Department The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities or any successor state agency.
Departments Each teaching member shall belong to one home department. Departments of a university shall be established by the University administration with the advice of the Senate according to criteria of commonality of interest and academic purpose, without any numerical limits on size. Divisions or other major groupings of departments with some common interest may also be formed.
5.14.1 Interdisciplinary academic programs may also be established by the University Administration with the advice of the Senate following consultation with appropriate faculty bodies. Members who teach in or direct such programs shall remain members of their home departments.
Department Heads Department heads shall normally be tenured and hold the rank of Associate Professor or Professor in one of the departments to be served, unless mutually agreed to by the departmental faculty and administration.
3.1.2.1 When it becomes known that a department head position will become vacant, or if the department head position has already become vacant, or if a new department is created, the xxxx of the college shall meet with the department faculty within two (2) weeks to discuss qualifications and expectations for the position. Specific guidelines will be formulated which may include:
a. Whether internal and/or external candidates shall be considered
b. Desired qualifications, including rank
c. Budgetary considerations
d. The target number of recommended candidates that will be submitted to the xxxx for consideration
3.1.2.1.1 Following the discussion described in 3.1.2.1, the department faculty shall communicate their recommendations within two (2) weeks to the xxxx. The xxxx shall promptly confirm or modify the department faculty’s recommendations and communicate the guidelines and procedures in choosing the new department head.
3.1.2.2 The department faculty will formulate its recommendation(s) among all candidates and forward same to the xxxx, with supporting rationale. When the department faculty is able to find more than one (1) acceptable candidate, the department may rank order its list of acceptable candidates and give reasons for its ranking. If the department is able to find only one (1) acceptable candidate, it shall recommend that candidate. If the department faculty does not find an acceptable candidate, the search will be ended. The xxxx will review the departmental recommendation(s) with the PVPAA. If the department’s recommendation(s) is approved by the PVPAA, the PVPAA shall recommend the appointment of the candidate to the President of the University. If the University does not accept the recommended candidate(s), the University has the right to declare the search process has ended.
3.1.2.3 In the event a department head position is not filled in a timely fashion through the preceding procedures, the Board may appoint a department head for a period not to exceed one (1) year. During this year the procedures specified in sections 3.1.2.1 and 3.
Department Chairs The release time required to perform the administrative functions of the Department Chair positions shall be deducted from the total workload of the Department Chair with no less than fifty percent (50%) of this release taken from direct instructional duties.
Grievance Commissioner System This is to confirm the discussion of the parties during collective bargaining that they are committed to encouraging early discussion and resolution of labour relations issues at the local level and seek to resolve grievances in a timely and cost efficient manner. To that end, this is to confirm that pursuant to Article 8, the parties agree that the Employer and Union at individual nursing homes may agree to utilize the following process in order to resolve a particular grievance through the utilization of a joint mediation-arbitration procedure:
Department Head A. Within ten (10) business days from his/her receipt of the decision resulting from the previous level, the employee may appeal to the Department Head using the original copy of the grievance.
B. Within ten (10) business days from the receipt of the employee's grievance, the Department Head or his/her designated representative who has not been involved in the grievance in prior levels shall make a thorough review of the grievance, meet with the parties involved and give a written decision and the reasons therefore to the employee and the Union representative. However, the Department Head or designate is not limited to denying a grievance for the reasons stated at any previous level in the procedure. Upon request, a copy of the decision will be given to the Union representative.
C. If the Department Head or his/her designated representative fails to give a decision within the specified time limit, the Union shall have the option of referring a grievance alleging a violation of the negotiated agreement between the parties to arbitration.
D. On matters that are not subject to arbitration pursuant to Section 8 hereafter, the written decision of the Department Head or his/her designated representative shall be final.
Department Responsibilities The use of sick leave may properly be denied if these procedures are not followed. Abuse of sick leave on the part of the employee is cause for disciplinary action. Departmental approval of sick leave is a certification of the legitimacy of the sick leave claim. The department head or designee may make reasonable inquiries about employee absences. The department may require medical verification for an absence of three (3) or more working days. The department may also require medical verification for absences of less than three (3) working days for probable cause if the employee had been notified in advance in writing that such verification was necessary. Inquiries may be made in the following ways:
1. Calling the employee's residence telephone number or other contact telephone number provided by the employee if telephone notification was not made in accordance with departmental sick leave call-in guidelines. These inquiries shall be subject to any restrictions imposed by the employee under Section 14.4.a.
2. Obtaining the employee's signature on the Absence/Overtime Record, or on another form established for that purpose, as employee certification of the legitimacy of the claim.
3. Obtaining the employee's written statement regarding the sick leave claim and duration.
4. Requiring the employee to obtain a physician's certificate or verification of the employee's illness, date(s) the employee was incapacitated, and the employee's ability to return to work, as specified above.
