Process for conducting a vote of confidence in a Dean FA

Purpose To establish an internal senate policy for responding to requests for vote of confidence in a dean

Resources All faculty and deans Faculty provided significant comments to the FA committee that are mostly reflected in the policy.

Background The conduct of vote of confidence by the academic senate in the President’s leadership and performance is guided by the precedent set for vote of confidence in President Suzuki. For department chairs, Appendix 15 provides a procedure. Policy is currently under review. No policy or process exists for the dean. The only reference was in the steering committee minutes in 1999 requiring majority of college senators requesting a vote.

Process Petition by a minimum of 25% of college tenured faculty members to EC. Petition must include reason(s) for requesting a vote of confidence. EC verifies that the threshold is met and informs the President and the Dean that a vote of confidence is forthcoming. Copy of the reason(s) for requesting the vote is provided to the President and the Dean.

Process (continued) Dean has 30 days to respond to the reason(s) in the petition if he/she chooses to do so. After 30 days or receipt of the dean’s response the EC asks the Election and Procedure Subcommittee to establish the time line for conducting the vote. EC informs the college constituency (tenured, probationary, FERP if teaching, and full time lecturers) that the vote is forthcoming and provide copies of the reason(s) for requesting the vote and the dean’s response to the constituency.

Process (continued) The only statement on the ballot for the vote of confidence shall be: I have confidence in the leadership of ….. as the Dean of ……. Yes No Vote is taken and the EC informs the college faculty, the President, and the Dean of the voting result. If a simple majority of the college constituency indicate lack of confidence, EC writes a letter to the president requesting investigation of the situation and informing senate and faculty of the steps that will be taken.