3.358k
April 17, 1970
To:
?
H. M. Evans, Secretary of Senate
From: ?
Senate Committee on Method of Appointment, Tenure and
Functions of Deans and Heads of Departments (ad hoc)
1. ?
The attached report is submitted to the May 11, 1970 meeting of
Senate, in accordance with the instructions given to the Committee
at the March 2, 1970 meeting of Senate.
.2. ?
This report concerns itself with Deans of Faculties only; it does
not deal with the Dean of Graduate Studies or other deanship posi-
tions not related to specific Faculties of the University.
/ 3.
?
The report consists of three parts.
Part I, "General Statement of the Method of Appointment, Tenure
and Functions of Deans of Faculties," consists of a set of guiding
principles or underlying assumptions concerning the deanship
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function and selection process. Its intent is to provide a broad
framework from which a set of specific proposals may be derived.
Part II
.
, "Statement of the Responsibilities of Deans of Faculties,"
expands on Part I's task in considerably greater detail in one
dimension of the dean's role - the dual nature of his responsibili-
ties arising from his position between his faculty on the one hand
and university-wide policy-making entities on the other.
Part III, "Statement of Implementation Procedures," provides
necessary detail on the deans' selection process and related
matters.
S
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I. GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE METHOD OF APPOINTMENT, TENURE AND FUNCTIONS
OF DEANS OF FACULTIES
A. ?
Regarding the role and status of Deans:
1. that Deans should regard their
they should be responsible not
university-wide policies (as d
President, or the Board) but -
ensuring that the interests of
are adequately represented;
role as a dual one insofar as
only for the implementation of
termined by Senate, the
even more importantly - for
departments, faculty and students
2.
that Deans should be persons of some standing in the academic
community and not merely professional administrators;
3.
that Deans should be appointed with faculty rank;
4.
that Deans should regard their position as a highly responsible
one normally requiring their full-time attention;
5.
that, notwithstanding anything in I. A.4, Deans should be able
during their term of office to maintain some contact with the
teaching and research activities appropriate to their discipline;
.
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6.
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that Deans should upon the expiration of their term of office be
entitled to research leave sufficient to enable them to resume
their normal academic activities;
B.
?
Regarding the candidature and the selection of Deans:
7.
that eligibility for the position of Dean should not be limited
to persons who are already members of the Faculty concerned, or
even of the University;
8.
that when a Dean is to be selected a Dean's Search Committee,
with powers to examine the credentials of eligible candidates
and make recommendation to the President accordingly, should
therefore be instituted;
9.
that membership of the Dean's Search Committee should include
representatives of the administration, the Faculty concerned,
and the student body;
10.
that membership of the Dean's Search Committee should also in-
clude the Deans of Other Faculties and, where appropriate, the
current Dean of the Faculty concerned, as those persons who have
current experience in the position;
11.
that final authority for recommending a candidate to the Board of
. ? Governors for appointment should rest with the President of the
University;-
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C. ?
Rgarding the Dean's term of office and the exercise of his authority:
12. that a Dean should be appointed for a limited term;
13.
that an individual may serve as Dean for more than one term;
14.
that a Dean who, after a reasonable period, is shown to lack the
confidence of a majority of his Faculty colleagues should not
continue in office;
15.
that a Dean should, during his term of office, have authority to
select and appoint such assistants as may be needed to enable him
to carry out his duties.
II. STATEMENT OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF DEANS OF FACULTIES
?
A.
?
At ?
the university level:
?
1. ?
At the university level, the Dean has the dual responsibility of
serving as (a) the Executive Officer of his Faculty and (b) as
an administrative officer of the University.
a.
As Executive Officer of his Faculty the Dean shall present the
views of his faculty to the official bodies of the University
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and to other administrative officers. He shall attempt to
obtain the resources to fulfill the needs of his faculty and
to implement their programs.
b.
As an Administrative Officer of the University, the Dean shall
consult with the President, Vice-Presidents and Deans on the
• ?
development and implementation of policy and on university-wide
planning. The Dean shall advise and consult with his faculty
on policies under consideration by the Administrative Officers
of the University.
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B.
?
At ?
the faculty level:
1.
The Dean should have the confidence of his faculty, and act as
their spokesman. He shall be responsible for the administration
of the Faculty in accordance with the policies and procedures of
the University.
2.
Within matters which are properly under Faculty jurisdiction, the
basic policies of the Faculty will be approved collectively, al-
though certain areas of administrative discretion must be left to
the Dean. In carrying out the policies of the Faculty, the Dean
shall be guided by the Faculty meeting, by the appropriate Faculty
Committee or by consultation with his Advisory Committee, as may
be applicable. The Dean shall be obliged to observe such procedures
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concerning the exercise of his responsibilities as may have been
determined by his Faculty, provided only that such procedures are
not in violation of university-wide procedures.
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3.
The Dean shall be responsible for ensuring that each Department
in his Faculty generates an academic plan, establishes its
academic priorities, and carries out its intentions in this regard.
