Index
|
|
|
Site Index |
The following narrative and analysis was prepared in early March, 2000. Later events are recorded in another document.
1.1. The UT Medical Center Residency Program in PediatricsMedical education at the University of Tennessee is the responsibility of the UT Health Sciences Center, founded in 1911 to provide comprehensive training in various medical fields. Each year the Health Sciences Center enrolls some 2000 students in its six colleges: Allied Health Sciences, Dentistry, Graduate Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.
1.2. Closure of the UT Medical Center Residency Program in PediatricsThe faculty in the Department of Pediatrics were informed on January 26, 2000, that the residency program would be discontinued on June 30, 2001 (Document 7; letters from nine members of the Pediatrics faculty, Documents 8-16; the contemporaneous notes of Professor Loucks, Document 31; and the report of Professor Zimo, Document 32). The explanation given at the time was that the program was expensive and that the training of six pediatric residents per year was unnecessary.
1.3. Subsequent EventsFaculty in the pediatric residency program at the UT Medical Center at Knoxville approached members of the Faculty Senate at UT-Knoxville to ask for advice and assistance. At its meeting on February 7, the Faculty Senate unanimously approved the following resolution (Documents 17, 18):
Resolved, That the UT Faculty Senate deplores the process used to discontinue the Department of Pediatrics at UT Medical Hospital and urges that the decision be rescinded in order to permit adequate consultation with the faculty of the Department concerning:That resolution was communicated to UT President J. Wade Gilley on February 8, 2000, in a letter from Mary E. Papke and Robert W. Glenn, President and President-Elect respectively of the Faculty Senate (Document 19). The letter included references to University of Tennessee and AAUP policies relevant to the discontinuation of the pediatrics program. The opinions of the Senate, and the urgency of an early action to reverse the decision, were also presented to President Gilley in a meeting in his office by Professors Papke and Glenn on February 10, 2000. President Gilley responded at that meeting that graduate medical education was expensive and that he had asked UT-Memphis Chancellor William Rice to respond to the Senate's concerns.
(1) Whether there is an educational basis for the decision;
(2) Whether there are alternatives to closing the Department;
(3) Whether there are possibilities for retraining or relocating the faculty in the Department; and
(4) How the current residents in pediatrics can complete their programs without interruption.
2.1. Was the decision made primarily by the faculty?Principles. The UT-Memphis Faculty Handbook anticipates active faculty involvement in decisions concerning the shape of educational programs (Document 27). For example, faculty "must actively participate in the determination of the strategic directions of the campuses and institutes of The University" (§ 2.2.3). The general policy is that governance should be "cooperative," "open," "a courteous, free-flowing exchange of information," and "a respectful process that gives increased weight to the opinions of participants who are accountable for the matters under consideration" (§ 2.3.1). With respect to the termination of tenured faculty, the Handbook (§ 7.1.3) says, "According to the Board's policy, in the case of academic program discontinuance, the termination of tenured faculty may take place only after consultation with the Faculty through appropriate committees of the department, the college, and the Faculty Senate. When termination of a tenured faculty appointment is based upon discontinuance of a program or function at UT Memphis, the Administration shall seek appropriate faculty discussion in arriving at such decisions ..." (Document 28). The latter statement is derived from the UT Board of Trustees' revision of tenure policies in June 1998: "In the case of academic program discontinuance, the termination of tenured faculty may take place only after consultation with the faculty through appropriate committees of the department, the college, and the Faculty Senate" (Document 29). AAUP's "Recommended Institutional Regulations on Academic Freedom and Tenure" require a higher standard than consultation; they require that the decision to discontinue a major academic program be made primarily by the faculty: "The decision to discontinue formally a program or department of instruction will be based essentially upon educational considerations, as determined primarily by the faculty as a whole or an appropriate committee thereof" (Document 19b).
