UC approves faculty layoff protection proposal

The University Committee Monday approved and distributed to all faculty a report regarding tenure protections and program changes. The report can be viewed here.

Faculty listening sessions on the recommendations are scheduled for later this month. The Faculty Senate is expected to have a first reading of the tenure proposal at its meeting on Oct. 5, and could vote on it as early as its Nov. 2 meeting. The policies and procedures would also need approval from the UW System Board of Regents.

“This document is solidly grounded in the strong tenure tradition at Madison, codifying existing practice of broad involvement in program change and clearly delimiting the narrow parameters under which such change could lead to faculty dismissal,” the University Committee wrote in its message to faculty.

“This new policy, which will replace Chapter 10 of FPP, puts us in line with our peers and is completely in keeping with AAUP standards.”

The University Committee in July appointed a faculty committee to develop the modified policies and procedures to respond to changes in tenure approved as part of the 2015-17 state budget.

The proposal is intended to revise Faculty Policies and Procedures Chapter 10 in areas such as authority for program changes, the process for program modification or discontinuance, displacement of faculty, consideration of faculty termination or layoff due to program changes, notification, hearing, recommendations and board review, layoff status and retained rights, and severance.

Listening sessions are scheduled for Sept. 29 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in room 1306 of the Health Sciences Learning Center; Sept. 30 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in room 1220 of Microbial Sciences; and Oct. 1 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in B10, Ingraham Hall. The committee suggests sharing feedback with your senator, should you not be able to attend.

If you have specific questions, email the Secretary of the Faculty at sof@secfac.wisc.edu.