5. In absences of an extended nature, requiring the employee to obtain from their physician a statement of progress and anticipated date on which the employee will be able to return to work, as specified above. Department heads are responsible for establishing timekeeping procedures which will insure the submission of a time card covering each employee absence and for operating their respective offices in accordance with these policies and with clarifying regulations issued by the Office of the County Administrator. To help assure uniform policy application, the Director of Human Resources or designated management staff of the County Human Resources Department should be contacted with respect to sick leave determinations about which the department is in doubt.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL IMPROVEMENT A. The Board of Education agrees to pay the actual tuition costs of courses taken by a teacher at accredited colleges or universities up to three courses per two (2) year fiscal periods from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008 and July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2010 respectively, except as follows:
1. No teacher may be reimbursed for courses taken during the first year of teaching in Vineland.
2. Teachers taking courses in the second and third years of employment in Vineland will not receive remuneration until tenure has been secured. The remuneration will then be retroactive and will be paid to the teacher in a lump sum within sixty (60) days after the teacher has secured tenure.
3. All courses must be pre-approved by the Superintendent or his designee subject to the following requirements:
(a) A teacher must provide official documentation that he/she has obtained a grade of B or better;
(b) Reimbursement shall be paid only for courses directly related to teacher’s teaching field which increase the teacher’s content knowledge and are related to the teacher’s current certification, as determined by the Superintendent or his/her designee in his/her sole discretion; no reimbursement shall be paid for courses leading to a post graduate or professional degree in a field other than education or teaching. Further, effective September 1, 2010, all newly hired teachers shall not be eligible for reimbursement until they are tenured, and they shall not be eligible for retroactive reimbursement upon gaining tenure for courses taken prior to being tenured.
(c) The maximum total payments to be made by the Board shall not exceed $130,000.00. Courses shall be applied for no earlier than the following dates: Summer Session - April 1 Fall/Winter Session - June 1 Spring Session - October 1 Courses must, as set forth hereinabove in this sub-article 18.A.3, be pre-approved by the Superintendent or his designee, prior to the teacher commencing the course(s); and
(d) Teacher taking courses shall sign a contract requiring them to reimburse the Board for all tuition paid for a course if the teacher shall voluntarily leave the employ of the Board within one (1) full school/academic year of completion of said course, except that reimbursement shall not be required when the teacher shall voluntarily leave the employ of the Board due to a significant, documented life change.
4. Tuition reimbursement costs shall be a sum not to exceed the actual cost of college credits charged in an accredited public State college/University of the State of New Jersey.
B. When the Superintendent initiates in-service training courses, workshops, conferences and programs designed to improve the quality of instruction, the cooperation of the Vineland Education Association will be solicited. Notwithstanding the above, the initiation of in-service training courses, workshops, conferences and programs shall be determined solely at the discretion of the Board.
C. One professional leave day may be granted to a teacher upon request, according to the following guidelines:
1. The professional day may be for attendance at a workshop, seminar or visit to another school for the expressed purpose of self professional improvement for the job.
2. The request shall arrive in the office of the Superintendent of Schools at least ten (10) working days prior to the date requested and shall be reviewed by the immediate supervisor prior to submission. The Board reserves the right to deny a professional leave day before or immediately following a holiday or on a day which by its nature suggests a hardship for providing a substitute.
3. No more than two teachers from any one elementary school or from any one department in the secondary schools may be granted a professional leave for a given day.
4. The teacher may be required to submit a report to the Superintendent of Schools, Assistant Superintendent, supervisor (s), principal and staff regarding the activity of the professional day.
5. Costs incurred by the teacher for the professional day authorized under this Section shall be the teacher’s responsibility.
6. A maximum of 90 professional leave days may be authorized for the school year which shall be apportioned as follows: elementary, 35; grades seven and eight, 20; and high school, 35.
D. If the Board initiates a teacher’s attendance at a professional workshop, seminar or visit, the expenses shall be the responsibility of the Board. Further, this day shall not be subtracted from the 90 professional leave days granted to teachers of the Association.
E. The Board agrees to pay the full cost of courses taken by secretaries related to skills and knowledge improvement when such courses are required and approved by the Board.
F. The Board and the Association agree that it is important to communicate when developing and implementing current and future learning technologies, including but not limited to distance and on-line learning.
Statewide HUB Program Statewide Procurement Division Note: In order for State agencies and institutions of higher education (universities) to be credited for utilizing this business as a HUB, they must award payment under the Certificate/VID Number identified above. Agencies, universities and prime contractors are encouraged to verify the company’s HUB certification prior to issuing a notice of award by accessing the Internet (xxxxx://xxxxx.xxx.xxxxx.xx.xx/tpasscmblsearch/index.jsp) or by contacting
Department Chairpersons 17.1 In each elementary, middle and senior high school, the need for department chairpersons/team leaders shall be determined by the principal. Each such department chairperson/team leader shall be appointed for one
(1) academic year. If possible, such appointment should be made prior to the end of the preceding academic year. Teachers shall have the right to refuse such appointment. Team leaders will have coordinating and planning functions for their teams and shall serve as liaison between their teams and the principal. They shall not be considered administrative employees.
17.2 When feasible, and after consultation with them, department chairpersons and team leaders will be provided with release time commensurate with the responsibilities assigned to them by their principal.