Professor Pablo: "There was no consultation with the faculty concerning the decision whether or not to close the department prior to the announcement of the decision" (Document 8).Furthermore, e-mail messages indicate that as late as February 24 the officers of the UTM Faculty Senate were unaware of the announcement that the pediatrics program was being closed (Documents 22-24). The UTM Faculty Senate leadership was consulted approximately a month after the decision was announced (Document 26), and appear to have given their assent to the decision, but they plainly had no role at all in making the decision.
Professor Mohr (who is Director of the Pediatric Residency Program): "I was not consulted concerning this decision to discontinue the program. I was not given a chance to discuss options that could have been pursued to maintain a viable program. I was not asked what were the minimum faculty and educational requirements needed to be fully accredited" (Document 9).
Professor Malagon-Rogers: "This decision was not consulted with anybody in the department and no input was taken about it from anybody as to what other options there could be" (Document 10).
Professor Zimo: "There was no consultation with the faculty concerning the decision to close the department, either before or after the announcement of the decision" (Document 11).
Professor Jocher: "There was no consultation with the faculty concerning the decision to close the department, either before or after the announcement of the decision" (Document 12).
Professor Coullahan: "There was no hint that a closing was being discussed and no one ever talked to me, a faculty member, about such a plan. On the contrary, since we were told to continue to interview and recruit future students (residents) I assumed that the University recognized our value and importance. Suddenly, in the midst of the time consuming and expensive (for both the University and the prospective student) recruiting process, we were told without any advance warning that we were no longer needed or wanted. I was also amazed that our department faculty never had the opportunity to review the reasons and preplanning on this decision which seems to have been made without consideration for what our futures will hold" (Document 13).
Professor Lucas: "I am not aware that any consultation with myself or any of the other pediatric faculty at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville occurred prior to the announcement of the decision" (Document 14).
Professor Gengozian: "I am not aware of any discussion or prior information given the faculty of this impending action" (Document 15).
Professor Loucks: "Needless to say, in violation of the university faculty handbook and national AAUP guidelines, there was absolutely no consultation with the faculty before the decision was made or announced as to whether or not to close the department or the residency program. The departmental chairman stated in the meeting that he was not expecting for the department or the residency program to be closed and had no foreknowledge of this decision other than thirty minutes before the general meeting" (Document 16).
2.2. Was the decision based essentially upon educational considerations?Principles. Neither the tenure policy statement of the UT Board of Trustees (Document 29) nor the UTM Faculty Handbook (Document 27) states criteria for discontinuation of a major academic program. AAUP's "Recommended Institutional Regulations on Academic Freedom and Tenure" require that the decision to discontinue a major academic program be made primarily on educational grounds: "The decision to discontinue formally a program or department of instruction will be based essentially upon educational considerations, as determined primarily by the faculty as a whole or an appropriate committee thereof. [NOTE: 'Educational considerations' do not include cyclical or temporary variations in enrollment. They must reflect long-range judgments that the educational mission of the institution as a whole will be enhanced by the discontinuance.]" (Document19b).
Professor Pablo: "The program has solid academic credentials so that the decision to close the program and department was not based on an academic rationale, i.e. the program is nationally accredited" (Document 8).It may be that the UT administration will assert post facto an educational basis for the decision to close the program. The president of the UTM Faculty Senate says on the basis of their late consultation with UTM Chancellor Rice, "He [Rice] indicated that a primary reason for discontinuing this department involved the very low patient population (average census of six in University Hospital last year).... No one could disagree that on both academic and financial grounds the patient population is inadequate for a viable residency program" (Document 26). In fact, the average daily census for 1999 is several times higher than what the UTM Faculty Senate was told (Documents 3, 4); and those census figures report only inpatient cases which constitute just 15% of the residency training program in pediatrics.
Professor Mohr: "In 1996 the program underwent a routine site visit and received full accreditation for five years (the maximum given to pediatric residencies). Since the inception of the program we have been successful in attracting quality residents. All of our graduates have been able to find pediatric practices in communities of their choice or have gone on to prestigious fellowships for post graduate training. This year, two of our residents were selected to present posters at national meetings. Ninety-two percent of our graduates are board certified. This number is well above the Residency Review Committee requirements" (Document 9).
