REDUCTION OF STAFF FOR DISCONTINUANCE OF PROGRAMS AND FINANCIAL EXIGENCY
14.1 Whenever the discontinuance of faculty is contemplated for reasons consonant with the long-range educational mission of the University or for what the Administration believes to be a bona fide financial exigency, the procedures below shall be followed.
14.2 Should the Administration determine that the fiscal position of the University has deteriorated to an extent which warrants informing the Board of Trustees of a financial exigency that may require a reduction in the faculty, the Administration shall notify the AAUP promptly.
14.3 At a time mutually agreeable to both parties, but in no case less than five (5) days before presentation to the Board of Trustees, a meeting shall be held between the President of the University, the Xxxxxxx, the appropriate Vice President or Vice Provosts, and the AAUP for the purpose of reviewing the entire budgetary outlook of the University. The President, the Xxxxxxx, and the appropriate Vice President or Vice Provosts shall document the financial position of the University and its reasons for its declaration to the AAUP along with recommendations for alleviating the situation.
14.4 At that or a subsequent meeting, but prior to the meeting with the Board, the AAUP may present to the Xxxxxxx its own recommendations for resolving the exigency, in the hope that the recommendations given to the Board are the joint recommendations of the parties.
14.5 In the event that the Administration wishes to present to the Board recommendations with which the AAUP does not concur, the AAUP shall be allowed to present to the Board or the appropriate committee of the Board its own recommendations prior to the time when the Board is to determine what course of action it shall take.
14.6 If the course of action adopted by the Board requires discontinuation or consolidation of existing programs with the resultant elimination of faculty, the Xxxxxxx, the AAUP, the Deans of the affected schools, the Head(s) of the affected department(s), and a faculty representative chosen by the Senate Executive Committee shall meet to identify faculty whose termination is to be recommended to the Xxxxxxx. In the course of such discussions regarding which faculty shall be terminated, the participants shall take into consideration, and where possible recommend, such things as shared or reduced load with proportionate reduction in salary, administrative assignment, the feasibility of early retirement, and the possibility of reassigning the faculty member, provided he/she is suitably qualified, to another unit of higher education.
14.7 The following criteria shall apply to the identification of faculty whose termination is to be recommended:
A. Except where demonstrable and serious distortion of an academic program would result, non-tenured faculty in an affected program will be terminated before any tenured faculty member is terminated.
B. In identifying tenured faculty whose termination is to be recommended, the following shall be taken into account: the academic needs of the affected program(s); the merit of the affected faculty as attested by peer reviews of scholarship, teaching, and service; the length of service of the affected faculty; and the Affirmative Action aims of the University.
C. In all cases requiring the termination of faculty, primary consideration shall be given to the University's responsibility to offer an appropriate range of courses and programs.
14.8 The following procedure shall govern the case of any faculty member whose termination is recommended to the Xxxxxxx:
A. Prompt notice of the recommendation to terminate will be given.
B. The faculty member given such notice shall have the right to a hearing under the grievance procedure specified in Article XV.S. of the University of Connecticut Laws and By-Laws, (Revised June 20, 2006).
14.9 If because of financial exigency the University terminates appointments, it will not at the same time make new appointments in the same department except where a serious distortion in a program of the University would otherwise result.
14.10 In all cases of termination because of financial exigency or program discontinuance, the place of the faculty member concerned will not be filled by a replacement within a period of two (2) years.
A. During a period of two (2) years from the date of termination, the terminated faculty member shall be offered reemployment in the same position should the position be restored. Any faculty member so recalled shall have thirty (30) days in which to accept such offer. Both the offer of reemployment and its acceptance or rejection shall be made by registered mail.
B. If a faculty member was enrolled in a health insurance program at the time of layoff during the recall period, he/she shall be entitled to purchase health insurance benefits for up to seventy-eight (78) weeks following the layoff at the group rate in effect for the bargaining unit.
C. A tenured faculty member who has received notice of layoff as the result of financial exigency shall be entitled during his/her period of notice up to $1,000 for reimbursement for fees charged by professional placement or occupational counseling services. Such fees shall be deducted from the Professional Development Fund in 19.IV.
D. A tenured faculty member who has received notice of layoff shall be entitled during his/her period of notice and recall to reimbursement for coursework for up to $1,500 per semester. The cost of reimbursement shall be deducted from the Professional Development Fund in 19.IV.F.
14.12 Standards of Notice for Tenured and Tenure-Track Employees
A. In all cases of termination or program discontinuance because of financial exigency, the following standards of final notice or severance salary in lieu thereof shall apply: In the first year of service, three (3) months; in the second, third or fourth year of service, six (6) months; after the fourth year of service, one (1) year. Tenured faculty shall be entitled to fifteen