The Dean shall ensure that the allocation of resources within the
Faculty is equitable and is sufficient to allow Departments to
implement their programs.
4.
The Dean shall develop a budget for his Faculty in a manner which
conforms with University practices and those of his Faculty. He
shall be responsible for ensuring that budgets within his Faculty
are expended in general keeping with the stated objectives.
5.
The Dean shall ensure that high academic standards are maintained
in his Faculty. He shall also take an active role in coordinating
curriculum and program development amongst departments and shall
act as spokesman in those instances where coordination is required
amongst Faculties.
6.
The Dean shall supervise the counselling of students within his
Faculty and the arbitration of student grievances.
7.
The Dean shall make recommendations with respect to appointments,
promotions and tenure as specified by University policy.
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8.
?
The Dean shall serve as representative of his Faculty to external
agencies.
III. STATEMENT OF IMPLEMENTATION PROCEDURES
A.
?
Selection of a Dean's Search Committee:
1.
No later than nine months before the expiration of a Dean's term
of office the Academic Vice-President shall initiate the formation
of a Dean's Search Committee. (In the event of a Dean relinquish-
ing his position, for whatever reason, prior to the expiration of
his regular term of office, a Search Committee shall be constituted
as soon as possible.)
2.
The Dean's Search Committee shall consist of the following members:
a. The Academic Vice-President, who shall serve as Chairman.
b-. All Deans of Faculties, including the incumbent Dean in the
Faculty for which the search procedure is instituted (where
heis not himself a candidate).
c.
Three faculty members, holding regular full-time appointments
at the rank of Instructor or above, elected by and from the
Faculty involved.
d.
One student, to be selected by such methods as the Simon Fraser
Student Society may determine.
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3. ?
All the above members of the Dean's Search Committee shall be
voting members.
B.
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Terms of Reference of the Dean's Search Committee:
1. ?
Responsibilities of the Dean's Search Committee shall include:
a. deciding whether to include in its search area persons out-
side the Faculty involved.
b. engaging in a search for potential candidates and examining
their credentials.
c.
consulting during the search procedure with all available
department chairmen in the Faculty involved.
d.
receiving expressions, as early as possible in the search
process, of the opinions and preferences of faculty and
students in the Faculty involved.
e.
consulting with the department(s) most nearly concerned with
the academic discipline of any deanship candidate about the
standing of the candidate in his discipline.
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f. requesting, before a candidate is recommended to the President,
that the department concerned report on its expectations of
being able to assimilate him into its teaching and research
program upon termination of his period in office.
g. bringing to the President of the University within a reason-
able period one or more recommendations for appointment to
the position.
2.
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If the President does not find it possible to recommend to the
Board of Governors the appointment of a candidate recommended by
the committee he shall so inform the committee, and shall supply
an explanation of his decision.
C. ?
Term of Office of Deans:
1. Deans shall be selected to serve for a term of not less than
three nor more than five years.
2.
During his term of office a Dean shall serve on a three-semester--
a-year basis, with one month annual vacation.
3.
Upon completion of his term of office, whether three, four, or
five years, a Dean shall be entitled to research leave of one year.
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. ? .4. ?
A Dean shall be subject to recall at any time after his first
year in office. A recall election shall be scheduled by the
Academic Vice-President within a reasonable period following
his receipt of a petition so requesting, signed by at least one
third of the faculty members of the Faculty involved. If the
votes in-favor of recall are equal to or greater than a majority
of the faculty eligible to vote the President shall recommend to
the Board of Governors the termination of the Dean's contract as
Dean.
5.
Where the position of Dean becomes vacant, for any reason, before
the normal expiration of the term of office for which an individual
was selected, the Academic Vice-President, in consultation with
the chairmen of departments in the Faculty involved, shall recommend
to the President for transmission to the Board the name of a person
who shall serve as Acting Dean until a Dean is appointed. The
Acting Dean shall have all powers and responsibilities pertaining
to the office of Dean.
D. ?
Related Matters:
1.
Final responsibility for the function of his position may not be
delegated by the Dean. To the extent permitted by the full-time
nature of his position, however, a Dean may recommend to the
Academic Vice-President the creation of either or both of the
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following positions to assist him in the carrying out of his duties:
Associate Dean, Assistant to the Dean. The Dean shall appoint the
person or persons to serve in such positions. The appointment of
an Associate Dean, however, shall be subject to ratification by a
vote of the faculty members in the Faculty involved.
2. Expenses associated with the academic activities engaged in by a
Dean during his period of office shall not be a charge against
any individual department.
3.
Only those persons holding faculty status within the Faculty
involved (as determined by Senate and as recorded in the Registrar's
Office) shall be eligible to vote under sections III A. 2(c), III
C. 4, and III D. 1.
4.
Where not otherwise specified in the above document, election
rules and procedures shall be those prevailing in elections to
Sehate.
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