Professor Malagon-Rogers: "Academically the department is in good standings, and it is fully accredited at the national level. Our graduates have all been employed and are serving an important population of children in several parts of the country" (Document 10).
Professor Zimo: "The program has been accredited, and there has been no suggestion that the quality of the academic program factored into the decision to close the program" (Document 11).
Professor Jocher: "The program has been accredited, and there has been no suggestion that the quality of the academic program factored into the decision to close the program" (Document 12).
Professor Coullahan: "I joined this faculty after interviews with many of the leaders of the Graduate School of Medicine based on their continued reassurance that the Department was strong, was fully supported, and had a long and bright future ahead. I specifically asked about ten years of faculty work and was told that the Pediatric Department was here to stay.... [O]ur faculty has continued to work hard at maintaining the level of excellence that was validated by our five-year accreditation" (Document 13).
Professor Lucas: "I am not aware that the pediatric residency program is on probation or has any deficiency. Therefore, it would have solid academic credentials to that the decision to close the program and department was not based on an academic rationale" (Document 14).
Professor Gengozian: "I certainly know of no academic shortcomings of the Pediatric faculty which would warrant any consideration of a departmental closure let alone the execution of this step" (Document 15).
Professor Loucks: "The pediatric primary care-oriented residency training program has received full accreditation for five years from the American Council of Graduate Medical Education, the national review agency for all residency programs in medicine. What I find even more astounding is that in this era when primary care is emphasized and the most lucrative arena of reimbursement in medical education is primary care, our program is being closed. I can discern absolutely no educational reason for doing so" (Document 16).
2.3. Were the affected faculty members offered relocation or retraining?Principles. The UTM Faculty Handbook (§ 7.1.3) says, "When termination of a tenured faculty appointment is based upon discontinuance of a program or function at UT Memphis, the Administration shall ... exert every effort to make suitable reassignments of personnel.... According to the Board's policy, if termination of tenured faculty positions becomes necessary because of financial exigency or academic program discontinuance, the UT Memphis Administration shall attempt to place each displaced tenured faculty member in another suitable position. This does not require that a faculty member be placed in a position for which he or she is not qualified, that a new position be created where no need exists, or that a faculty member (tenured or non-tenured) in another department be terminated in order to provide a vacancy for a displaced tenured faculty member" (Document 28). AAUP's standards also require relocation wherever possible: "Before the administration issues notice to a faculty member of its intention to terminate an appointment because of formal discontinuance of a program or department of instruction, the institution will make every effort to place the faculty member concerned in another suitable position. If placement in another position would be facilitated by a reasonable period of training, financial and other support for such training will be proffered" (Document 19b).
Professor Pablo: "There was no offer to relocate the faculty as faculty within the university system" (Document 8).It should be noted that the leadership of the UTM Faculty Senate were told that efforts are being made to relocate the faculty and that the administration hopes that no faculty will be terminated: "The extensive effort at present is to ... find positions for the tenured faculty of the department. According to our handbook the only required consultations with faculty senate would be if a tenured faculty member was terminated due to elimination of a department. We hope that situation does not arise" (Document 26). The Pediatrics faculty themselves state that they were informed that the decisions to terminate them were final and that they were not offered alternative academic positions.
Professor Mohr: "At the January 26, 2000 meeting we were told that when the residency was terminated the pediatric academic department would also be disbanded. There was no discussion of alternative faculty opportunities. We were told we would receive letters confirming the termination of our employment" (Document 9).
Professor Malagon-Rogers: "As faculty members, many like me, with Tenure, were not offered any opportunities for relocation with the system ..." (Document 10).
Professor Zimo: "There was no offer to relocate the faculty within the university system. We were bluntly told that, since we were being given 18 months notice, no severance package would be offered" (Document 11).
Professor Jocher: "There was no offer to relocate the faculty within the university system. We were bluntly told that, since we were being given 18 months notice, no severance package would be offered" (Document 12).
Professor Coullahan: "No attempt to reassign us as faculty was discussed" (Document 13).
