Regents Approve Revisions to Faculty Handbook
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo., Dec. 8, 2010 – The Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents today approved recommended additions and policy revisions to the Faculty Handbook to bring it into alignment with current Board of Regents policies and directives.
The changes follow action by the Board in March in which it directed Southeast President Kenneth W. Dobbins to work with the Faculty Senate to review the Faculty Handbook and recommend changes to conform with Board policies and directives.
Revisions to the Faculty Handbook approved today include the adoption of Faculty Senate bills on separation policy and procedures; retrenchment; restructuring; and academic program review. As a result of these additions, the Board rescinded several sections previously contained in the handbook. The board also reviewed draft procedures which are not approved by the Board.
The revisions are the result of work by an Ad Hoc Committee formed from members of the Academic Council and Faculty Senate, co-chaired by Dr. Sophia Scott, assistant professor of Industrial and Engineering Technology, who is the current Faculty Senate chair, and Dr. Susan Swartwout, professor of English and former chair of Faculty Senate. Initially, the committee was charged with reviewing Faculty Handbooks sections on restructuring, retrenchment and program review. Members of the Ad Hoc Committee developed draft policy documents and engaged the University community in an iterative process to generate recommendations for improvement. The committee then incorporated suggestions from various individuals across campus, including faculty, faculty senators, deans, the Provost and the President.
A draft of the policies and procedures was presented to the Board for comment at their Oct. 22 meeting. The Ad Hoc Committee reviewed the feedback from the Board of Regents meeting, solicited additional input from faculty and deans, requested legal counsel review and met with the Faculty Senate and president to revise the draft.