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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

S.91-52

Memorandum ?

ck2

To: ?

Senate ?

From: ?

J.M. Munro

Vice-President, Academic

Subject Appointment and Responsibilities

Date: ?

24 September 1991

of Department Chairs

In 1971, Senate and the Board of Governors approved a document on the selection of Department

Chairmen. This has been used as the basis for Chair selection since that time. In addition to the

provisions for the appointment of Department Chairs, the policy also detailed the responsibilities

of Chairs, and the possibility of recalling Chairs. The policy was always referred to by its Senate

paper number - S71-80 and was never incorporated in the University's Policies and Procedures

Manual.

After 20 years, it -

is time to update the policy on the appointment of Department Chairs and the

responsibilities and recall of Department Chairs. In preparing this revision, we have consulted

widely with Chairs, Deans and the Faculty Association. In this new policy there are several

changes from the existing policy:

Appointment of Department Chairs

Employment equity strategies are to be used in searching for department chairs;

Search committees will be expected to have at least 20% of their members from each gender;

The number of faculty members from the department on the committees has been increased

from three to four;

For searches including external candidates, the number of faculty members on the committee

from outside the department and within the Faculty has been reduced from two to one; and

The number of students on committees has been increased from one to two and where

possible, one student is to be an undergraduate student and the other student is to be a

graduate student.

Responsibilities of Chairs

The sections dealing with the responsibilities of Chairs have been edited, but no major

changes are intended in the document. Parts of S71-80 dealing with the term of office of

chairs, resignation, etc. have been superseded by policy AC 44 Terms of Appointment of

Academic Administrators, and do not need to be included here.

I recommend that Senate approve the attached policy on the appointment of Department Chairs

and forward the policy for approval by the Board of Governors.

&AW

J.M. Munro

Enclosure

Appointment of Department Chairs

and Directors of Schools'

Preamble

The Chair of a department shall be a faculty member who has the respect and

confidence of the members of the department and the skill and initiative to

guide and manage the department. During the period of appointment, Chairs

are expected to put the interests of the department ahead of their own research

interests, and the interests of their own specialty. Chairs should be appointed

because of their devotion to teaching and research, their intellectual,

professional and administrative abilities, and their leadership skills. Chairs

should ensure that the decision-making process includes full discussion with

interested persons and they should be adept at reconciling differing

viewpoints. ?

- ?

At least 8 months before the end of the incumbent's appointment, the Dean

and the Vice-President, Academic, after consultation with the department,

shall decide whether the search for a Chair shall include external candidates.

The search process shall be advisory to the Vice-President, Academic.

The Dean shall ensure that there is appropriate gender representation

2 in the

search process. The Dean shall also ensure that appropriate employment

equity strategies are used.

The search process in a search which includes external candidates shall be the

responsibility of a committee which shall have the following membership:

The Dean of the Faculty, who will chair the committee;

Four faculty members elected by the faculty of the unit3;

Two registered Simon Fraser University students: one undergraduate

student who has declared a major in the department, selected by the

Departmental Student Union or by the Student Society if no

Departmental Student

Union

exists; one graduate student in the

department elected by the graduate students in the department; in the

event that no graduate student is available, a second undergraduate

student may be selected, and similarly if no undergraduate student is

available, a second graduate student may be selected;

One faculty member from another department in the Faculty selected by

the committee of Chairs which advises the Dean of the Faculty; and

One faculty member appointed by the Vice-President, Academic from

another Faculty.

The quorum for this search committee shall be the Chair plus four others, at

least three of whom shall be faculty in the unit.

In a search without external candidates, a candidate for ratification from within

the department shall be identified through one of the following procedures in

order of preference:

an election 4

supervised by the Dean, or

another procedure suggested by the department and approved by the

Dean, or

the following search process and committee membership:

The Dean of the Faculty, who will chair the committee;

Four faculty members elected by the faculty of the unit3;

Two registered Simon Fraser University students; one

undergraduate student who has declared a major in the

department, selected by the Departmental Student Union or by

the Student Society if no Departmental Student

Union

exists; one

•

graduate student in the department elected by the graduate

students in the department; in the event that no graduate student

is available, a second undergraduate student may be selected, and

graduate student may be selected; and

One faculty member from another department in the Faculty

selected by the committee of Chairs in consultation with the Dean

of the Faculty.

