Faculty Handbook

2.4 Transfer of Tenure and Rank Between Academic Units

Background

Faculty tenure at Michigan Technological University is based in the University and not in a particular academic unit. However, a faculty member needs a designated home department/school for administrative purposes. At times, it may be in the best interests of a faculty member or the University for the faculty member to transfer to another academic unit in the University. At other times, a transfer may be mandated due to elimination, consolidation, or creation of academic units. This document describes the central principles associated with the transfer of tenured, tenure-track, and other long-term faculty between academic units and provides procedures for transfers voluntarily initiated by a faculty member and for transfers mandated by elimination, consolidation, or creation of academic units.

Policy

  1. Faculty tenure and rank are based in the university and not in a particular academic unit. A faculty member may not be asked to give up tenure or rank before moving to another academic unit or administrative assignment.
  2. Likewise, departments/units and faculty shall be afforded the same courtesies for transfer of non-tenured, tenure-track faculty and other long-term faculty as for tenured faculty.
  3. All affected parties must have an opportunity to provide input into the process of arranging transfers between academic units before a transfer occurs. Resource issues of the gaining and losing academic units must be clearly addressed and agreed upon by the units concerned.
  4. Selection of faculty is a fundamental responsibility of the faculty of a unit. Hence, before a faculty member is transferred, the faculty in the gaining academic unit must provide input on the acceptability of transfers to its unit. In particular, the promotion, tenure, and reappointment committee should evaluate the credentials of the incoming faculty member, discuss with the faculty member the departmental expectations for achieving promotion (if not already at the highest rank) or tenure (if not already achieved) in that department, and make recommendations to their department regarding the transfer. Any "grandparent" agreements prior to or as a result of the transfer should be provided in writing to the faculty member, department, and the Provost.
  5. Deans must work with faculty members desiring to transfer to other academic units or facing transfer due to the elimination, consolidation, or creation of new academic units.
  6. Any plan to eliminate, consolidate, or create academic units must indicate the proposed new affiliation of affected tenure and tenure track faculty members.
  7. In the event of transfer due to the elimination, consolidation, or creation of new academic units, the Provost must resolve any disputes following a good faith effort to find a satisfactory solution.
  8. The final decision on faculty transfers among units rests with the President.
  9. Current Senate policies regarding financial stress or financial crisis take priority over any conflicting policies and procedures in this transfer policy.

Senate Policy 708.1

Revised:
12/08/2016 - Annual Review: No changes made to content.
03/31/2015 - Annual Review: To reflect current practice, the email address for questions is now policy@mtu.edu. No changes made to content.
02/06/2014 - Annual Review: Updated Michigan Tech and Handbook banners, no changes made to content.
03/13/2013 - Annual Review: "Senate Proposal 16-07, Amendment of Proposal 9-06, Introduced in Senate: December 13, 2006, Adopted by Senate:  January 17, 2007, Approved by Administration  February 8, 2007, Passed Referendum:  April 14, 2008 (out of 347 possible votes; there were 112 Yes votes and 14 No votes)" now reads "Senate Policy 708.1"
07/14/2011 - Annual Review: Deleted the first paragraph [In academic year 2005, the Senate Academic Policy Committee introduced a proposal similar to this one on the floor of the University Senate.  That proposal was tabled because at the time it appeared that it would no longer be a Senate issue and that it would be dealt with by the AAUP.  However, as negotiations proceed, it appears that those issues dealing with shared governance and that have traditionally been within the responsibility of the Senate will largely remain the responsibility of the Senate, with salaries and wages and benefits being likely notable exceptions.  Rather, the current thinking seems to be to protect the departmental/school Charters and Senate policies through language within the AAUP contract, while avoiding as much as possible the inclusion there of the details.  Hence, this proposal once again comes to the Senate, but as a new proposal.]; with the deletion of section 2.3 For Future Use renumbered the remaining sections and 2.5 Transfer of Tenure and Rank Between Academic Units is no 2.4 Transfer of Tenure and Rank Between Academic Units; and to reflect current University titles and practice, MTU is now Michigan Tech and the email address for questions is now hbwebmaster.
10/30/2008 - Included in the Faculty Handbook.