MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS

SELECTION OF DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON

The College Plan for the selection of Chairperson, along with the Timeline for the election process of Chairperson, is intended to keep the lines of communication open between faculty and administration as well as to safeguard the individual rights of all concerned.

College Plan for Selection of Chairperson

  1. Under any of the following conditions, the Vice President of Academic Affairs or his/her designee shall declare to the appropriate Instructional Dean and to the RFP faculty of the department that the position of Department Chairperson is vacant.  If a designee is appointed, the faculty of the department will be notified.
    1. When a Department Chairperson will have served for three full consecutive conventional academic years by July 1.
    2. When receipt of a recall petition is signed by 3/4 (75%) of the members of a department. (Rounding will be a round down.)
    3. When a chairperson is unable to complete the term.
    4. When a chairperson retires from residential status.
    5. When an interim chair completes the term.

Notification will be sent at the same time to all RFP faculty members of the departments undergoing chair elections. If the election is delayed, the RFP faculty members of the department should be so notified and the reason given. All notifications will be copied to the Faculty Senate President.

The timeline for the election process of the Department Chair elections is attached.

Hereafter, Vice President will refer to the Vice President of Academic Affairs.

  1. Eligible Voters:
    1. All RFP faculty members in a department who answer directly to that department's chair except OYOıs and OSO's.
    2. Any RFP faculty members in a department that accept an "Acting Administration" or Management position or any position outside their department in an "acting" capacity shall retain voting rights in their department for one year from acceptance of said position.
    3. Non-eligible voters - Any RFP faculty member who continues beyond the one year in an "acting" capacity in the original position or any position that does not answer to the Department Chair directly, will no longer be eligible to vote in that department.
    4. Any RFP faculty member currently in an approved absence status (e.g., sabbatical, medical, etc.) may vote and self-nominate by submitting a notarized nomination letter and/or ballot.                                                                                                                              
  2. A residential faculty department member (as stated in B. Eligible Voters), may become a candidate for the position of Department Chairperson by returning in person or by a notarized letter the self-nomination form to the Vice Presidentıs office. If the Vice President feels that he/she cannot accept the candidate if he/she were elected, the Vice President must so state to the candidate in accordance with the following timetable:
    1. Within four (4) working days of receipt of the self-nomination form, the Vice President must inform the candidate that the Vice President cannot accept the candidate if he/she were elected.
    2. Within three (3) working days of being informed of non-acceptance of his/her self-nomination, the faculty member may request that the Vice President advise him/her of reason(s) for non-acceptance.
    3. If the non-acceptable candidate(s) wish(es), an appeal to a standing committee for review shall be made so that a recommendation to the President of the College can be made.            
      1. The review committee will be composed of the Vice President, the President of the Faculty Senate, and the Chair of the Department Chair Association.
      2. Within seven (7) working days, the review must convene.
      3. If a consensus has not been reached within three (3) working days, the non-acceptable candidate can further appeal in accordance with the provisions of the RFP.                                                                                                                
    4. This process referenced here will be completed prior to the chair election in the particular department.                                                                                                 
  3. Ballots will be distributed to faculty by mail and returned in person or by a notarized letter by the faculty member to the Office of the Vice President. A qualified eligible voter will be a residential faculty member in the department at the time of election as specified in B. The teaching load of the faculty member determines the department where the faculty votes unless the load is 50/50 for the year. If the teaching load is 50/50, the person votes in the department of hire. The Vice President will notify and permit the inclusion of the vote of faculty members on leave. The Vice President in conjunction with the appropriate Dean of Instruction and the President of Faculty Senate (or designee) will tally the ballots. Until a simple majority of votes is obtained from faculty who cast ballots, a series of ballots will be cast each time removing the name with the smallest number of votes on the previous ballot. In case of a tie, the Vice President will cast a deciding ballot.                                                                                                 
  4. The result of the balloting constitutes a recommendation to the Vice President. This recommendation is then submitted by the Vice President to the President.                                         
  5. The Vice President will notify all candidates of the election results prior to the results being made public.  Notification of election results will also be sent to the College President, Deans of Instruction, Faculty Senate President, and Chair of the Department Chair Association.  The numerical results of the ballot count will be available to any candidate at his/her request.

Notification

  1. (1) (5) The Vice President and the Dean of Instruction will notify the members of the department that the position of Department Chair will become vacant according to A (1 or 5) of the College Plan.
    1. A. (2) (3) (4) The Vice President and the Dean of Instruction will notify the members of the department of the need for a Department Chair election according to A (2,3, or 4) of the College Plan.  Notification will be made within five (5) working days of the vacancy. The department members will meet immediately with the Vice President or the Dean of Instruction to establish dates for the election of the Department Chair. The department will adhere to the timeline outlined below.