A quorum for this search committee shall be the chair plus four others,

three of whom shall be faculty in the unit.

In the case of a search which includes external candidates, a description of the

position shall be prepared by the committee and the announcement of the

position opening shall be advertised in University Affairs and the CAUT

Bulletin, and shall be circulated to all universities in Canada, and advertised in

appropriate discipline based periodicals. The posting shall include reference to

the current immigration regulations, and to the employment equity program

at the University.

During a search, faculty members, professional and support staff and students

in the department shall be formally consulted regarding qualities and attributes

needed for the leadership of the department and invited to submit

nominations.

Search committees shall follow normal search processes including reviewing

applications, short-listing candidates, arranging interviews and presentations

by the short-listed candidates, and making a recommendation for appointment

to the Vice-President, Academic.

A ratification vote of the recommended candidate shall be held and faculty5

shall be eligible to vote. The vote shall be organized by the Dean's office and

the vote shall be counted in the presence of a faculty scrutineer. A positive

ratification is one where a majority of those voting support the recommended

candidate. The Dean shall forward a recommendation concerning the

appointment to the Vice-President, Academic.

10.

If the Vice-President, Academic supports the appointment of the

the candidate shall be

forwarded to the President for recommendation to the Board of Goverñôrs

- for -

approval. If the Vice-President, Academic does not support the appointment

of a candidate, another candidate shall be recommended through the processes

specified in sections 4 through 9.

11.

In the case of an external candidate, AC 1 appointment procedures shall be

followed, but the search process shall be as specified in this policy.

Term of Appointment

12.

The term of appointment normally shall be three or five years.

13.

The appointment may be renewed for a further term, subject to a ratification

vote as outlined in 9. above.

14.

The terms and conditions of appointment of academic administrators are -

contained in AC 44.

15.

The Chair has overall responsibility for ensuring that Departmental policies

are formulated and followed, that University and Faculty policies and

procedures are followed, and that individual members of the Department

fulfill their assigned duties.

16.

Policy decisions which affect the Department as a whole should, in general, be

determined at Department meetings or by committees designated by the

Department for making such decisions. However, there shall be occasions

when the Chair will have to make decisions affecting the Department as a

whole before these can be considered at a Department meeting, and when that

•

happens, the Chair shall report decisions taken to the Department members.

17.

While the Chair is the administrator of the Department, other members of the

Department may share in administrative responsibilities. The operating

procedures of the department shall be made known to all members of the

Department. Through the process of selecting a Chair, all department

members commit themselves to support the incumbent, and must tolerate the

Chair's right to take a position which differs from that of some members of the

Department. The Chair undertakes to provide democratic leadership taking

note of majority and minority views. The members of the Department should

take special note of the views of the Chair compared to those of other

members, because of the Chair's special knowledge of possible administrative

or other implications of decisions they may reach, and because of the Chair's

- - - responsibility in carrying out such decisions.

18.

The Chair's ultimate responsibility exists most clearly in the implementation -

------

of University, Faculty and Departmental decisions. One of the Chair's duties is

to act as a spokesperson in reporting decisions of the Department to senior

University administrators and other sections of the Faculty. The Chair also

serves as the channel for communicating to the Department decisions made by

the Dean, the Vice-Presidents, the President, Senate and the Board. The Chair

has the right and duty to report to the Dean significant dissent from

Departmental decisions, including the Chair's own reservations, if any. The

Chair also has the right and duty to report failure on the part of members of

the Department to fulfill University, Faculty or Department responsibilities,

especially obligations to students, and to suggest ways of preventing such

failures. The Chair also has the duty, where appropriate, to maintain privacy

in matters of a confidential, personal nature.

Recall

19.

