[Moderate revision–posted 2/15/19 (replaces 8/10/16 edition)]
[Updated reference to Senior Vice Provost–11/2/22; no additional change to OP]
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Operating Policy and Procedure

OP 32.37: Fifth-Year Review of Deans

DATE: February 15, 2019

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Operating Policy/Procedure (OP) is to provide guidelines for the fifth-year comprehensive performance evaluation of deans by the provost.

REVIEW: This OP will be reviewed in July of even-numbered years by the Vice Provost for Faculty Success with substantive revisions presented to the Provost and Senior Vice President (PSVP).

POLICY/PROCEDURE

1.  In addition to an annual performance conference with the PSVP (OP 32.03, Academic Deans, Associate or Assistant Deans, and Department Chairpersons, section 3.a.), each academic dean shall have a comprehensive review not more than five years after the initial appointment or the most recent reappointment, or whenever in the judgment of the PSVP such a review is deemed necessary. The five-year review (commencing in the fall of the fifth year) will constitute a broader and more formal review than the annual review. This OP is intended to provide procedures whereby an assessment can be made of the accomplishments of the dean and the college/unit led by the dean and balance the assessments of past performance with recommendations that may improve the quality of administration or of the unit.

2.  Prior to commencing the review process, the PSVP and president will inform the dean if they are interested in considering the dean for reappointment. The dean should also inform the PSVP and President if he/she is interested in reappointment. If the answer is no to either proposition, then a comprehensive review for reappointment is not needed.

3.  Prior to commencing with a review, the PSVP will meet with the dean to clarify procedures and answer questions the dean may have about the impending review.

4.  The PSVP will form a review committee with a membership usually in the range of seven to nine members. The PSVP will solicit nominations for committee membership from the faculty and staff of the college/unit and from the other deans. The chair of the committee will be from outside the dean's college/unit and will be appointed by the Provost. The committee shall include at least one department chair or area director, one student from the dean's college or unit, and at least one faculty or staff member from outside the dean's college. The remaining three to four appointees will be faculty from the dean's own college.

5.  The PSVP will ask the dean to prepare a statement for the committee to address these items:

a.    A description of his/her responsibilities;

b.    A summary of the principal accomplishments over the period since the last review or initial appointment and how these accomplishments mesh with the unit's and the university's strategic priorities;

c.    A brief report on major plans and challenges for the next three to four years;

d.    A list of up to 10 names of individuals, local and national, who are familiar with the dean's work as dean;

e.    The results of any available Faculty Senate-administrated Administrator Evaluation Surveys in which the dean was evaluated.

f.    College/unit annual reports for each of the five years; and

g.    Other information as needed.

This document will form the initial working document for the review committee.

6.  The committee will meet initially with the PSVP to review their charge. The dean's statement will be provided to each committee member, and copies of the annual reports and the results of any administrator evaluation surveys will be provided in the Provost's Office for each committee member to consult, as convenient. The principal charge to the committee will be to prepare for the PSVP a report on the performance of the dean and of the college/unit under the dean's leadership. The report should not be lengthy and should be designed to address three questions:

a.    What accomplishments, administrative or programmatic, over the past five years are most significant?

b.    What present challenges to the college/unit appear most significant or deserving of attention?

c.    What recommendations can be offered to the dean and PSVP regarding administrative style, policies, or procedures to improve unit performance and administration?

7.  The committee will determine its own procedures but also must include input from:

a.    department chairs or area directors, where appropriate;

b.    the dean's immediate staff;

c.    university administrators who have working relationships with the dean;

d.    a representative sample of faculty and staff chosen by the PSVP in consultation with faculty;

e.    the results of any available administrator evaluation surveys, which are understood to reflect up to five years of faculty input; and

f.    student groups affiliated with the unit.

The committee shall submit within 90 days from its initial meeting a concise and focused report addressing the three questions from section 6 above and making such recommendations as the committee considers appropriate. Strict confidentiality will be observed.

8.  The committee will meet with the PSVP to review and clarify points in the report, as needed. Following the meeting with the review committee and a follow-up session with representative faculty (to discuss the dean's and the college/unit's performance during the past five years), a copy of the report will be provided to the dean. The PSVP will meet with the dean to discuss the contents of the report and consideration of changes, if any, to be made. The review committee's report and the dean's written response to the report will be used by the PSVP to consult with the President regarding reappointment. Reappointment or alternative decisions (e.g., reappointment for a shorter term or non-reappointment) shall be the collective decision of the PSVP and the President, possibly following consultation with the review committee. The PSVP will report to the faculty of the college/unit involved, summarizing results of the review, within 30 days of receiving the report.

OP Categories

01 Chancellor
02 Development
04 Audit Services
10 President
30 Academic and Student Affairs – General
32 Academic Policies – Faculty
34 Academic Policies – Students
36 Academic Programs
40 Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
48 Communication Services
52 Information Technology
60 Environmental Health and Safety
61 Facilities Management
62 Financial and Accounting
63 General Services
64 Graduate Programs (Faculty and Students)
65 Research Accounting
66 Libraries
67 Mail Services
68 Communications and Marketing
69 Payroll and Tax Services
70 Human Resources
72 Purchasing, Contracting, and Payables
74 Research
76 Security
77 Student Services and Registrar
78 Traffic and Parking
79 Travel
80 Vehicles