty handbook. See here for the current faculty handbook.

 
  • Table of Contents
  • 210.00 Faculty and Professional Staff
  • 211.00 Faculty
  • 211.01 Rights and Responsibilities of Tenurable and Emeritus Faculty
  • 211.02 Rights and Responsibilities of Academic Support Faculty
  • 212.00 Professional Staff
  • 213.00 Department Head (Primary Administrator)

  • 220.00 Faculty Senate
  • 220.01 Faculty Senate Membership

  • 230.00 Faculty Senate Standing Committees
  • 231.00 Faculty Affairs Committee
  • 231.01 Faculty Affairs Committee Membership
  • 232.00 Faculty Executive Committees
  • 232.01 Faculty Executive Committee Membership

  • 240.00 Faculty Senate Issues Committees
  • 240.01 Authority to Develop Standard Operating Procedures
  • 241.00 University Promotion and Tenure Committee
  • 242.00 Conciliation Committee
  • 242.01 Conciliation Committee Membership
  • 242.02 Responsibilities
  • 243.00 Grievance Committee
  • 243.01 Grievance Committee Membership
  • 243.02 Election of the Chair
  • 243.03 Duties of the Chair
  • 244.00 Salary Review Committee
  • 244.01 Membership
  • 245.00 Intellectual Property Committee

  • 250.00 Faculty Caucuses
  • 251.00 Research Faculty Caucus
  • 252.00 Adjunct Faculty Caucus

  • 260.00 University Governance Council

  • 270.00 University Governance Council Committees
  • 271.00 Steering Committee
  • 272.00 Nominating Committee
 

210.00 Faculty and Professional Staff

211.00 Faculty

The faculty of Montana State University-Bozeman are the academic faculty on tenurable appointments (321.00), academic support faculty (330.00), researchers with academic responsibilities (341.00), and those on emeritus appointments (350.00).

211.01 Rights and Responsibilities of Tenurable and Emeritus Faculty

Tenurable and emeritus faculty have the rights, responsibilities and privileges identified and defined in this Handbook, relevant sections of the MSU-Bozeman Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual and the Montana University System Policy and Procedures Manual.

211.02 Rights and Responsibilities of Academic Support Faculty

Individuals on nontenurable instructional appointments are the academic support faculty and have the rights, responsibilities, and privileges identified and defined in relevant sections of this Handbook the MSU-Bozeman Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, and the Policy and Procedures Manual of the Montana University System.

212.00 Professional Staff

Professional Staff are not covered by the Faculty Handbook, but instead by the Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual, as well as by Board of Regents' Policy.

213.00 Department Head (Primary Administrator)

Pursuant to the Board of Regents' policies (see Sec. 510, Item 5), the Head of a Department is the primary administrator of that academic unit. If the Department Head is also a member of the faculty, then he or she may not participate formally as a voting member on that department's hiring committee or on that department's promotion and tenure committee. In the case of a hiring decision, these procedures are addressed in the University's Recruitment and Hiring Manual.

(Revised July 1, 2005)

220.00 Faculty Senate

The Faculty Senate is the chief governance body of the faculty of Montana State University - Bozeman and, together with Professional Council, is a constituent of the University Governance Council. Within the authority and constraints of the Montana University System powers as described in the Constitution of the State of Montana, Faculty Senate has authority to frame policy and standards that foster a climate of academic freedom throughout the University; promote equity in tenure, promotion in academic rank, workload, and salary; and uphold standards and procedures of accountability concerning faculty ethics and responsibilities.

Faculty Senate provides a means for faculty and administration to interact and discuss University business, including long range and strategic planning, budgeting, curriculum, accreditation, and graduation requirements.

Faculty Senate develops policies and standards that promote 1) the effective and efficient use of University resources; 2) the general economic well-being of faculty; 3) the professional development of faculty through leave programs and other beneficial activities; 4) quality educational resources such as the libraries, facilities, laboratories, and creative activity equipment and services; and 5) optimal learning environments across campus.

220.01 Faculty Senate Membership

Tenurable Faculty - Each voting member of Faculty Senate must be tenurable faculty holding appointments of .50 FTE or greater who do not hold administrative appointments at the level of department head or above. Each member is elected for a three (3) year term by his/her constituency from each academic department (or college where further division is not made). The College of Nursing and MSU Extension shall each select one (1) additional member to represent their off-campus interests. Tenurable faculty members may be re-elected, but no member may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms on Faculty Senate. The Chair is elected by and from the Faculty Senate membership. Nonvoting ex officio Members are the Parliamentarian and the Secretary of Faculty Senate.

