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SECTION 2

RECRUITMENT, APPOINTMENTS, EVALUATIONS, FACULTY PERSONNEL FILES

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Topics within this section that are related to faculty are governed by the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the California State University and the California Faculty Association and various federal and state laws. Sonoma State University has established policies and procedures for recruitment, reappointments, tenure, evaluation of faculty and maintaining confidentiality of faculty personnel files. These policies and procedures are periodically updated to ensure compliance with the CBA as well as various federal and state laws. Provisions of the CBA may be viewed at the web site noted below.

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Articles 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15

Recruitment of Faculty

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A copy of the SSU faculty recruitment policy may be obtained through the Faculty Affairs Office. Specialized questions regarding the recruitment, selection and appointment of faculty should be addressed to the Faculty Affairs Office. The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA) makes it unlawful to hire, recruit, or refer for a fee, any person who is not authorized to accept employment in the United States. In guidelines published by the Chancellor's Office, HR 94-29, (dated October 14, 1994) the CSU established as policy, consideration of all applicants for employment, both United States citizens and noncitizens alike, irrespective of work authorization status at the time of the job application. This CSU policy allows campuses to consider unauthorized applicants, and then to assist them in obtaining appropriate work authorization before beginning their employment. Given the CSU policy to consider all candidates for employment, regardless of their work authorization status, Chancellor's Office legal guidance states that questions regarding a job applicant's authorization to work in the United States during a recruitment are irrelevant and can later be the fodder for claims of discrimination. They are therefore strongly discouraged. However, in a recruitment under the exception to the CSU policy, the campus may ask the following question: Are you currently authorized to work in the United States? This is the only acceptable question under the exception. The campus must refuse to consider all candidates who respond "no."

As with all federal and state laws pertaining to recruitment and employment, some exceptions are noted within the law or as interpretations which may result from the outcome of legal action. The Chancellor's Office has published policies and manuals to provide guidance to the campus. Some of the links below will provide additional information. Search committees should consult with the Faculty Affairs Office regarding concerns and exceptions related to the recruitment or appointment processes.

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/affirmativepolicy.htm

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Articles 12 and 16

http://www.calstate.edu/GC/Docs/Immigration_Manual.doc

http://www.calstate.edu/HRAdm/Policies.shtml

http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/fa/

The following link allows applicants and visitors to the campus to see and print a copy of the campus map and link to the map of directions to the campus.

http://www.sonoma.edu/university/maps.shtml

Recruitment of Academic Administrators and Other Administrators

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The campus policy which pertains to the recruitment and selection of administrators and academic-administrators, was formally established in 1989. This policy includes recruitment of administrative positions, such as senior level program directors and academic administrative positions, such as School Deans. The policy and procedures provide for faculty participation in the recruitment process.

http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/policies/facultyrepresentation.htm

When senior administrators are appointed, they are scheduled for periodic evaluations in compliance with the Management Personnel Plan (MPP) and campus policy. A faculty representative serves on the evaluation committee.

http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/policies/administrators.html

Appointment to Faculty

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Faculty include employees appointed to positions designated as coaches, counselors, department chairs, instructors, librarians, and professors. Titles assigned to faculty positions are identified in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the CSU and CFA and in the Salary Schedule. Faculty appointments may be made on an hourly or per assignment basis, for a semester, an academic year, a ten month work year, or twelve month work year. Since March 1, 1983, the California Faculty Association has been recognized by the Trustees as the sole and exclusive representative for bargaining Unit 3 (Faculty). Appointment to the faculty is governed by the CBA.

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Articles 12 , 20, and, 36

http://www.calfac.org

Appointment with Retreat Rights

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Academic administrators, such as School Deans, are normally appointed to management positions with retreat rights to an academic position within the area of their expertise. For example, the Dean of the School of Science and Technology may be granted retreat to a teaching position in Math. Normally the retreat is to a discipline in which the Dean possesses a terminal degree and has demonstrated teaching effectiveness, scholarship, research, creative achievement and professional development and service in higher education and the community. Appointments with tenure are made after an evaluation and recommendation by the appropriate department based on criteria and standards that are in accordance with academic procedures.

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/facultyrepresentation.htm

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/procedurestenuredpolicy.htm

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Articles 13, 14, and 15

Appointment to Non-Faculty Position

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Non-Faculty Appointments include managers, supervisors and support staff. The recruitment, appointment, and performance evaluation of support staff are governed by collective bargaining unit agreements. The recruitment, appointment, and performance evaluation of managers and supervisors are governed by the Management Personnel Plan (MPP). Employees whose positions are designated within the MPP serve at the pleasure of the President and are not granted permanent status in managerial or supervisory positions, and are normally not granted retreat rights. At SSU, retreat rights are normally granted to academic administrators, such as the Dean of an academic school. The provisions of the MPP require that managers be evaluated after six-months and one year of service, and subsequently at one year intervals. The Human Resource Office is responsible for administering the collective bargaining agreements of support staff and the MPP. This includes the responsibility for administering the classification and pay rates of positions designated as staff or management and for ensuring equity within the university in those personnel decisions.

