2008 Woodie Awards
Faculty wrangles with tenure appeals
Scott Greene
Issue date: 3/16/06 Section: News
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The Middlebury College faculty met on Monday, March 13 in John M. McCardell, Jr., Bicentennial Hall to discuss a proposal regarding changes in tenure and reappointment appeals procedures, a new faculty-inclusive admissions strategy and current elections for the Educational Affairs Committee.
After those in attendance retroactively approved the Bachelor of Arts' degrees for recent February graduates, Associate Professor of Psychology Barbara Hofer presented the Faculty Council's proposed changes to the current appeals process. When members of the faculty become eligible for reappointment or tenure, the Reappointments Committee or Promotions Committee recommends a course of action to the president. The faculty candidate can then appeal an unfavorable ruling to the Appeal Committee.
The proposed changes aim to correct perceived ambiguity in the current language, because "the procedures in the handbook just weren't that clear," Hofer said.
Based on collected reports from administrators and faculty regarding the appeals process, the changes give more authority to the chair of the Appeal Committee to direct the process and decide when it has been completed. A second proposal ensures that members of the Reappointments Committee or the Promotions Committee, those who made the decision in question, receive copies of the Appeal Committee's findings in writing. Finally, the proposal allows for the Appeal Committee's report to serve as a reference for future Appeal Committees, and clarifies the Committee's ability to respond to "procedural errors that are immaterial to the outcome of the review."
The faculty will vote to approve the proposal during its April meeting, because procedure requires that anything of substantial language be proposed at one meeting and approved at another. When approved, Hofer believes the changes should help make the appeal process more straightforward and accessible.
"We do believe people have the right to an appeal," she said, "And we want them to understand that they do, and how they can do it."
After those in attendance retroactively approved the Bachelor of Arts' degrees for recent February graduates, Associate Professor of Psychology Barbara Hofer presented the Faculty Council's proposed changes to the current appeals process. When members of the faculty become eligible for reappointment or tenure, the Reappointments Committee or Promotions Committee recommends a course of action to the president. The faculty candidate can then appeal an unfavorable ruling to the Appeal Committee.
The proposed changes aim to correct perceived ambiguity in the current language, because "the procedures in the handbook just weren't that clear," Hofer said.
Based on collected reports from administrators and faculty regarding the appeals process, the changes give more authority to the chair of the Appeal Committee to direct the process and decide when it has been completed. A second proposal ensures that members of the Reappointments Committee or the Promotions Committee, those who made the decision in question, receive copies of the Appeal Committee's findings in writing. Finally, the proposal allows for the Appeal Committee's report to serve as a reference for future Appeal Committees, and clarifies the Committee's ability to respond to "procedural errors that are immaterial to the outcome of the review."
The faculty will vote to approve the proposal during its April meeting, because procedure requires that anything of substantial language be proposed at one meeting and approved at another. When approved, Hofer believes the changes should help make the appeal process more straightforward and accessible.
"We do believe people have the right to an appeal," she said, "And we want them to understand that they do, and how they can do it."