Reconsideration of the suitability of a Chair is obligatory when a petition to

this effect, signed by at least one third of the faculty members of the

Department, is presented to the Dean. A recall vote shall be held between sixty

and ninety days after the submission of such a petition. The question of non-

confidence in the Chair shall be resolved by simple majority vote of the faculty

members of the Department. If the vote of non-confidence fails, no further

reconsideration shall take place for at least one year. Only in extraordinary

circumstances shall the Dean accept a petition for recall during the first year of

appointment of a Chair. If a majority of the faculty members expresses non-

confidence in the Chair, the Dean shall inform the Vice-President, Academic,

and shall make a recommendation on whether or not the Chair should be

removed from office.

. ?

Questions of interpretation or application of this policy shall be referred to the

President whose decision shall be final.

I ?

Where the policy mentions Chairs of Departments, it includes Directors of

Schools.

2 ?

While an appropriate gender representation will be expected to vary by

discipline, search committees should have at least 20% of their members from

each gender.

__- Eligibility for nomination and election to this committee is restricted to

tenured and tenure-track faculty, and to laboratory instructors and lecturers

with appointments of longer than one year.

Eligibility to vote in this election is restricted to tenured and tenure-track

faculty, to laboratory instructors and lecturers with appointments of longer

than one year, and to such others specified in departmental regulations.

Eligibility to participate in the ratification vote is restricted to tenured and

tenure-track faculty, and to laboratory instructors and lecturers with

appointments of longer than one year.

SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY ?

7/ -

revised 

and approve 

MIMORANDUM

;

Senate, August 2, 1 

Members of Senate 

From

....Dr....B.C....Wils.pn,....V..ce-President, 

Academic 

Subject ? 

çT.9NOFDEPAR.TMENTCHAIRMEN 

?

.Date.. ? 

July 19,. 1971 ......................................................... 

I undercook at the November 9, 1970 Board Meeting 

to revise the Senate Paper S224 in order to provide 

for the selection of Departmental Chairmen without 

the necessity of providing for appraisal of 

Departmental performance prior to each selection. 

Since that time I have circulated two draft proposals 

to Chairmen and Departments. had two full meetings 

with Departmental Chairmen and have had some 

interactions with Departmental members both directly 

and through correspondence. 

As a result of these interactions two things have 

become apparent; some Departments feel that the spirit 

of S224 must be maintained, as was set otit in the 

Senate motion, providing Departments with the 

opportunity of selecting their "man." In some senses, 

however, S224 is an obsolete document. It was drafted 

several years ago when the internal situation in the 

University was certainly different from that obtaining 

today and it assigned to Departments certain 

responsibilities which have subsequently been transferred 

to other agencies. Others have commented that relatively 

weak Departments, if left to their own devices, may 

select a Chairman who is unlikely to "rock the boat" 

or, in strong Departments, someone who is not likely 

to press for a change in emphasis of the Departmental 

program, no matter how appropriate this might seem to 

members of faculty outside that Department. 

It is clearly impossible to reconcile these two points 

of view completely and I have suggested two alternative 

mechanisms for the selection of Chairmen, one of which 

places the main authority for the selection in the hands 

of the Department while the other shares this responsibility 

between the Department and the Faculty. I would feel 

that the best interest of Departments would be served 

when their Chairman enjoys the confidence of other 

Chairmen within the University and the Dean, provided 

that he has the support of his Department. Someone who 

is supported by his Department but does not enjoy the 

confidence of other administrators, can hardly.beas 

effective in carrying out his responsibilities. 

:kp ? 

B.C. Wilson 

Ends. 

OFFICE C fl1.E

UG2 1987

FACULTY OF AxiS

APPOINTMENT, AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF DEPARTMENT CHAIRMEN 

PREAMBLE - General Principles 

The partnership of faculty members in a Departmental structure 

and the consequent appointment of a Chairman are designed to 

promote the University's two major aims - teaching and research. 

It is clearly important that policies should be recommended which 

are likely to raise the standards of the University in fulfilling 

these objectives. 

As a basic starting point two propositions seem important. First, 

all members of a Department should participate in reaching policy 

decisions on matters concerned with teaching (using the term 

"teaching" in its widest sense*). Second, when a faculty member 

is derelict in his duties, steps must be taken to assure that 

he fulfills his obligations. Responsibility and authority must 

therefore be provided for the Chairman so that he will be able 

to take such actions as may be necessary, in accordance with 

University regulations, especially on matters which affect the 

University's obligations to its students. 