Non-tenured Faculty - Non-tenure track (NTT) faculty members may select one (1) faculty representative, along with an alternate, to serve as a voting member of Faculty Senate. Each member is elected for one (1) year term from among all NTT faculty at Montana State University, Bozeman. NTT faculty representatives may be re-elected, but may serve no more than three (3) consecutive terms.

GCP Faculty - Gallatin College Programs shall select on voting (1) member to represent their faculty.

[Revised 2/21/2013]

230.00 Faculty Senate Standing Committees

Faculty Affairs and Faculty Executive Committee are Faculty Senate standing committees.

231.00 Faculty Affairs Committee

The Faculty Affairs Committee considers matters of policy relating to promotion, tenure, leave, standards of performance, professional ethics and responsibilities, academic freedom, affirmative action, and faculty compensation and benefits.

231.01 Faculty Affairs Committee Membership

One voting member is elected for a three (3) year, staggered term from the faculty of each college, including MSU Extension and Libraries. Nonvoting ex officio members include the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Director of Office of Institutional Equity (CCR). The Chair is appointed by Faculty Senate.

232.00 Faculty Executive Committee

This Committee may act for the Faculty Senate when timely action is deemed necessary by the Chair of Faculty Senate or by two (2) members of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee when convening the entire Faculty Senate is impractical.

232.01 Faculty Executive Committee Membership

This Committee is comprised of tenurable faculty members of the University Governance Council Steering Committee.

240.00 Faculty Issues Committees

Faculty Issues committees are those university committees which have responsibility for the terms and conditions of a faculty member's appointment as specified in this Handbook.

240.01 Authority to Develop Standard Operating Procedures

Any committee identified herein may adopt Standard Operating Procedures that provide necessary interpretation of these policies and do not conflict with the policies and procedures outlined in this Handbook. Such procedures must be approved by the Chair of Faculty Senate and the Provost.

241.00 University Promotion and Tenure Committee

The University P & T Committee reviews, recommends changes, and approves all department and college role and scope statements, procedures, criteria, and standards related to faculty tenure and promotion. This committee is responsible for conducting independent and substantive reviews of candidate dossiers that are subject to review, and forwards recommendations concerning the retention, tenure, and/or promotion of faculty under review to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. This committee provides oversight for every review to assure it is conducted in substantial compliance with procedures of each department and college as defined in the Faculty Handbook.

241.01 University Promotion and Tenure Membership

The University P& T Committee shall be composed of the chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee and one (1) elected representative from each of the colleges, including the Extension Service and the Libraries. The Human Resources/Office of Institutional Equity (CCR) Director shall serve ex officio, without vote. An administrator for academic affairs (e.g., Vice Provost for Academic Affairs), designated by the Provost, shall serve as a chair of the committee, without vote.

At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership of the committee shall be women; if this membership is not achieved by election, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs shall appoint such additional membership as may be necessary to achieve that representation.

A. Election of Members

 
Elected members of the UPT Committee serve three (3) year terms and are elected according to the calendar and procedures established by the Provost and dean of the college. Colleges may elect alternates to serve should the elected member be unable to serve. Members may not be reelected to consecutive terms.
B. Eligibility

Only tenured faculty at the Associate Professor or Professor rank shall be eligible for election to the UPT Committee. No faculty member up for review shall be a member of the Committee. No faculty member may serve as a member of a departmental or college review committee and of the University committee simultaneously.

C. Start of Appointment

Members assume their appointments with the beginning of Fall semester.

241.02 Responsibilities

A. The Committee reviews, makes suggestions for change, and approves all departmental and college role and scope statements, procedures, criteria, and standards related to tenure and promotion.

B. The Committee conducts an independent and substantive review of dossiers of all candidates subject to review.

C. The Committee makes and forwards to the Provost its recommendation concerning the retention, tenure and/or promotion of each faculty member reviewed. The Committee also determines, to the best of its ability, whether a candidate's preceding reviews were conducted in substantial compliance with the procedures set forth by the department, college and this Handbook.

241.03 Standard Operating Procedures

As stated in 240.01, the Committee may adopt "Standard Operating Procedures" that divide its responsibilities among sub-committees, provided the member from the appropriate college is present when the dossiers of faculty from that college are reviewed.

242.00 Conciliation Committee

The Conciliation Committee reviews complaints and potential grievances and makes nonbinding recommendations to resolve conflicts in order to avoid a formal grievance hearing.

242.01 Conciliation Committee Membership

The Committee on Conciliation is composed of three (3) faculty elected by Faculty Senate and augmented by a pool of faculty, also elected by Faculty Senate. Committee members will be elected on a rotating basis for terms of three (3) years, the third year of the term will include chairing the committee.