Professor Lucas: "As a full-time faculty member since 1985 with a sub-specialty in pediatric critical care, I have not been a part of any discussion or received any offers to relocate as faculty with the university system. Neither have any discussions occurred to utilize any other degrees and expertise in any other colleges within the university system" (Document 14).
Professor Gengozian: "Among the responses given to questions raised by the faculty, it was revealed that tenured members would also be summarily dismissed, i.e. lose their positions without any attempt by the University to offer them relocation within the University ..." (Document 15).
Professor Loucks: "With regard to the faculty, at no time before, then, or since has anyone approached me about alternative academic placement although I am qualified to teach in several other academic departments of the graduate school of medicine. There was no offer at the meeting to relocate faculty within the university system. The university's teaching hospital has been leased to a private group last summer and some of our faculty may choose to give up their academic careers and seek employment through the auspices of the hospital. However, even this possibility was not addressed" (Document 16).
2.4. Were the affected faculty members offered an avenue of appeal to a faculty grievance committee?Principles. The UTM Faculty Handbook (§ 7.1.3) apparently does not anticipate that termination of a faculty appointment due to discontinuation of an academic program--even when the faculty member has tenure--can be appealed through established grievance procedures: "Extraordinary circumstances warranting termination of tenure may involve either financial exigency or academic program discontinuance. Under such circumstances, termination of a faculty member's tenure results in immediate termination of that individual's employment with UT Memphis" (Document 28). AAUP's recommended institutional regulations include provision for grievance proceedings: "A faculty member may appeal a proposed relocation or termination resulting from a discontinuance and has a right to a full hearing before a faculty committee" (Document 19b).
Professor Pablo: "Faculty were not offered recourse to establish[ed] university grievance procedures" (Document 8).
Professor Mohr: "We were not offered recourse to established university grievance procedures" (Document 9).
Professor Malagon-Rogers: "As faculty members, many like me, with Tenure were not offered ... any recourse to establish[ed] university grievance procedures" (Document 10).
Professor Zimo: "Faculty members were not informed that there was any grievance procedure available" (Document 11).
Professor Jocher: "Faculty members were not informed that there was any grievance procedure available" (Document 12).
Professor Coullahan: "We were told that the decision was final. This was interesting to me because of my long Navy career. We always were kept fully informed by Naval authorities and allowed to exercise grievance procedures when closings or terminations were being contemplated. I always assumed that state and University governments would exercise the same due process" (Document 13).
Professor Lucas: "It is my understanding that this was a final decision that involved the dean, the associate dean, and the vice-president for health affairs. Thus any recourse for university grievance procedures did not exist in this particular matter" (Document 14).
Professor Loucks: "There was no hint nor information given concerning university grievance procedures as part of this meeting or thereafter" (Document 16).
2.5. Did the institution exercise due diligence in its responsibilities to students admitted to the pediatrics residency program?Principles. The online site for the UT-Memphis Pediatrics Residency Program has a publicity brochure which says at one point, "You are in the process of choosing your Pediatric or Internal Medicine/Pediatric residency, one of the most important decisions in your career as a physician" (http://www.utmem.edu/peds/peds3.html). Given the gravity of the decision, it follows that an institution should treat with professional respect the students whom it recruited and who have a career investment in the program.
"With regard to the pediatric residents who moved to this area, one or two of which brought spouses and bought homes planning on staying in this community throughout residency training and thereafter, they were told in the meeting by Mr. Rice that the university system could absorb them in the remaining programs in Memphis or Chattanooga. When the residents called these programs the next day, they were told that Mr. Rice had just slashed one million dollars from the pediatric teaching hospital, LeBonheur's budget and that they would not be taking on any new residents. Chattanooga's program also held out no hope. Thus, the promised help did not come to these trainees in any form. As a faculty member I feel abashed that I engaged actively, both as a faculty member and Associate Program Director, in the process of recruiting these residents only to have them devastated by the unexpected and untimely closing of the program. One of the residents broke down and sobbed throughout the meeting which took place with them immediately after the faculty meeting" (Document 16).It should be added that second- and third-year residents will complete their training in a fractured and depleted department, and that the faculty--not having been told that the program was about to be closed--had by the time of the January 26 announcement nearly completed interviewing 35 medical school seniors who had traveled to Knoxville at their own expense to visit the program in preparation for the national match.