It is impossible and probably undesirable to attempt to legislate 

for every contingency. Further, some able and conscientious 

professors might refuse to occupy an administrative position bound 

by a multitude of specific regulations and which provides minimal 

opportunity for the exercise of creative talents. However, it 

seems important to specify some areas of authority and 

responsibility to be exercised within Departments, as long as it 

is realized that these can be only guidelines. 

Uniformity across the University in internal Departmental procedures 

has no intrinsic value; distribution of duties will depend on the 

characteristics of Department members and of the Chairman, their 

personal relationships and the nature of the discipline. Nevertheless, 

some commonality in regulations appears essential so that members 

of the University community are aware of their responsibilities, 

not only within their Department but to the wider University 

community. Students as well as senior University administrators 

must be able to approach someone when wrongs need to be righted 

and reproaches made. 

Good Departments and good Chairmen have the identifying feature 

of mutual trust that Departmental interests will take precedence 

over private interests. Guidlines may be helpful where mutual 

trust already exists but in many cases they are likely to be 

superfluous. Where there is a high deserved level of mistrust, 

on the other hand, there should be an opportunity for the recall 

of a Chairman. 

Note: Good teaching in a university involves not only the mere 

transmittal of knowledge in the classroom, but also requires 

that university faculty be actively engaged in the develop- 

ment of such knowledge, in the education and training 

scholars, and in bringing their special knowledge and skills 

to bear on problems in the wider community. 

.2

RECOMMENDATIONS 

.

1.

Qualifications of Department Chairmen 

The position of Department Chairman should be held by someone 

who has the respect of students and colleagues, who is himself 

a teacher and scholar, but who is willing for a time to assume 

special responsibility for the harmonious and effective 

functioning of the University at the Departmental level. During 

the period of his appointment a Chairman is expected to put the 

interests of the Department ahead of his own research interest 

and the interest of his own specialty. He should be appointed 

because of his devotion to education and research, his 

intellectual, professional and administrative abilities, and 

his qualities of leadership. Hopefully he should be able to 

help create an environment conducive to the growth of 

intellectual life within the Department and to maintain the - 

?

-

?

-

confidence and co-operation of students and colleagues. 

The Chairman should be able, through example and persuasion, to 

ensure that full communication with interested persons is part 

of the decision-making process. He should be receptive to and 

support wherever possible the initiatives of faculty in 

teaching, research and professional activities. He should be 

adept at reconciling differing viewpoints. 

2.

Method of Appointment 

a)

The Dean and the Vice-President, Academic, after 

consultation with the Department will decide upon the 

desirability of including candidates from outside the 

University. within the search procedure for Chairmen, 

taking into account staffing needs and the general 

operation of the Department. The Department will 

then be informed whether the search procedures should 

be limited to the membership of the Department, or 

should include external candidates. 

b)

If the Department selects a candidate from within, 

the Dean shall supervise the election for the position 

of Chairman. The person elected must be acceptable 

to the majority of the full-time faculty members of 

the Department. 

c)

The Dean shall forward the recommended nomination to 

the Vice President, Academic, with his comments. If 

the Vice-President, Academic, is unable to support the 

recommendation he shall so inform the Department and 

S ?

the Dean. The Department shall then conduct a new 

election and select a second candidate. 

-3-

d)

It is the responsibility of the Vice-President, Academic to 

recommend 

the merits of the nomination from the Department, 

as forwarded by the Dean. In the event that a second candi- 

date has been selected by the Department and he is also un- 

acceptable to the Vice-President, Academic, or in the event 

that the Department fails to put forward a second candidate, 

the Vice-President, Academic shall initiate the setting up of 

a Search Committee advisory to himself as set out below. 

e)

A Search Committee, advisory to the Vice-President, Academic 

shall be established for each Chairmanship, in the following 

circumstances: 

1. ? 

Where the Department is constrained to or wishes to 

include external candidates in its search for the 

Chairmanship, or 

ii. ? 