All employees, except those employees who are members of the Management Personnel Plan (MPP), are represented in one of nine collective bargaining units. The State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) determines the composition of these units.

The non-faculty employee bargaining units are as follows:

Unit 1 Physicians/California Federation of the Union of American Physicians and Dentists
Unit 2 Health Care Support Services/California State Employees Association
Unit 4 Student Professionals/Academic Professionals of California
Unit 5 Operations Support Services/California State Employees Association
Unit 6 Skilled Crafts/State Employees Trade Council Local 1268, LIUNA, AFL-CIO
Unit 7 Clerical - Administrative Support Services/California State Employees Association
Unit 8 Security/Statewide University Police Association
Unit 9 Technical Support Services/California State Employees Association

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/positionpolicy.htm

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/recruitment.htm

http://www.sonoma.edu/uaffairs/policies/administrators.html

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/contracts.shtml

http://www.calstate.edu/HRAdm/Policies/mpp.shtml

http://www.calstate.edu/HR

http://www.perb.ca.gov

Faculty Development

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The Center for Teaching and Professional Development is available to assist faculty in all areas of their professional lives through a variety of activities. The Center sponsors workshops and discussion groups, arranges mentors for faculty, and offers confidential individual consultation. A variety of topics are addressed through the Center, including the use of computers and other technology in instruction, teaching methodology, curricular and instructional development, organizational development, research and writing, and faculty career development.

http://www.sonoma.edu/CTPD/

The SSU Writing Center works with the SSU faculty to help them improve their writing instruction and to advance the cause of writing across the curriculum at SSU. The Center is an instructional service whose function is to help SSU students, faculty, and staff members (as well as members of the wider community) become better writers and produce better written documents. The Center dispenses information about good writing and how to write well, and works one-on-one with writers and with small groups to help clients develop their writing skills.

http://www.sonoma.edu/Programs/WritingCenter/

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Article 26

http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/fa/

Faculty Evaluations, Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion (RTP)

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Faculty receive evaluations related to their assignments. Tenure track faculty are evaluated on their teaching effectiveness, scholarship, research, creative achievement and professional development and service in higher education and the community. Faculty appointed to a probationary position normally serve a total of six (6) years of full-time probationary service and are evaluated regularly during this period of probationary status.

Performance reviews of faculty are normally required for recommendations related to retention, award of tenure, and award of promotion. Faculty appointed to temporary positions are evaluated in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement and campus policy. Written evaluations and recommendations are placed in the faculty member's Personnel Action File which is maintained by the Faculty Affairs Office.

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/reappointment.htm

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/procedurestenuredpolicy.htm

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/periodicpolicy.htm

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Articles 13,14, 15, and 29

http://www.sonoma.edu/aa/fa/

Faculty Forms

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Faculty transactions, such as faculty leave requests, recruitment, appointment of faculty, including volunteer faculty, require the completion and approval of various forms. The forms are available on the Faculty Affairs webpage and at:

http://www.sonoma.edu/afd/forms

Faculty Post-Tenure Review

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Tenured faculty receive periodic performance evaluations conducted by a peer review committee and appropriate administrator. A copy of the summary reports of evaluation are placed in the faculty member's Personnel Action File.

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/procedurestenuredpolicy.htm

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Articles 15 and 29

Faculty Personnel Files

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The Personnel Action File is the official faculty personnel file for employment information and documentation that may be relevant to personnel recommendations or personnel actions regarding faculty. The Personnel Action File is maintained by the Faculty Affairs Office. There may be copies of documents in other working files, such as the Working Personnel Action Files which are maintained during the review and recommendation for reappointment, tenure and promotion. The Payroll and Compensation Office may also maintain duplicate copies of appointment letters and documents related to employee benefits. A faculty member has the right to submit material to the Personnel Action File and to request copies of documents from that file. Access to the Personnel Action File and to other files, such as the file maintained by the Payroll and Compensation Office is limited only to persons with official business. All instances of access to a Personnel Action File are logged on record as part of the official file.

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/reappointment.htm

http://www.sonoma.edu/UAffairs/policies/procedurestenuredpolicy.htm

http://www.calstate.edu/LaborRel/Contracts_HTML/CFA_CONTRACT/CFAtoc.shtml Articles 11, and 15

http://www.calstate.edu/HRAdm/Policies/TLPR93-01SUP1.pdf

 

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