Article XI. The Administration of the College's Academic Units
Section 44. Departments, Schools, and Departmentalized Programs.
Members of the Faculty holding appointments in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences hold those appointments in the duly constituted departments, schools, and departmentalized programs of the College. Each such unit shall hold regular meetings and shall establish, with the approval of the Dean, the manner in which its business shall be transacted and communications handled. Matters of policy, including matters relating to the curriculum that come within the jurisdiction of the unit, shall be decided by the methods so established. No unit may, however, adopt policies contrary to the letter and spirit of College or University policy. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in association with the Graduate College where appropriate, shall carry out periodic reviews of its departments, schools, and programs.
Section 45. Departmental Executive Officers.
The executive officer of a department, school, or departmentalized program (DEO) shall be either a director or a chair. The initial term of a DEO appointment ordinarily shall be three to five years.
The DEO's chief duties are to oversee the processes of faculty appointment, mentoring, review, and promotion; develop the curriculum; oversee the work of the department's teaching assistants and staff; ensure that non-academic staff are evaluated; and manage the budget. Under procedures established by the unit, these administrative duties may be delegated to associate chairs, executive committees, or other specialized officers or faculty committees established for the governance of the unit. Each departmentalized unit must have a current set of written procedures governing the appointment, review, reappointment, promotion, and tenure of faculty, which must be consistent with current College and University policies.
When a vacancy in the position of DEO occurs or is impending, the Dean shall consult with the voting members of the unit concerning the candidate or candidates to be considered. The Dean shall recommend the DEO appointment to the chief academic officer of the University. Upon receiving approval, the Dean shall announce the appointment of the new DEO to the members of the unit and to the College. In compliance with the University policy on the multi-year review of administrators, the College reviews DEOs who are serving their second or subsequent consecutive term at the time of the collegiate review of their unit.
Section 46. Supradepartmental or Interdepartmental Units.
Supradepartmental divisions and schools and interdepartmental academic programs, resource centers, and research centers or institutes may be established to expedite the instructional and research programs of the College. Channels of administrative communication shall be defined when such units are established. The Dean shall appoint and evaluate the executive officer of such a unit, in consultation with the unit's advisory board, if one has been established. The members of the advisory board shall be appointed by the Dean. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, in association with other colleges or central administrative offices where appropriate, shall carry out periodic reviews of such units. In compliance with the University policy on the multi-year review of administrators, the College may review directors at the time of the collegiate review of their unit or at five-year intervals.