Where no agreement between the Department, Dean and Vice- 

President, Academic has been reached regarding the suit- 

ability of candidates nominated by the Department. 

f)

The voting membership of the Search Committee shall be as 

follows: 

1.

The Dean of the Faculty, or his designate (Chairman). 

2.

3. 4. 

Three faculty members, elected by: 

i.

the full-time faculty members of the Department, 

or,

ii.

if the full-time faculty members so decide, all 

those with voting rights at Departmental meetings. 

5. ? 

One student selected by the Departmental student union 

if the union exists, 

and, if

not, one student selected 

by the Student Society. The student must be enrolled 

a major, 

honor

or graduate program in a subject area 

offered by the Department. At the time 

of nomination

he must be 

good academic standing. 

a situation where the foregoing procedure cannot be applied 

the appropriate Faculty Executive Committee will determine the 

composition of the Committee members 2, 3, and 4. 

-4-

. ?

6. and 7. 

Two faculty members from other University Departments 

selected by the Faculty Executive Committee, where such 

exists; otherwise by the current Chairmen of the other 

Departments of the Faculty, meeting as a group. 

8.

?

One faculty member nominated by the Vice-President) 

Academic from another Faculty. 

g) A quorum shall be the Chairman plus three others, at least two 

of whom shall be members of the Department faculty. 

h)

Members of the Department concerned and others will be invited 

to suggest the names of candidates to the Search Committee; 

the opinions of students and faculty should be sought and an 

- - ----- opportunity should be afforded all departmenLal faculty 

-

to meet 

with any external candidates whose names appear on a final 

short-list of candidates. 

i)

The Dean will report the conclusions of the Search Committee to 

the Vice-President, Academic. He also has the duty and right 

to attach his own advice to the recommendations. 

j)

If the candidate recommended to the Vice-President, Academic is 

a current member of the Department, he shall determine the 

acceptability of the candidate generally within the Department. 

k)

The Vice-President, Academic will recommend the appointment to 

the President when he is prepared to support the nomination; 

if he is not prepared to support the nomination he shall so 

inform the Committee through its Chairman. 

1) In cases where the Search Committee's recommendation is not 

accepted, the Committee will select a second candidate using the 

same procedures. 

m) The President has final responsibility to recommend to the 

Board of Governors on all such appointments. 

3. Term of Office 

a) The Chairman shall be appointed initially for a defined term 

which shall be not less than two and not more than five years; 

the appointment may be renewed for a second term. His position 

should be reviewed early in the final year of his appointment. 

(In moving from the present semester by semester operation to a 

two to five year term period, the minimum term may be reduced to 

one year on mutual agreement between the Department, Chairman- 

elect and Dean.) 

-5-

b)

The appointment of the incumbent after two terms of 

office should not be made without the overwhelming 

support of the members of the Department. 

c)

The length of the term of office and the definition 

of "overwhelming support" shall be recommended, in 

each case by the selecting body. 

NOTES: 

Z.

The position of Chairman should not normally be considered 

a career post. Any period longer than seven years, during 

which there must be some neglect 

scholarly activities, 

would constitute too great an interruption for most 

academics. However, it would be wrong to deprive depart- 

ments 

an outstanding Chairman who is willing to continue 

holding such a position. Such a person would be expected 

to command "overwhelming support". 

2. Rotating Chairmanships are not recommended, in the sense 

that all members of the Department can expect a "t-urn". 

Even in quite large and distinguished departments, it is 

often found that only a few faculty will possess the 

qualifications outlined in the first recommendation. 

4. Resignation and Recall 

a)

The Chairman is expected to give a minimum of four 

months notice to the University of his intention, 

before the normal expiry of his term of office, to 

relinquish his administrative duties. 

b)

Reconsideration of the suitability of a Chairman is 

obligatory when a petition to this end, signed by at 

least one third of the full-time faculty members of 

the Department, is presented to the Dean. Only in 

extraordinary circumstances, however, would the Dean 

accept such a petition during the first year of a 

Chairman's tenure of office. A recall vote will be 

held between sixty and ninety days after the 

submission of such a petition. The question of non- 

confidence in the Chairmanship will be resolved by 

simple majority vote of the full-time faculty members 

of the Department. If the vote of non-confidence is 

negative no further reconsideration shall take place 

for at least one year. 

