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Policy 2117 – Termination of Faculty

Revision Date: 1/7/2021

Last Review:  1/7/2021

Responsible Office: Office of the President/Provost

Reference: University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors Board Bylaws & Rules: Part Two – Chapter III, Section XV (Revised 2/25/2011) 

Policy:

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors stipulates the conditions and circumstances of termination of faculty in the Board Bylaws & Rules Part Two – Chapter II, Section XV. 

Definitions:

None.

Procedures:

Instructors and Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Instructors, lecturers, and other special appointees are temporarily employed with appointment letters.  Their appointments expire at the end of the term.  However, in the specific case of program discontinuance, an instructor, Lecturer, and other special appointees not on tenure track may be terminated upon one (1) month’s notice.

Tenure-Track Faculty

An appointment carries no assurance of reappointment, promotion, or tenure. Reappointments are made solely at the discretion of the institution with the approval of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. The non-reappointment of a faculty member does not necessarily reflect on the faculty member’s work record or behavior. The determination to reappoint, or not to reappoint, should be based upon a review of the specific conditions relating to the position. Notice that a probationary appointment is not to be renewed, and notice shall be given to the faculty member in advance of the expiration of the appointment as follows:

  1. Not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or if a one-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least three (3) months in advance of its termination. In the specific case of program discontinuance, the notice requirement shall be at least three (3) months in advance of termination.
  2. Not later than December 15 of the second academic year of service if the appointment expires at the end of that academic year, or at least six (6) months in advance of its termination. However, in the specific case of program discontinuance, the notice requirement shall be at least three (3) months in advance of termination. 
  3. At least 12 months before the expiration of an appointment after two or more years of uninterrupted service at the institution. However, in the specific case of program discontinuance, the notice requirement shall be at least three (3) months in advance of termination.

Tenured Faculty

  1. Cause for discharge
    1. Cause for discharge, termination of contract, or demotion in rank of tenured faculty shall consist of conduct seriously prejudicial to the University or University System, such as infraction of law or commonly accepted standards of morality, failure to follow proper orders, violation of institutional or Board rules and regulations, neglect of duty, incompetence, or other conditions that impair discharge of duties and the efficiency of the institution.  The foregoing enumeration of cause shall not be deemed exclusive.  However, action to discharge, terminate, or demote shall not be arbitrary or capricious, nor shall it infringe upon academic freedom. 
    2. Financial Exigency constitutes cause, as does program discontinuance.
  2. The Tenured Faculty Committee – Upon the recommendation of the University Senate, the President has appointed a standing University committee of faculty members (the Tenured Faculty Committee) who shall hear charges against accused faculty and forward their findings and recommendations to the President who shall make a final determination. The Committee has determined that its function is to provide due process in cases involving action taken by the University which could result in the discharge, termination of contract, or demotion in rank of a tenured faculty member. The Committee will meet at the request of the President to provide the faculty member with a peer review. It is not the function of the Committee to initiate action on its own or to hear cases referred by anyone other than the President.
  3. Petition for Review – Except in cases where termination occurs pursuant to financial exigency or program discontinuance, the member of the tenured faculty who has exhausted due process procedures at the institutional level may petition the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors within 30 days when the institution is in session for a review, and no official action shall be taken by the institution until a final determination is made by the Board of Supervisors.
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Policy 2117 – Termination of Faculty

Revision Date: 1/7/2021

Last Review:  1/7/2021

Responsible Office: Office of the President/Provost

Reference: University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors Board Bylaws & Rules: Part Two – Chapter III, Section XV (Revised 2/25/2011) 

Policy:

The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors stipulates the conditions and circumstances of termination of faculty in the Board Bylaws & Rules Part Two – Chapter II, Section XV. 

Definitions:

None.

Procedures:

Instructors and Non-Tenure Track Faculty

Instructors, lecturers, and other special appointees are temporarily employed with appointment letters.  Their appointments expire at the end of the term.  However, in the specific case of program discontinuance, an instructor, Lecturer, and other special appointees not on tenure track may be terminated upon one (1) month’s notice.

Tenure-Track Faculty

An appointment carries no assurance of reappointment, promotion, or tenure. Reappointments are made solely at the discretion of the institution with the approval of the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. The non-reappointment of a faculty member does not necessarily reflect on the faculty member’s work record or behavior. The determination to reappoint, or not to reappoint, should be based upon a review of the specific conditions relating to the position. Notice that a probationary appointment is not to be renewed, and notice shall be given to the faculty member in advance of the expiration of the appointment as follows:

  1. Not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or if a one-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least three (3) months in advance of its termination. In the specific case of program discontinuance, the notice requirement shall be at least three (3) months in advance of termination.
  2. Not later than December 15 of the second academic year of service if the appointment expires at the end of that academic year, or at least six (6) months in advance of its termination. However, in the specific case of program discontinuance, the notice requirement shall be at least three (3) months in advance of termination. 
  3. At least 12 months before the expiration of an appointment after two or more years of uninterrupted service at the institution. However, in the specific case of program discontinuance, the notice requirement shall be at least three (3) months in advance of termination.

Tenured Faculty

  1. Cause for discharge
    1. Cause for discharge, termination of contract, or demotion in rank of tenured faculty shall consist of conduct seriously prejudicial to the University or University System, such as infraction of law or commonly accepted standards of morality, failure to follow proper orders, violation of institutional or Board rules and regulations, neglect of duty, incompetence, or other conditions that impair discharge of duties and the efficiency of the institution.  The foregoing enumeration of cause shall not be deemed exclusive.  However, action to discharge, terminate, or demote shall not be arbitrary or capricious, nor shall it infringe upon academic freedom. 
    2. Financial Exigency constitutes cause, as does program discontinuance.
  2. The Tenured Faculty Committee – Upon the recommendation of the University Senate, the President has appointed a standing University committee of faculty members (the Tenured Faculty Committee) who shall hear charges against accused faculty and forward their findings and recommendations to the President who shall make a final determination. The Committee has determined that its function is to provide due process in cases involving action taken by the University which could result in the discharge, termination of contract, or demotion in rank of a tenured faculty member. The Committee will meet at the request of the President to provide the faculty member with a peer review. It is not the function of the Committee to initiate action on its own or to hear cases referred by anyone other than the President.
  3. Petition for Review – Except in cases where termination occurs pursuant to financial exigency or program discontinuance, the member of the tenured faculty who has exhausted due process procedures at the institutional level may petition the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors within 30 days when the institution is in session for a review, and no official action shall be taken by the institution until a final determination is made by the Board of Supervisors.
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