Department of Pediatrics
Faculty
1999-2000
[Names in Bold are faculty with tenure.]
|
|
05-Jan-00 THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL
ADJUSTED CENSUS -- COMBINED IP AND OP BED AVERAGE FY99
UNIT -- PROJECTED |
BEDS PER UNIT |
Projected Census |
1999 AUG |
1999 SEPT |
1999 OCT |
1999 NOV |
1999 DEC |
1999 Y-T-D |
DECEMBER % Occ to Projected |
YTD AVG % Occ to Projected |
| 4 EAST (E20-6241) | 28 | 15.0 | 11.9 | 12.1 | 13.0 | 11.9 | 9.3 | 11.6 | 62% | 78% |
| ICN (E20-6235) | 27 | 21.4 | 25.3 | 25.6 | 19.7 | 22.6 | 23.4 | 23.3 | 109% | 109% |
| IMCN (E20-6236) | 28 | 21.6 | 22.8 | 23.0 | 19.1 | 16.7 | 17.6 | 19.9 | 82% | 92% |
| PICU (E20-6240) | 7 | 4.4 | 3.4 | 4.0 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 41% | 73% |
UHS: BUSINESS INDICATORS -- 2000
Average Daily Census |
Actual 02/28/2000 |
Budget 02/28/2000 |
Actual Avg. Feb-to-Date |
Budget Avg. Feb-to-Date |
Actual Avg. YTD |
Budget Avg. YTD |
| Nursing Units: | ||||||
| 4 EP -- Pediatrics (27 Beds) | 16.0 | 12.4 | 15.2 | 12.4 | 12.8 | 12.4 |
| 4 EP -- Pediatrics [Observation] | 2.0 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 3.1 |
| Special Care Units: | ||||||
| PICU (7 Beds) | 5.0 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.2 |
| Nursery: | ||||||
| ICN (27 Beds) | 23.0 | 22.1 | 25.7 | 22.1 | 24.8 | 22.1 |
| IMCN (26 Beds) | 28.0 | 21.6 | 22.8 | 21.6 | 24.0 | 21.6 |
ACGME
Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical
Education
515 N. State St., Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 464-4920
FAX: (312) 464-4098
PediatricsBased on all of the information available to it at the time of its recent meeting, the Residency Review Committee accredited the program as follows:
University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville Program
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital
Knoxville, TN
Program 3204721396
Status: Full AccreditationThe Committee expressed concern about the following:
Length of Training: 3
1. Goals & Objectives: Written goals and objectives are not available for many of the required components of the program.A progress report in requested in approximately one year in which each of those points should be addressed. This information is requested in triplicate by November 1, 1997. After reviewing this report, the Committee will determine the time of the next survey and review of the program.
2. Surgical Experience: Although the program information form listed 327 admissions an the surgical service, the program director was unclear about the source of these figures. The Committee was unable to determine whether residents have adequate experience.
3. Faculty Research: There is minimal financial support available for faculty participation in research.
4. Evaluation: Sufficiently formal mechanisms for evaluation of the faculty have not yet been developed.
5. Facilities: The facilities that are available to the residents appear marginal. Residents should have access to a complete library in their learning center. In addition, there appears to be insufficient workspace available to the residents.