-6-

c)

The Dean of the Faculty has the right to recommend 

recall of a Chairman through recommendation to the 

President. The powers of the Board of Governors and 

the President regarding suspension (and dismissal) 

of any University officer are given in Section 58, 

paragraph 1 of the Universities Act. In exercising 

such power in respect of a Chairman, the President 

is assumed to be advised by the appropriate Dean and 

the Vice-President, Academic. Before such a step is 

taken the Dean and the Vice-President, Academic, must 

familiarize themselves with the views of the Department 

and report their findings to the President. 

ci) These regulations are not intended in any way to limit 

the Chairman's direct communication with the President 

- and- the V-ice-President, Academic. -- ? 

-- ? 

- --- ? 

- -

5. The Administration of the Department 

a)

To provide continuity within the Departmental 

administration, it is desirable that Department Chairmen 

be on campus for the calendar year, apart from normal 

• ? 

vacation periods. Participation in teaching duties are 

expected for two of the three semesters, but, because 

of the interference by administrative duties with the 

research program of an incumbent, a year's leave at - 

full pay after five years' service (pro rata for 

shorter periods) would appear appropriate. Such leave 

would not be regarded as influencing Chairmen's 

• ? 

eligibility for sabbatical leave. 

b)

The administrative load falling on Chairmen should be 

such as to allow them to continue as much of their 

scholarly interests as is consistent with the fulfillment 

of their duties. 

c)

A Department which feels the need for administrative 

competence in addition to its Chairman may wish to 

formalize positions such as Associate Chairmen. A 

request which shall include a statement of the case, 

shall be transmitted to the Dean of the Faculty who 

should consult with the Vice-President, Academic, 

regarding the merits of the request. Recommendations 

may then be directed to the President and-the Board of 

Governors. When authorized, Chairmen shall appoint 

Associate Chairmen subject to ratification of the choices 

by the full-time faculty members of the appropriate 

• ? 

Departments. The term of office of an Associate 

Chairman shall terminate not later than that of the 

Chairman but shall not normally be less than 12 months. 

-7-

d) In the case of the absence of the Departmental Chairman, 

the following shall apply: 

1. ? 

Where absence is to be of a short term, i.e. 

less than one month, the Chairman may appoint 

an Acting Chairman. 

ii.

Where absence is to be longer.than one month, 

the Associate Chairman, where the appointment 

exists, shall fill the position as Acting 

Chairman until the Chairman returns or until a 

new Chairman is selected. In Departments which 

do not have an Associate Chairman; Acting Chairman 

will be appointed by the Dean after consultation 

with the Chairman and the Department. 

iii. 

When the position becomes vacant, without notice, 

through resignation, recall or suspension, the 

Dean shall appoint an Acting Chairman until a 

new appointment is made according to the 

procedures set out above. 

e) Normal academic considerations will apply in establishing 

the basic salary of a Chairman or Associate Chairman. 

In addition to the salary, each shall receive an extra 

stipend for the performance of his administrative duties. 

This stipend shall be paid as long as the person 

concerned continues to hold the position in question. 

6. Authority, Duties and Responsibilities 

The Chairman has an overall responsibility to his Department and 

Dean for ensuring that Departmental policies are formulated and 

executed, that University, Faculty and Departmental. regulations 

are followed and that individual members of the Department fulfil 

their assigned duties. The assignment of duties will normally be 

on the recommendation of the Chairman. 

In the actual formulation and execution of Departmental policy 

and in the fulfillment of Departmental functions, the division of 

authority and duties will vary from Department to Department and 

from time to time within the same Department. This division of 

responsibility should be determined at Departmental meetings and 

reviewed periodically. Policy decisions which affect the 

Department as a whole should in general be determined at 

Department meetings or by committees designated by the Department 

for the making of such decisions. 

It is 

nevertheless expected 

that on occasion the Chairman may have to make and later report 

to his colleagues decisions affecting the Department as a whole 

before these can be considered at a Departmental meeting. 