242.02 Responsibilities

The Committee will review all faculty complaints (potential grievances) in accordance with sections 1310.00 and 1320.00. Before June 1, the committee shall file a written report indicating the number of cases heard during the year with the Chair of Faculty Senate.

243.00 Grievance Committee

The Grievance Committee conducts formal grievance hearings once the conciliation process has taken place, and makes recommendations to the President regarding formal grievances.

243.01 Grievance Committee Membership

Members of the Grievance Committee are elected by the colleges for three (3) year terms. Colleges of more than twenty (20) tenurable faculty shall each elect three members to the Committee to serve rotating terms. Colleges with fewer than twenty (20) tenurable faculty or fewer than twenty (20) tenurable faculty resident at the Bozeman campus shall each elect one (1) member to serve a three (3) year term.

Members of the Committee shall be faculty on tenured and tenurable appointments, not including department heads. Elections to the committee shall be conducted annually according to the calendar and procedures established by Faculty Senate. Committee members assume their appointments at the beginning of fall semester.

Members of the Committee may be re-elected; however, no member shall serve more than two consecutive three (3) year terms.

At least twenty five percent (25%) of the members of the Committee shall be women; if this membership is not achieved by election, the Chair of Faculty Senate shall appoint such additional membership as may be necessary to achieve that representation.

243.02 Election of the Chair

The Chair of the Committee shall be elected by Faculty Senate from among the members who have served a minimum of two (2) years on the Committee. (Until a cohort of members who have served two (2) years is established, Faculty Senate will elect the Chair of the Committee from the membership.) Members who are serving a second term on the Committee shall be eligible for election as Chair at any time. The Chair may not serve more than two (2) consecutive one (1) year terms.

243.03 Duties of the Chair

The Chair presides at meetings of the Committee and is responsible for performing the functions outlined in 1330.00 and any standard operating procedures that may be adopted by the Committee.

If the Chair of the Grievance Committee cannot chair a Grievance Hearing or, in the opinion of the Chair of Faculty Senate, cannot be impartial, the Chair of Faculty Senate shall choose a temporary Chair of the Hearing Board for the case from among the members of the Committee who have had two (2) or more years of service on the Committee. (Until a cohort of members who have served two (2) years is established, the Chair of Faculty Senate may select the temporary chair from among the members of the Committee.)

244.00 Salary Review Committee

This Committee establishes procedures for the implementation of the University's salary administration program for faculty and for reviews salary recommendations to insure they conform to the equitable application of standards. This Committee does not hear appeals or grievances from individual faculty regarding their salaries.

244.01 Membership

Three (3) tenured faculty members serve three (3) year staggered terms, and are appointed by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs from nominations submitted by Faculty Senate. Voting ex officio members include the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, and the Chair Elect of Faculty Senate. Nonvoting ex officio members include the Director of Office of Institutional Equity (CCR) and the Director of Institutional Research. The Chair is the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.

The SRC is chaired by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs and composed of the following voting members:

a. the chair-elect of Faculty Senate, and
 
b. Three (3) tenured members of the faculty, selected by the Provost from nominations submitted by Faculty Senate, and
c. The Human Resources/Affirmative Action Director and the Director of Institution Research shall serve ex officio, without vote.

At least twenty five percent (25%) of the voting members of the committee shall be women or minorities.

245.00 Intellectual Property Committee

The Intellectual Property Committee (IPC) advises the Vice President for Research, Creativity and Technology Transfer and the Director of the Intellectual Property Management Office on policy issues regarding intellectual property.

245.01 General Responsibilities

The IPC makes recommendations on policy issues affecting the management of intellectual property and the administration of intellectual property policies. Specifically, the Committee:

a. reviews and recommends policies and procedures pertaining to intellectual property and technology transfer used by all campus offices and agencies concerned with intellectual property.
b. reviews and makes recommendations regarding employee appeals of the intellectual property decisions of the Office of the Vice President for Research, Creativity and Technology Transfer.
c. the Committee may also be asked to assist in the evaluation of intellectual property disclosed to the university.

245.02 Responsibilities for Dispute Resolution

The IPC will assist in resolving disputes concerning intellectual property and may hear appeals from employees who disagree with a decision or action of any of the administrative committees and offices described in Section 900.00.

