Chapter 12: Faculty Handbook
These sections of the Faculty Handbook pertain to Chairs:
Section 1.5.5 Department ChairsThis section gives a brief job description for the position of Chair.
Section 2.1.0.c DefinitionsThis section states that the Provost is to consult with both the Divisional Dean and the Department Chair before deciding on the appropriate terminal degree for a faculty position.
Section 2.1.2 Ranked Faculty: Criteria for AppointmentThis section states that the Provost is to consult with both the Divisional Dean and the Department Chair before determining the appropriate rank for a faculty member’s initial contract.
Section 2.1.5 Special Rank FacultyThis section states that the President is to consult with the Provost, Divisional Dean, and Department Chair before recommending a special-rank appointment for a faculty member’s initial contract.
Section 2.2.1.1 Term ContractsThis section states that the Divisional Dean is to consult with the Department Chair when determining compensation and responsibilities for a term-contract appointment.
Section 2.3 Recruitment and AppointmentThis section contains statements of policy for recruitment that are intended to help Chairs with the task of making initial appointments.
Section 2.5.0.1 EvaluationsThis section states policy for the evaluation of faculty members and lists several responsibilities of Chairs in the evaluation process.Section 2.5.0.2 Departmental Guideline for Evaluations
This section encourages departments to develop their own guidelines for faculty evaluation and gives related policy and procedures.
Section 2.6.3 Eligibility to Apply for TenureThis section states that the Department Chair can recommend a review for tenure that occurs before the usual deadline; the early review can go forward if it is not only recommended by the Chair but also authorized by the Provost.
Section 2.6.4 Application Notice and DeadlinesA faculty member undergoing third- or sixth-year review must submit a file of appropriate materials for review by departmental colleagues, and for this submission the deadline is determined by the Chair.
Section 2.6.5.2.1 Evaluation by the ChairThis section gives the policy for the Chair's evaluation of faculty at Third-Year and Tenure Review.
Section 2.7.1 Eligibility to Apply for PromotionThis section states that the Provost is to consult with the Divisional Dean and the Department Chair before authorizing an early (before the usual deadline) review for promotion.
Section 2.7.2.3 Promotion-Review FilesThis section contains several references to the responsibilities of the Chair in the promotion process.
Section 2.9.1 Planning for Professional DevelopmentAccording to this section, a Chair and each probationary faculty member in his or her department are expected to meet annually to conduct a planning session for the faculty member’s Program of Professional Development.
Section 2.9.2.3 Application Policies and Procedures for Sabbatical LeavesThis section describes the Chair's duties with respect to a proposal for sabbatical leave.
Section 2.9.3.2 Time-Limit and Procedures for Professional LeavesThis section describes the Chair's duties with respect to a request for professional leave.
Section 2.9.4.2 Funding for Travel to Professional ConferencesAs this section notes, travel funds are disbursed through departmental budgets, so Chairs are responsible for answering questions from their department members about the procedures for travel-fund disbursement.
Section 2.9.4.3 Other SupportThis section indicates that the Chair is usually responsible for making computer hardware/software requests to the director of Information Technology Services during the annual budgetary process.
Section 2.10.3.1 Faculty AssignmentThis section states the Chair's leading role in assignment of responsibilities for faculty members in the department.
Section 2.10.3.3 Outside ActivitiesThis section states that the Chair is responsible for speaking directly with a faculty member whose outside activities harm his or her performance of professional responsibilities.
Section 2.11 Nonprofessional LeavesThis section states that any request for nonprofessional leave should be accompanied by an evaluation from the relevant Chair.
Section 2.12.1 SalaryThis section states that the Provost consults with the Chair in determining the salary of faculty members at the time of initial appointment.
Section 2.13.3 Non-reappointment of Probationary FacultyThis section states that the President is to consult with the Provost, Divisional Dean, and Department Chair before deciding not to reappoint a probationary faculty member.
Section 2.13.4 Separation due to Prolonged Mental or Physical IllnessThis section states the role of the Chair when a faculty member has a prolonged mental or physical illness or disability that prevents the faculty member from fulfilling all or a substantial part of the contract.
Section 2.13.5.3 Specific Procedures Concerning LayoffsThis section states that – before sending to the President a recommendation for the layoff of specific faculty – the Provost is to consult with the Divisional Dean, the Rank and Tenure Committee, and the Department Chair.
Section 3.1 Hiring Procedures for BenedictinesThis section gives the peculiar hiring procedures for sisters of Saint Benedict's Monastery and brothers of Saint John's Abbey.
Section 3.2 Hiring and Recruitment Procedures for FacultyThis section gives the administrative procedures for faculty hiring and recruitment.
Section 3.4.2.7.1 Tuition Remission for Faculty EmployeesThis section states that, if a faculty employee wishes to enroll in an undergraduate course at the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University and thus take advantage of the tuition-remission benefit, then his or her Chair is the one who approves the request for enrollment.
Section 4.2 Further Procedures for Faculty ReviewThis section describes the implementation of the Post-tenure Faculty Development Program. In so doing it mentions the Chair’s role as a consultant, both for the department’s program participants and for the program coordinator.
Section 5.3.6 and 5.3.7 College of St. Benedict [St. John’s University] Rank and Tenure CommitteeChairs cannot serve on either the CSB or SJU R & T committees during a year when a member of their department is to be reviewed.
Last updated: October 2013