-8-

Because of the emphasis on joint responsibilities there are 

reciprocal obligations between the Chairman and other members 

of the Department. Both have duties to ensure that the 

Chairman can free himself from administrative chores in order 

to be available for discussions with individuals and groups of 

department members. Both have duties to ensure that the 

operating procedures of the Department are understood by 

everyone concerned. Through their own involvement in selecting 

a Chairman, all department members have committed themselves 

to support the incumbent and must tolerate his right to be 

occasionally wrong. Through acceptance of the position, the 

Chairman undertakes to provide democratic leadership taking 

note of majority and minority views. The members of the 

Department should pay special attention to 

the

views of the 

Chairman compared to those of other members, because of his 

special-knowledge of--poss-ible--admi-ni-srrative or-other 

?

-

implications of decisions they may reach and because of his 

responsibility in executing such decisions. 

The Chairman's ultimate responsibility exists most clearly in 

the implementation of University, Faculty and Departmental 

decisions. One of his duties is to act as spokesman in 

reporting decisions of the Department to senior University 

•

?

administrators and other sections of the Faculty. He also 

serves as the channel for communicating to the Department 

decisions of his Dean and the President, of Faculties and of 

Senate. He will of necessity delegate some of his duties to 

members of the Department and support staff. Notwithstanding 

any suggestions made in these guidelines, the Chairman has the right 

and duty to report to his Dean significant dissent from Departmental 

decisions, including his own reservations, if any. He has also 

the right and duty to report failure on the part of members of 

the Department to fulfill University, Faculty or Department duties, 

especially obligations to students and to suggest ways of 

preventing their occurrence. The Chairman also has the right 

and duty to maintain privacy in matters of a confidential, 

personal nature. 

r

(Appendix to document) 

RESPONSIBILITIES OF ACADEMIC DEPARTMENTS 

Academic departments have the following responsibilities to 

a University. 

1.  Departments are responsible for maintaining teaching and 

research programs of the highest quality. They should 

maintain interest in the well-being of students and 

concern for the academic progress of the University. They 

should ensure that the quality of teaching and scholarship 

in the department is appropriate to the academic aims of 

the University and should facilitate effective collabor- 

ation with other Departments. They will ensure that their 

faculty and students are given every opportunity to 

participate in the academic life of the University and to 

obtain the maximum benefit from their participation in 

the Simon Fraser University community. 

2.

Departments are responsible for mounting and maintaining 

their teaching programs including the assignment of 

specific courses, tutorials and laboratory classes as may 

bedetertnined through appropriate procedures within the 

Department. 

3.

Departments recommend to faculty and to Senate on the. 

advice of the appropriate Departmental committees the 

courses and instruction to be offered in the Department. 

4.

Departments should engage in a continuous review of their 

operation to ensure that they are functioning well within 

the University and to ensure that they are well regarded 

by the wider academic community. 

5.

Departments should ensure that there are in the department 

at all times members of faculty who have been assigned the 

duties of advising students and that the Registrar is 

aware of such advisors. 

6.

Departments will collaborate with Senate .and other Departments 

to ensure that duplication of courses or activities is 

avoided and that the resources of all Departments are used 

to the maximum advantage of the academic community. 

7.

Departments will organize and supervise graduate work in 

the Department in conformity with the policy and practices 

of the Senate Graduate Studies Committee. 

8.

Departments will recommend to the Dean suitable teaching 

assistant appointments for the academic program of the 

Department. 

o

-2-- 

(Appendix/continued...) 

9. Departments will recommend to the Vice-President 

)

Academic, 

on the advice of appropriate Departmental and Faculty 

Committees the appointment of teaching staff in their 

Departments, where such appointments have been authorised. 

10.

Departments will make such recommendations as are required 

by the President relating to the promocion•, salary 

increases ) 

renewal of appointments and tenure of departmental 

members. 

Departments will prepare annual budget estimates as required 

by the Dean of the FauIty following- University-procedures ________ 

12. ? 

Departments will recognize that they have a responsibility 

for carrying their fair share of the committee work 

required of faculty in the operation of the University. 