University of Nebraska at Omaha
UNO global navigation:
You are here:
Relevant unomaha.edu links:
This page's main content:
UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA AT OMAHA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Governance Document
Article 1. The Department
This document provides for the governance of the Department of Foreign Languages in conformity with the by-laws of the Board of Regents and the policies of the College of Arts and Sciences.
Article 2. The Departmental Faculty
All persons holding the rank of instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor within the Department of Foreign Languages shall constitute the departmental faculty.
Article 3. Voting Privileges
Section 1
All departmental faculty at the rank of assistant, associate, and full professor, as well as members of the Minority Faculty Development program, shall be entitled to participatory and voting privileges, and decisions taken by vote shall be determined by a majority of those voting, exclusive of those absent for cause or abstaining.
Section 2
Robert's Rules of Order shall govern voting except as otherwise provided in this document. Upon request of three (3) members of the departmental faculty or at the discretion of the chair, voting will proceed via written ballot. Individuals eligible to cast ballots shall have delivered to them a ballot to be returned by a specific date. Ballots not returned by the date specified shall constitute an abstention.
Article 4. Departmental Chair
Section 1
The chair of the department is the person responsible for the administration of the department and its presiding officer at departmental meetings.
Section 2
In accordance with university regulations, and upon appropriate consultation with the departmental faculty, the dean shall recommend the departmental chair to the Chancellor, the President, and the Board of Regents.
Section 3
The chair shall be appointed for a term not to exceed three (3) years, but shall be eligible for reappointment. Within a reasonable time before recommending the initial appointment or reappointment of a chair, the Dean of the College shall be invited to take a closed ballot of unit members within the department on the question.
Section 4
The chair of the department may make recommendations to the dean concerning the welfare of the department. Before making such recommendations the chair shall consult with the appropriate departmental faculty. Where the recommendation of the chair differs from the advice given by the appropriate departmental faculty, the chair shall so inform the dean of the College in writing.
Article 5. Assistant Chair
The chair may nominate one full-time Foreign Language Faculty member to the office of assistant chair. The responsibilities of the assistant chair shall be assigned by the chair but shall not in any case abrogate the responsibilities of the chair as mandated by appropriate college and university bylaws.
The chair may submit the name of the faculty member to be considered for this position to the department before the end of the academic year. To be approved, the faculty member must receive a majority of votes of the members of the department, according to procedures described herein for written ballots. The term of the assistant chair shall be one year, beginning in the fall semester, and can be renewed.
Article 6. Departmental Meetings
Section 1
Meetings may be called by the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs, the Dean, the Chair, or by a majority of the departmental faculty.
Section 2
There shall be a sufficient number of departmental meetings during the academic year to dispose of necessary business.
Section 3
Agenda items for a meeting of the department shall be solicited from the entire faculty five (5) working days before a meeting. The agenda for a department meeting shall be distributed to the entire faculty three (3) working days before the meeting. Faculty members may raise urgent issues not included on the agenda; the appropriateness of the topic shall be decided on by a majority vote.
Section 4
A quorum shall consist of a majority of the departmental faculty.
Section 5
Minutes of all departmental meetings shall be recorded by the department secretary. A copy of the official minutes shall be distributed to each department member no later than five (5) working days after a meeting.
Section 6
Parliamentary authority shall consist of the most current edition of Robert's Rules of Order in all cases where applicable.
Article 7. Departmental Committees
Section 1
The Standing Committees will be the Advisory Committee, the Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee, and the Public Relations Committee. Members of the Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee and the Public Relations Committee shall be volunteers ratified by the chair. The Chair, in appropriate consultation with the department faculty, shall create and appoint ad hoc committees.
Section 2
Agenda items for all committees shall be solicited from committee members five (5) working days before a meeting. The agenda shall be distributed to committee members three (3) working days before the meeting. A copy of the official minutes shall be distributed no later than five (5) working days after each meeting.
Section 3
- The functions of the Advisory Committee shall be carried out by the department as a committee of the whole. The Advisory Committee shall be responsible for making recommendations on issues such as merit, reappointment, promotion, and tenure.
- The Curriculum and Academic Standards Committee shall address issues relating to Foreign Language curricula, class scheduling and articulation.
- The Public Relations Committee shall be concerned with all departmental relationships within and outside of the university and shall, in consultation with the Chair, be responsible for dissemination of information.
Article 8. Amendment of Governance Document
This governance document can be amended by an affirmative written vote by the majority of the departmental faculty.
Article 9. Acceptance of Governance Document
This governance document shall become operative as specified after an affirmative vote by the majority of the departmental faculty.
FINAL REVISION—ADOPTED 3/99
top of page
Department of Foreign Languages
University of Nebraska at Omaha
Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion Guidelines
I. Rationale
Whereas the Department of Foreign Languages was unable to produce a copy of departmental reappointment, tenure, and promotion guidelines when requested by the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Office in Spring, 2003, and whereas clear guidelines and policies will assist all faculty as they prepare for reappointment, tenure, and promotion, the ad hoc committee appointed by Dr. Carolyn Gascoigne hereby presents the following guidelines for consideration by department members to be voted on in a meeting of the Committee of the Whole to be held in September 2003. This document will then serve as an addendum to the Department of Foreign Languages governance document.
II. Departmental Procedures
- The candidate bears responsibility for preparing the annual reappointment materials and ultimately for making a judgment about readiness to apply for tenure and/or promotion.
- It is the candidate's responsibility to submit materials to the department in accordance with the posted departmental, college and university time frame. It is the responsibility of the Chair to prepare the schedule each fall; while the specific dates may vary slightly, the overall framework is consistent from year to year.
