BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY
Effective Date: July 1, 1982
BSU 4500
Rev: July 1, 1995
July, 2003
April 27, 2005
2015
SELECTION, APPOINTMENT, AND EVALUATION
OF CHAIRS AND HEADS
Purpose:
To establish guidelines for the selection, appointment, and evaluation of department and school
Chairs or Heads.
Additional Authority:
University Policy #7000 (Position Definitions and Titles)
University Policy #4290 (Annual Faculty Evaluation)
Scope:
Applies to all academic units, including departments, schools and programs.
Responsible Party:
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, 426-1202
Definitions:
Chair – A faculty position that leads a department and is generally nominated through election
by the Department’s Tenure-Eligible Faculty and other other full-time faculty, as recognized by
departmental guidelines, and approved by the Dean for a pre-defined term of service.
Head – An administrative faculty position that leads a department, school, or unit and may be
hired through a search process. Faculty must provide input as defined by department guidelines
to inform the final selection. The final candidate is selected by and serves at the pleasure of the
Dean. For the purposes of this policy a Head may also be called a Director.
Research Faculty – A faculty position in which the primary responsibility is to
contribute to the research mission of the University through the development
of a rigorous research program.
Teaching Faculty – A faculty position in which the primary responsibility is teaching
courses in degree and/or certificate programs for an academic year to include the titles
Lecturer, Clinical, and Instructor Faculty.
Page 1 of 3
Tenure-Eligible Faculty - A faculty position assigned to an academic department or
the university library wherein the incumbent holds academic rank and is eligible for
tenure, or is tenured.
POLICY
I.
Policy Statement
This policy provides assistance to academic deans, chairs, heads, and faculty to assure
consistency at the University in the selection, appointment, and evaluation of Heads and
Chairs. Chairs are generally selected through the election process established by the
Department’s Tenure-Eligible Faculty and other full-time faculty as outlined in
department guidelines. Heads are generally selected by the Dean and serve at the
pleasure of the Dean, with input from Tenure-Eligible Faculty and other full-time faculty
as outlined in department guidelines.
II.
Principles for Selection and Appointment
Because of variations in governance structures among colleges, these guidelines do not
provide detailed rules for the selection, election, or appointment of Chairs or Heads.
However, the following guidelines apply:
1
A.
Each academic unit including programs and divisions will determine their
guidelines for the election, selection, or appointment of Chairs or Heads,
including the term of appointment for Chairs in conjunction with the Dean. The
guidelines should be communicated to the Tenure-Eligible and full-time faculty of
the department/school, who will have input into the process and final selection.
Other faculty should be consulted as outlined in department guidelines.
B.
The selection of Chairs and Heads requires final approval from the Dean of the
School or College.
C.
Regardless of whether the Chair or Head is selected through a faculty vote, search
committee, or appointment, the process must be transparent with a scheduled vote
of confidence every three years1. If the vote is not in favor of the Chair/Head,
then the provost’s office must work with the faculty on a resolution.
D.
Tenure-Eligible and full-time faculty members may ask the Dean of the
associated School, College, Program, or Division for a count of the final Chair
vote if the outcome of a Chair election is unclear.
E.
F.
G.
During times of transition between Chairs or Heads, the Dean
shall consult the
Which faculty may participate will be determined by department guidelines
Page 2 of 3
H.
I.
III.
faculty on whether to continue department leadership through the Chair or Head
model.
Acting Heads and Chairs
When because of an urgent need it is necessary to appoint an acting Chair or Head the
dean may appoint, in consultation with some group of faculty, an acting Chair or Head
for a term of not more than one year. The term may be extended for an additional year if
necessary.
IV.
Evaluation
A.
The dean will annually evaluate the performance of the Chair or Head.
B.
Prior to May 30 each year, all Tenure-Eligible Faculty or other full-time faculty
will provide input into the Head or Chair annual review.
C.
The evaluations from each faculty member shall be given to the Dean of the
appropriate college who will summarize the faculty evaluations in his/her and
evaluation of the Chair or Head. The evaluations shall be placed in the
individual's official personnel file by the Dean and copies forwarded to the
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
D.
The Dean shall guarantee the confidentiality of the information and the anonymity
of the evaluators.
Page 3 of 3