| CC: | American Medical Association The American Board of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics Michael R. Caudle, MD Gene Hall Robert L. Summitt, MD Charles J. Fagan, MD Jo Ann Cornelius |
ACGME
Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical
Education
515 N. State St., Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 464-4920
FAX: (312) 464-4098
Pediatrics
University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville Program
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
University of Tennessee Memorial Hospital
Knoxville, TN
Program 3204721396
Approximate Date of Next Site Visit: 10/2001 FS
| CC: | American Medical Association The American Board of Pediatrics The American Academy of Pediatrics Michael R. Caudle, MD Gene Hall Robert L. Summitt, MD Jo Ann Cornelius |
Plans to 'phase out' UT's pediatric residency program
Knoxville News-Sentinel, January 31, 2000
By Add Seymour Jr., News-Sentinel staff writer
MEMORANDUM
2/23/00
My name is James Donald Coullahan. I am an assistant professor of pediatrics in the Department of Pediatrics at the Graduate School of Medicine Knoxville, University of Tennessee. I joined this faculty in 1995 after retiring from a thirty-eight year career in the Navy. I joined this faculty after interviews with many of the leaders of the Graduate School of Medicine based on their continued reassurance that the Department was strong, was fully supported, and had a long and bright future ahead. I specifically asked about ten years of faculty work and was told that the Pediatric Department was here to stay.| cc: | Mary Papke, Ph.D. President, UT Faculty Senate Bob Glenn, Ph.D. President-Elect, UT Faculty Senate |
UT students may face 5% tuition hike
Knoxville News-Sentinel, February 8, 2000
By Add Seymour Jr., News-Sentinel staff writer
Resolved, That the UT Faculty Senate deplores the process used to discontinue the Department of Pediatrics at UT Medical Hospital and urges that the decision be rescinded in order to permit adequate consultation with the faculty of the Department concerning:The resolution was based on concern that the decision to discontinue the pediatrics program violated both the University's own procedures and the generally-accepted standards for situations of this kind as they are stated in policy documents of the American Association of University Professors.
(1) Whether there is an educational basis for the decision;
(2) Whether there are alternatives to closing the Department;
(3) Whether there are possibilities for retraining or relocating the faculty in the Department; and
(4) How the current residents in pediatrics can complete their programs without interruption.
(1) The decision to discontinue a program should be determined primarily by the faculty.Also, UT policy on tenure has two similar provisions. The policy as stated by the Trustees in 1998 requires appropriate consultation with the faculty when considering dismissal of tenured faculty and requires that affected faculty be relocated when feasible (see the text reprinted below). And the Faculty Handbook states that "The most direct responsibility of the faculty in University governance is to determine the shape of the academic programs, all of which must be approved by vote of the Faculty Senate ..." (Handbook, §1.7-22).
(2) The decision to discontinue a program should be based essentially upon educational considerations.
(3) The affected faculty members should be relocated or retrained when feasible.
(4) The affected faculty members should be able to appeal a relocation or termination to a faculty grievance committee.
| Mary E. Papke President, Faculty Senate |
Robert W. Glenn President-Elect, Faculty Senate |
(1) The decision to discontinue formally a program or department of instruction will be based essentially upon educational considerations, as determined primarily by the faculty as a whole or an appropriate committee thereof.[NOTE: "Educational considerations" do not include cyclical or temporary variations in enrollment. They must reflect long-range judgments that the educational mission of the institution as a whole will be enhanced by the discontinuance.](2) Before the administration issues notice to a faculty member of its intention to terminate an appointment because of formal discontinuance of a program or department of instruction, the institution will make every effort to place the faculty member concerned in another suitable position. If placement in another position would be facilitated by a reasonable period of training, financial and other support for such training will be proffered. If no position is available within the institution, with or without retraining, the faculty member's appointment then may be terminated, but only with provision for severance salary equitably adjusted to the faculty member's length of past and potential service.[NOTE: When an institution proposes to discontinue a program or department of instruction, it should plan to bear the costs of relocating, training, or otherwise compensating faculty members adversely affected.](3) A faculty member may appeal a proposed relocation or termination resulting from a discontinuance and has a right to a full hearing before a faculty committee. The hearing need not conform in all respects with a proceeding conducted pursuant to Regulation 5, but the essentials of an on-the-record adjudicative hearing will be observed. The issues in such a hearing may include the institution's failure to satisfy any of the conditions specified in Regulation 4(d). In such a hearing a faculty determination that a program or department is to be discontinued will be considered presumptively valid, but the burden of proof on other issues will rest on the administration.
