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Volume 70, Issue 97,
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
News Tenure-track faculty gets new safety net Interim policy allows for emergency break in tenure process By Adriana Barillas-Batarse
The Faculty Senate has established an interim "stop the clock" tenure policy that allows tenure-track faculty members to request a one-year break in cases of emergency. In its meeting last week, the Senate debated revising an existing policy from its Faculty Affairs Committee and decided it was best to institute a tentative policy that will go back to the committee for revision. "We are simply trying to clarify and improve the policy in our faculty handbook, or make it stronger and not ambiguous at this university," said Katy Greenwood, chair of the committee. The extension of the tenure probationary period is for faculty members who have unexpected issues that require them to delay the tenure process. The interim policy allows faculty members to request the extension directly from the provost without authorization from their department chairs. "By giving the revised wording ‘interim' status, we signaled to the faculty and the administration that we feel it is still not the best or strongest statement that we would like to have," Greenwood said. In other business, UH President Jay Gogue told senators about the trip hundreds of University supporters made to Austin earlier this month to visit state legislators and make UH's case for funding. Although early action by the state House of Representatives doesn't seem positive for education, Gogue said that is normal for this early in the legislative session. He said he expects a positive response in the end. Gogue and interim Provost Jerald Strickland discussed the University's 30-year partnership with The Methodist Hospital, which was signed Tuesday. Gogue said the agreement, which will allow the institutions to share students, researchers and resources, will help the University in its quest for flagship research status. "From a pragmatic point of view, in my mind, this is the greatest chance for a ‘Tier 1' university," he said. Strickland added that the University is also looking for similar opportunities in the energy field. On the search for a UH provost, Faculty Senate President Allen Warner encouraged senators to become involved in the search process. Five provost candidates have visited the campus in the past two weeks, and Warner urged faculty members to complete and turn in evaluation forms on them. "This affects each of us and all of us," Warner said. The Senate will next meet at 12:15 p.m. March 23
in the Farish Hall Kiva for the Spring Faculty Assembly, where Gogue and
his cabinet will address questions from faculty members.
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