Resolution 25-08 Department Reorganization

Definitions

A program is a designated and related cluster of credit bearing courses that constitute a coherent body of study within a discipline or a set of related disciplines. (AAUP, Recommended Institutional Regulations 4C2, 2011)
A department is an administrative unit which may house one or more programs. While departments are often organized around academic programs and RTP units, the purpose of the department is administrative: department members share resources (administrative support, office space, and funding, for example) and are led by a common department chair whom they jointly elected.

1.0 Policy on Restructuring of Academic Departments

1.1 Restructuring includes merger, combining or separation of academic departments, “the splitting or combining of academic departments; the moving of a program, or part thereof, from one academic department to another academic department, or from one college to another; the re-naming of a department; or other changes of a similar magnitude[1].

1.2 Restructuring Departments can be temporary or permanent,

1.2.1 When restructuring is temporary as a result of financial exigency a Memorandum of Understanding must be formally filed with the Provosts Office, Office of Faculty Affairs and Development, the Dean of the college where the restructuring occurred, and communicated with all faculty who are impacted by the restructuring.

1.2.2 Temporary restructuring measures taken under financial exigency are meant as short-term solutions and shall not exceed one year (or a specified term) without review. If a temporary restructuring is to be extended or made permanent, it must either be renewed via a new MOU (if still under exigency conditions) or undergo the standard restructuring process outlined in this policy.

1.2.3 When a proposed reorganization will result in the discontinuation of an academic program or the layoff of any tenured or tenure-track faculty, the procedures outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement and any applicable campus policy on program discontinuance shall be adhered to. This restructuring policy is not intended to be a substitute for the due process required in program elimination or faculty layoff situations

1.2.4 Permanent Restructuring must adhere to the process outlined below.

2.0 Who can initiate the request to restructure a department?

The following individuals have standing to initiate department restructuring:

2.1 The Department Chair(s)/Program Director(s) of the degree program(s) with the written approval of a majority of the faculty in the program(s), and in appropriate instances, the Program Review Committee;

2.2 The Dean(s) of the College(s) in which the degree program(s) is housed.

2.3 The Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

3.0 Department Restructuring Process: Initial Proposal

3.1 Department restructuring shall be a data informed, deliberative process. Proposals for department reorganization shall include a clear rationale and impact analysis. The proposer shall develop a proposal for department reorganization in consultation with the Dean(s) of the College(s) impacted and shall include the following:

3.1.1 The benefits of restructuring for students, faculty and staff, and the university as a whole.

3.1.2 The proposal shall be presented to the faculty, staff, and students of the impacted departments and programs (need not be in one setting)

3.1.3 The proposal for restructuring shall be sent to both the Provost and the Academic Senate Chair.

3.1.4 The proposal shall be presented at the Chair/College Council(s) of the impacted College(s). And the Council(s) shall formulate a statement of support or disapproval, including their rationale.

3.1.5 The proposal shall be presented to the Academic Senate as an informational item. The same proposal will be disseminated to the entire campus community[2].

4.0 Administrative Analysis Conducted by Provost

The Provost will conduct Administrative Analysis of the anticipated logistical and budget implications (including, costs, funding sources, shared or separate resource requirements, staffing, space allocations, impact on RTP guidelines and committees, etc.) associated with the proposed reorganization and/or move.

4.1 When a preliminary faculty relocation plan is part of a reorganization proposal such a plan shall be developed through a consultative process with the California Faculty Association (CFA) and the Office of Faculty Affairs.

4.2 The number and type of university staff employed in the program and the way(s) in which the program reorganization will affect them.

4.3 Statement from faculty and the deans of the colleges impacted.

4.4 A plan for disseminating information to current students currently enrolled in the impacted program(s).

4.5 The report shall be submitted to the Academic Senate Executive Committee and the Academic Senate.

5.0 Consultative Process

5.1 Individuals making the request shall engage in pro-active consultation with all faculty and staff of the departments, academic programs, colleges, or others that might reasonably be expected to be impacted by the proposal, including the appropriate Chair/College Council(s). This period of consultation should not conclude prior to the time that the findings of the administrative analysis is complete and has been made available.

5.2 All parties wishing to express support or opposition to the proposal (with rationale and results of faculty voting, where appropriate) communicate directly with those who made the original request, who are responsible for compiling all such responses and including them in all subsequent distribution(s) of the proposal.

5.3 Administrative Analysis and a summary of results from consultative process are added to the original proposal for subsequent distribution.

6.0 Vote in the affected Colleges and Departments

Upon completion of the consultative process and administrative analysis, faculty and staff within the affected colleges and departments are provided an opportunity to review the proposal (5.3) following typical debate or discussion of the proposal.

6.1 A representative nonbinding vote is held on the proposal at the College Council meeting.

6.2 In parallel, a nonbinding vote is held on the proposal by all impacted faculty and staff via electronic ballot by each impacted program.

6.3 Results of voting will be presented by each impacted program.

7.0 Academic Senate Executive Committee Review

A review by the Academic Senate Executive Committee is conducted to ensure compliance with the policy. When procedures have not been followed, the Academic Senate Chair can direct the proposal back to a previous level.

7.1 At any point in the process, if an affected party believes that the procedural steps in this policy have not been adequately followed, they may submit a written concern to the Academic Senate Executive Committee (or appropriate administrator), who will review the concern and, if warranted, require remedial action before the proposal proceeds

8.0 Academic Senate Review and Vote

8.1 The complete proposal and supporting documentation shall be presented to Academic Senate for discussion and final vote. The results shall be communicated to the Provost and the campus at large.

8.2 If approved, every effort to ensure any increased workload (including chairs and staff) will be appropriately compensated.

[1] Academic Units and Programs, Policy on Re-Organization or Moving of Policy Statement, ASCSS, 2024

[2] All represented employees retain their rights to contact their respective bargaining units.