- Votes on reappointment, tenure, and promotion may be cast only by tenured faculty. A majority of those eligible to vote must support a recommendation for reappointment, tenure, or promotion in order for a positive recommendation to be made.
- Upon receipt of the candidate's materials, the Department Chair will convene the faculty review committee.
- The tenured faculty will base its evaluations and recommendations on the current departmental and college standards, its considered professional judgment, and outside peer review.
- As a part of committee deliberations, particularly in the annual reappointment reviews, the committee will provide opportunity for the candidate to respond to any specific concerns about progress in research and teaching that the committee may have.
- In accordance with university guidelines and procedures, all committee decisions and rationale will be rendered in writing to the candidate and committee members.
III. Criteria for Reappointment
- An assistant professor may be reappointed on an annual basis until he or she receives tenure or is promoted. No assistant professor shall be reappointed beyond a total of seven years as instructor and assistant professor at UNO.
- The faculty member must demonstrate competence in teaching as judged by students, peers, and the chairperson of the department.
- The faculty member must demonstrate competence in research as judged by peers and the chairperson of the department.
- The faculty member must show evidence of actively contributing to the welfare of the department through advising of students and service on committees.
IV. Criteria for Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor
The candidate in the Department of Foreign Languages must demonstrate either (1) excellence in research and proficiency in teaching OR (2) excellence in teaching and proficiency in research. In either case, contributions to the welfare of the department must be at least competent.
Minimum Profile 1
Excellence in Research—The candidate must have produced a cumulative body of research publications in refereed journals and engaged in other professional activity such as papers read at professional conferences of national and international standing. Research production must be found to be commensurate with the amount of released time taken by the candidate and must be judged by department faculty and three external reviewers (unaffiliated with the university) to be of exceptional quality. The candidate must also hold Graduate Faculty Status.
Evidence of research and creative activity may be illustrated through those types of activities that are listed under II.B.1.3. in the Guidelines on Promotion, Tenure, and Reappointment for the College of Arts and Sciences (pp.4-5). [College RPT Guidelines are available at the College website.]
Proficiency in Teaching—The candidate must show evidence of above average performance on the basis of student evaluations and peer evaluations, and a clear commitment to professional development (regular and active attendance at conferences and workshops, etc.).
Competency in Departmental Service—The candidate must be considered an active contributor to the welfare of the department as evidenced by a willingness to serve on ad-hoc committees, assist and advise students, attend and participate at all departmental meetings and events, and demonstrate no evidence of failure to contribute to the welfare of the department through advising of students and service on committees.
Minimum Profile 2
Excellence in Teaching—The candidate must show evidence of exceptional performance on the basis of student and peer evaluations, and engage in extensive pedagogical activity, such as regularly presenting pedagogical workshops and conference papers; receipt of a UNO teaching award would be additional evidence of exceptional performance. There should also be clear evidence of growth and innovation in classroom activities and in the variety of courses offered.
Evidence of teaching performance may be illustrated through those types of activities that are listed under II.B.1.2. in the Guidelines on Promotion, Tenure, and Reappointment for the College of Arts and Sciences (pp.3-4). [College RPT Guidelines are available at the College website.]
Proficiency in Research—The criteria are the same as the standards for excellence except that the body of research may be judged by department faculty and three external reviewers (unaffiliated with the university) to be of average to high quality. Research production must be found to be commensurate with the amount of released time taken by the candidate. The candidate must also hold Graduate Faculty Status.
Competency in Departmental Service—The candidate must be considered an active contributor to the welfare of the department as evidenced by a willingness to serve on ad-hoc committees, assist and advise students, attend and participate at all departmental meetings and events, and demonstrate no evidence of failure to contribute to the welfare of the department through advising of students and service on committees.
V. Criteria for Promotion to Full Professor
- An Associate Professor may not be recommended for promotion before completion of his/her fourth full academic year of service in rank.
- The minimum profiles are the same as for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor, but the recommendation is not automatic and will be based on professional achievements since the awarding of tenure. It is the responsibility of the candidate to show evidence of substantial new accomplishments.
- The Associate Professor must demonstrate evidence of actively contributing to the welfare of the department through advising of students and service on committees.
August 2003.
top of page
Department of Foreign Languages
General Merit Guidelines
Effective August 2005, yet subject to continued discussion and subsequent modifications at the August 2005 meeting.
I. Preparation
- Faculty members will complete their annual report according to university guidelines.
- Should a faculty member wish to be considered Meritorious, Highly Meritorious, or Extraordinarily Meritorious, he/she will include a cover sheet (one page maximum) containing an overall self-assessment of his/her performance: Meritorious, Highly Meritorious, or Extraordinarily Meritorious.
- Faculty members will provide (on the cover page) some explanation as to why they believe that they deserve their stated overall ranking by highlighting some of their major accomplishments in teaching, research, and/or service.
- Faculty members should also provide documentation where appropriate (e.g., copy of an article or presentation, teaching evaluations).
II. Review
- Each faculty member will review the annual report, merit cover sheet, and supporting documents of his/her colleagues.
- Using an anonymous ballot, each faculty member will assign an overall ranking to each colleague requesting merit (Meritorious, Highly Meritorious, Extraordinarily Meritorious), essentially agreeing or disagreeing with each self-assessment. There will be no separate merit meeting. Instead, ballots will be completed as faculty members individually review one another's documents.
- A minimum of three faculty volunteers will assemble to tally the ballots. The final merit category for each faculty member will be determined by a simple majority. In the case of a tie between two categories, the self-assessment will be accepted.
April 27, 2005
top of page
