Members of the Faculty Senate debated and approved proposed changes to the post-tenure review policy at their Dec. 9 meeting. The changes further clarify policy revisions approved in 2011.
Changes to the policy (section 5.3.4) eliminate the salary increase tied to post-tenure review and clarify administrator responsibilities in the review process. Senators also amended and approved a change that eliminates the "exceeding expectations" performance review outcome, leaving two possible outcomes: meeting expectations or below expectations.
Other Faculty Handbook changes approved by the senate include:
- Clarification of the contracts for lecturers and clinicians, including minimum appointment periods and renewal notices (section 5.4.1.1)
- Language revisions for the nonrenewal and termination policy for lecturer and clinician appointments (section 3.4.1.1)
- Changes that allow a Distinguished Professor designation for potential high-impact faculty hires who hold the same designation at their current institutions (section 6.3.1.1)
New academic programs
Senators fast-tracked the approval of a proposed master of business analytics -- an interdisciplinary program administered by the supply chain and information systems department. A similar program is being developed by the University of Iowa.
Iowa State's 30-credit program is aimed at industry professionals and consists of online coursework and a few campus visits. Tim Bigelow, chair of the senate's academic affairs council, said Iowa's program would feature "face-to-face delivery."
"There is discussion going on between the two universities," Bigelow said. "The collaboration between (Iowa and Iowa State) will not impact the proposed curriculum of the new master of business analytics. Some of the details with how the Business college will be able to work with University of Iowa to make a higher quality program for both institutions are still under way, but our curriculum is stand-alone and will not be pulled together."
An undergraduate certificate in computing applications also was approved. The program is a collaboration of departments (computer science, electrical and computer engineering, and supply chain and information systems) in three colleges. It is intended to give undergraduates technical skills in computer systems.
Other business
Three items were introduced and will be eligible for a vote at the Jan. 20 senate meeting:
- Name change for the leadership certificate program, to certificate in leadership studies
- Name change for the master's degree in operations research, to operations analytics
- Faculty Handbook revisions to clarify requirements for probationary period extensions (section 5.2.1.4)