| Cc: | Professor Sandra Loucks, Department of Pediatrics Professor Mary Papke, Faculty Senate President Professor Bob Glenn, Chair, Faculty Affairs Committee Mary Burgan, AAUP General Secretary |
Governance and Academic Programs
Faculty Handbook, UT-Memphis
http://www.utmem.edu/facsenate/handbook.html
Approved by The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees at its meeting 17 June 1999.
http://www.utmem.edu/facsenate/newsection2.html
a. establish admission, progression, and retention requirements for students;
b. confer academic degrees;
c. determine new or revised programs to be offered relating to instruction, research, and service;
d. grant tenure;
e. approve the establishment of all major academic units, i.e., campuses, colleges, departments, institutes, etc.; and
f. approve the adoption and revision of faculty personnel policies.
a. a cooperative process that demands a joint effort between the Chancellor and the Faculty of UT Memphis with appropriate participation by students, alumni, and staff;
b. an open process that is characterized by a courteous, free-flowing exchange of information and opinions between all interested parties;
c. a respectful process that gives increased weight to the opinions of participants who are accountable for the matters under consideration;
d. a comprehensive process that assumes that any issue may be relevant to the academic enterprise;
e. a bilateral process that produces (1) policies that are campus-wide in their applications, and (2) policies that only apply to one college or non-collegiate academic unit; and
f. a responsible process that is subordinate to governmental authority, the final institutional authority of the Board, and the delegated authority of the President.
Termination of Tenured Faculty
Faculty Handbook, UT-Memphis
http://www.utmem.edu/facsenate/handbook.html
Approved by The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees at its meeting 17 June 1999.
http://www.utmem.edu/facsenate/newsection7.html
POLICIES GOVERNING
ACADEMIC FREEDOM, RESPONSIBILITY, AND TENURE
Approved by the UT Board of Trustees at its meeting of 18 June 1998
http://web.utk.edu/~senate/UT_Tenure6-98.html#10
1. Grounds for Termination(a) Relinquishment or Forfeiture of TenureA tenured faculty member relinquishes tenure upon resignation or retirement from The University. A tenured faculty member forfeits tenure upon taking an unauthorized leave of absence or failing to resume the duties of his or her position following an approved leave of absence. Forfeiture results in automatic termination of employment. The chief academic officer shall give the faculty member written notice of the forfeiture of tenure and termination of employment.(b) Extraordinary CircumstancesExtraordinary circumstances warranting termination of tenure may involve either financial exigency or academic program discontinuance. In the case of financial exigency, the criteria and procedures outlined in the Board-approved Financial Exigency Plan for each campus shall be followed. In the case of academic program discontinuance, the termination of tenured faculty may take place only after consultation with the faculty through appropriate committees of the department, the college, and the Faculty Senate.
If termination of tenured faculty positions becomes necessary because of financial exigency or academic program discontinuance, the campus administration shall attempt to place each displaced tenured faculty member in another suitable position. This does not require that a faculty member be placed in a position for which he or she is not qualified, that a new position be created where no need exists, or that a faculty member (tenured or non-tenured) in another department be terminated in order to provide a vacancy for a displaced tenured faculty member. The position of any tenured faculty member displaced because of financial exigency or academic program discontinuance shall not be filled within three years, unless the displaced faculty member has been offered reinstatement and a reasonable time in which to accept or decline the offer.
| To: | John P. Coddington, AAUP Chapter President Mary Papke, Faculty Senate President |
|
| From: | Bill Rice | |
| Subject: | Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine Knoxville Memorial Hospital |
| cc: | J. Wade Gilley, President, The University of Tennessee Charles Leffler, President, Faculty Senate, UT Health Science Center R. A. Palazzolo, Chief Academic Officer |
NOTES ON MEETING WITH RICE, CAUDLE, NEUTONS
ENDING OF DEPARTMENT & RESIDENCY
| Senate Directory Officers Committees Members |
Governing Documents Senate Bylaws Faculty Handbook Tenure Policy |
Search
Reports |
Calendar
Archives |
Resources
Senate Home |