245.03 Membership

a. There shall be seven (7) voting members of the IPC. Members shall be faculty and research professional employees with a record of accomplishment in creating intellectual property. The membership shall have expertise in the various areas of intellectual property generated by faculty and staff of the University, such as patents, copyrights, biotechnology, computer software, etc.

 
b. Non-voting, ex officio members shall be the University Legal Counsel, the Chair of the Faculty Affairs Committee or his or her designee and not more than two (2) representatives of the office of the Vice President for Research, Creativity and Technology Transfer.
c. Four (4) voting members of the Committee shall be elected by Faculty Senate from names submitted by the Committee on Committees. The Vice President for Research and Creativity and Technology Transfer will appoint three (3) voting members. The Chair of the Committee shall be elected by the voting members of the Committee.
d. Members of the Committee shall serve rotating three (3) year terms. Members may be reappointed for an additional term but shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.
e. The Chair of the Committee shall serve for one year. The Chair may be re-elected for an additional term but shall not serve more than two (2) consecutive terms.

250.00 Faculty Caucuses

The adjunct and research faculty caucuses represent their constituents at Faculty Senate. They convene independently of Faculty Senate to discuss issues of concern to their constituents, plan strategies, and recommend policies to be presented for review and action by Faculty Senate.

251.00 Research Faculty Caucus

Under review.

251.01 Research Faculty Caucus Membership

Under review.

252.00 Adjunct Faculty Caucus

Under review.

252.01 Adjunct Faculty Caucus Membership

Under review.

260.00 University Governance Council

The university Governance Council provides a means for faculty, professionals, and administration to interact and to discuss, formulate, and recommend university policy to the appro0priate university authority, in accordance with the Faculty Senate and Professional Council Constitutions and By-Laws. [see www.montana.edu/msuinfo/gov/ugc/]

The Faculty Senate and Professional Council Constitutions and By-Laws describe the powers of the University Governance Council to recommend policy, always within the constraints of the Montana University System powers as described by the Constitution of the State of Montana. Changes may be made to committee structure and information only in accordance with Faculty Senate and Professional Council Constitutions and By-Laws. Authorization of changes comes only through the Secretary to University Governance Council, with the approval of the current Chair and Vice Chair of the University Governance Council.

260.01 University Governance Council Membership

The voting membership of the University Governance Council is comprised of the combined total current membership of Faculty Senate and of Professional Council, and serve concurrently with their terms in Faculty Senate or Professional Council. Elected alternates to the regular members may attend and vote in the absence of the members for whom they are an elected alternate. The nonvoting members is the Parliamentarian of the University Governance Council. Nonvoting ex officio members include the MSU President; the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs; the Vice President for Administration and Finance; the Vice President for Research, Creativity and Technology Transfer; the Vice President for Student Affairs; the representative of Dean's Council; the representative of Assistant Dean's Council; the Chair of CEPAC; the President of ASMSU (or their designee); and the Secretary of University Governance Council. The Chair is the elected chair of Faculty Senate.

270.00 University Governance Council Committees

The Steering Committee and Nominating Committee are standing Committees of the University Governance Council.

271.00 Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the executive committee of the University Governance Council that refers items of business to appropriate standing committees and handles matters relating to the agenda of Faculty Senate, Professional Council, the University Governance Council. The Steering Committee has the authority to act for the University Governance Council when the full Council cannot meet and acts as an emergency advisory council to the MSU President. The Steering Committee also serves as a Summer Executive Committee of Faculty Senate, Professional Council, and the University Governance Council; makes appointments to administrative and ad hoc committees as necessary; and studies the effectiveness of these committees in performing their duties.

271.01 Steering Committee Membership

The Steering committee serves one (1) year terms, and is comprised of three (3) current members of Faculty Senate and one (1) current member of Professional Council, elected by their respective council's voting membership. Voting ex officio members include the Chair and Chair Elect of Faculty Senate; the Chair and the Chair Elect of Professional Council; the Chair of Faculty Affairs; the Chair of Professional Affairs; and the Chair of University Governance Council Nominating Committee. Nonvoting ex officio members include the past Chairs of Faculty Senate and Professional council; the Director of Office of Institutional Equity (CCR) or their designee; the President of ASMSU or their designee; and the Secretary and Parliamentarian of University Governance Council. The committee is chaired by the Chair of University Governance Council.

272.00 Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee screens nominations for standing committees and presents a preliminary slate of committee members to the University Governance Council, Faculty Senate, and Professional Council for final approval. This committee also recommends agenda items and performs duties not specifically recited in these Council's Constitutions or By-Laws; makes tenure and replacement decisions for standing committees; and studies the effectiveness and prescribes changes for each standing committee as necessary.

272.01 Nominating Committee Membership

Voting membership of the Nominating Committee serve three (3) year, staggered terms and is comprised of three (3) faculty members elected by Faculty Senate one (1) Professional employee elected by Professional Council, and one (1) Chair elected by University Governance Council. Voting ex officio members include a designee of the Director of Office of Institutional Equity (CCR).

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