Common use of Academic Program Discontinuance Clause in Contracts

Academic Program Discontinuance. In the life of a university, as knowledge expands and new academic programs flourish, some programs may diminish or become outmoded. In the process of discontinuing programs, three basic considerations must prevail: 1) maintenance of a strong and vigorous university, 2) fulfillment of commitments to students in the process of completing discontinued programs, and 3) the fulfillment of established faculty rights and due process to individual probationary or tenured faculty and unclassified staff members who may be subject to dismissal. Dismissal of individual faculty may occur as a result of program discontinuance. Within the constraints and necessity of program integrity and departmental policies, faculty will be released by appointment category and academic rank in the following order: part-time, temporary, tenure earning, and tenured; instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor.