CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH
POLICY STATEMENT 88-01
(supersedes Policy Statement 80-12 revised)
February 26, 1988
SUBJECT: DEPARTMENTALIZATION PROCEDURES
This policy, recommended by the Academic Senate at its meeting of
February 26, 1987, received the concurrence of the President on February
26, 1988.
1.0 Purpose Statement.
This policy provides the process for initiation, consultation, and
any appeal relative to the formation of a new department, transfer
of a department or part thereof from one School to another, dissolution
of an existing department, or merger of two or more existing departments
or parts of such departments.
2.0 Definitions.
2.1 Department. Except in extraordinary instances, for which special
justification shall be required, an academic department shall meet
the following criteria:
A. A minimum of six tenure track faculty, three of whom must be
tenured. Faculty members with joint appointments qualify as department
members. (See 3.1)
B. The authorization to offer a major in a discipline recognized
in American universities of higher standing.
2.2 Throughout this document the words council, dean, and school,
shall be understood to be plural whenever more than one school is
involved.
3.0 Application.
3.1 The status of any department or program in existence on the
effective date of this policy shall not be changed solely because
it does not meet the definition above.
3.2 This document does not apply to programs which are not currently
recognized by the University as departments.
4.0 Initiation.
The actions specified in section 1.0 may be initiated by faculty
who would be members of (a) new, merged, transferred, or dissolved
departments(s); by the school council(s) with jurisdiction over
such department(s); or by the school dean(s) with such jurisdiction.
5.0 Preparation of proposal.
Those initiating an action specified in section 1.0 shall provide
written notice of intention to the members of the affected department(s)
and, with the assistance of appropriate University officers, prepare
a study that shall include at least the following elements:
Reasons for the proposed action;
Fiscal impact of the proposed action;
Impact on curriculum and proposed or existing accreditation;
Where appropriate, the conformance of the proposed action with the
definitions in section 2.0 of this policy.
6.0 Consultation process.
6.1 The faculty members in the department(s) referred to in section
4.0 shall meet to consider the proposed action and shall vote to
recommend or oppose the proposed action. If faculty in more than
one department are subject to the action referred to in 1.0, the
faculty subject to such action shall vote separately in each of
the departments. Such vote must be taken within 22 working days
from the date that the initiators send a completed proposal to the
department with a written request for the department to vote on
the matter. A written notice from the department to the initiators
will automatically extend the period for an additional 10-working-day
period.
6.2 The initiator(s) of the action referred to in section 4.0, if
not member(s) of the affected department (as specified in section
6.1), shall be invited to participate in the deliberations provided
for in that section.
6.3 The faculty recommendation provided for in section 6.1 shall
be submitted to the council of any school in which an affected department
is or would be located.
6.4 The initiator(s) of the action referred to in section 4.0 shall
be invited to participate in the discussions of the school council.
6.5 The recommendation of the school council shall be conveyed to
the dean of the school within 22 working days after the proposed
action is submitted to it.
6.6 Written notice from the deliberating department or council will
automatically extend the time period for an additional 10- day working
period.
6.7 If both the department and the council make the same recommendation
and the dean agrees with them, the recommendation with rationale
shall be submitted to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs for
review. If the Vice-President for Academic Affairs concurs, the
dean shall implement the proposal.
If the dean disagrees with either the department or the council
or both, he/she shall consult with the disagreeing parties. Following
this consultation where the situation remains the same, the recommendations
are forwarded to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs. The dean's
compelling reasons shall be stated in writing and shall be presented
to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs along with any written
statements of reasons from the initiators, the department, and the
council. The Vice- President for Academic Affairs shall review the
matter.
If there is disagreement by any party with the recommendation(s),
the Vice-President shall within 22 working days refer the matter
to the Planning and Educational Policies Council via the Academic
Senate Chair for its deliberations and recommendations.
7.0 Role of the Planning and Educational Policies Council.
7.1 All parties to the dispute shall have the opportunity to be
heard by the Planning and Educational Policies Council.
7.2 The Planning and Educational Policies Council shall consider
the evidence provided by all parties to the dispute and shall make
recommendations about any matters it thinks appropriate. These may
include such questions as the effect of the change on the educational
program of the University, the procedures followed, and other matters
related to the proposed change.
7.3 The Planning and Educational Policies Council may request additional
information or materials from the dean, the school council, the
department and the initiators.
7.4 No member of the faculty from a school which has deliberated
under the provisions of section 6.0 shall sit in review as a member
of the Planning and Educational Policies Council.
7.5 The Planning and Educational Policies Council shall within 22
working days, submit its recommendation and justification in writing
via the Academic Senate Chair to the Vice President for Academic
Affairs.
7.6 The Vice-President for Academic Affairs shall review the matter
and, if he/she is in disagreement with the recommendation of the
Planning and Educational Policies Council, he/she shall submit compelling
reasons in writing for his/her decision to the Academic Senate Chair.
8.0 Implementation.
8.1 The Vice-President for Academic Affairs shall delay implementation
of the decision until all elements of this policy have been followed.
8.2 Implementation of the final decision must be made effective
at the beginning of the subsequent academic year.
8.3 No action taken under this policy shall allocate or commit any
fiscal resources of the University.
Effective: IMMEDIATELY
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