Timeline for the Election Process of Department Chairperson

(The department may meet with the Vice President or his/her designee to establish earlier dates.)

  1. The Vice President will notify department members within five (5) working days of the vacancy.
    1. The self-nominating process will be officially opened.
    2. Nomination forms will be available in the Vice President's office for any residential faculty member.                                                                                                                
  2. Any residential faculty member of the department may self-nominate by returning, in person or by a notarized letter, the self-nomination form to the Vice President.
    1. Self-nominating forms are due within five (5) working days after notification.
    2. Within five (5) working days, the Vice President will announce to the department members the names of the candidates.                                                                           
  3. Each department is encouraged to conduct a forum wherein each candidate will present his/her goals and objectives as department chair.  This forum will be held within ten (10) working days of the announced candidacy.                                                                                                              
  4. Ballots for the election will be distributed to the department members. Department members will return their ballots to the Vice President in person or by a notarized letter. Voting will be completed within five (5) working days of the distribution of ballots.                                               
  5. Within three (3) working days, the Vice President will notify all candidates of the election results prior to the results being made public. The numerical results of the ballot count will be available to any candidate at his/her request.  Within five (5) working days, the President, or designee, will notify the department of the election results.

Approved by Department Chair Association

Approved by the Department Chair Association on October 1, 2001 and approved amendments on February 7, 2005.

 

Approved by Faculty Senate on November 18, 1999 and approved amendments by the Faculty Senate on October 18, 2001 and approved amendments on February 17, 2005.

 

 

 

AMENDMENT TO THE COLLEGE PLAN

MESA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

CHAIR ABSENCE

When a sitting chair is absent from the chair position for 12 months or less, the department faculty may decide to elect an interim chair to serve during the chair's absence. If the department faculty decide not to elect an interim, the department chair shall appoint an acting chair.  If the department decides to elect an interim chair, the department will follow the Selection process as outlined in B. ­ F. above.

When a sitting chair is absent for more than 12 months, the department faculty have two options: (1) they may choose to elect a new chair to complete the remainder of the absent chair's term or (2) elect an interim chair to serve during the absent chair's absence.

Approved by:

MCC Department Chair Association April 21, 2000 and approved amendments by the Department Chair Association February 7, 2005.

MCC Faculty Senate April 21, 2000 and approved amendments by the Faculty Senate February 17, 2005.

DEPARTMENT CHAIR JOB DESCRIPTION

 

 INTRODUCTION

 

Department Chairs have the authority at the department level in all matters relating to department functions.

 

TITLE: DEPARTMENT CHAIRPERSON

 

QUALIFICATIONS:

 

Certified residential appointive/probationary faculty of the department.

 

REPORTS TO:

Appropriate Vice President.

 

JOB GOALS:

  1. Exhibits leadership in establishing academic priorities.
  2. Represents the department faculty and students.
  3. Promotes on-going improvement.
  4. Motivates faculty.

 

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES:

  1. Conducts Department business.
    1. Leads the department in the development of a strategic plan and department budget.
    2. Manages the department budget.
    3. Engages in problem solving at the department level.
    4. Works to resolve faculty and student conflicts.
    5. Schedules and conducts department meetings.
    6. Prepares class schedules.
    7. Assigns department faculty to teaching and other responsibilities.
    8. Develops and administers department student advisement.
    9. Submits and/or processes reports as required.
    10. Prepares and edits department catalog materials.
    11. Supervises the inventory of moveable and fixed equipment assigned to the department.
    12. May appoint, as appropriate, the evening, summer school and off-site supervisor and program coordinator.
    13. Oversees the department student help program.

 

  1. Administers department personnel staffing.
    1. Recommends faculty and staff employment.
    2. Coordinates employment procedures.
    3. Evaluates department faculty and staff.
    4. Recommends retention or dismissal of department faculty and staff.
    5. Informs adjunct faculty of certification requirements and responsibilities.
    6. Develops and administers a procedure for use of substitutes in the department.
    7. Verifies faculty and staff accountability.

 

  1. Coordinates and facilitates the improvement of instruction.
    1. Supervises and evaluates department programs.
    2. Works with faculty to develop a selection process for textbooks and related materials.
    3. Recommends the revision, deletion and addition of courses for the department.
    4. Works with advisory committees in the development of new curricula.
    5. Develops and implements a mentoring process for new faculty.
    6. Encourages professional growth.

 

  1. Facilitates department-administrative-community relations.
    1. Attends meetings and conferences as deemed appropriate and/or required.
    2. Serves on campus and District committees.
    3. Serves as a liaison coordinating department and community issues as related to the teaching discipline.
    4. Takes initiative regarding projects shared by the community and the department.

 

Approved by DCA on October 5, 1998

 

 

Wynn Call  (DCA Chair of Chairs)

 

Approved by Faculty Senate on   10/5/98

 

Janice Reilly (Senate President)