Article 9 - Program Changes

Guidance for Program Changes Requiring Article 9  Notification

Overview and Timeline / Procedure for Article 9 Process¹

• Article 9 pertains to: Initiation, merger, reduction² or elimination of:
  • Academic Degree Programs³
  • Academic Departments / Schools or Library Affairs Unit
• “Affected Faculty” are FA‐represented Faculty with voting rights in Affected Department / School or Library Affairs Unit⁴. For purposes of interdisciplinary degree program proposals, affected Faculty shall also include those who hold cross‐appointment in the Affected department/school or Library Affairs unit(s).
• “Affected Department / School / Library Affairs Unit is defined as:
  • a department/school(s) that will be merged or reduced
  • a department/school(s) that either house(s) or will house the proposed academic degree program change;
  • a department/school(s) whose faculty workload/assignment, resources, or the status of faculty lines will be significantly altered by the program change.
• Proposal Development Phase (see section 9.03)
  • Proposals can be initiated by administrators or Faculty
  • Development of proposals should follow departmental / college operating paper requirements as appropriate
  • For Faculty‐initiated proposals, administrators may provide consultation, feedback and information, but shall not impede process.
  • If proposal involves initiation of interdisciplinary program or a merger of departments / schools, faculty from all affected departments / schools shall have opportunity to participate in proposal development process.
• A written proposal must ultimately be produced. Article 9 requires, minimally, that the following 7 components be included (we recommend organizing the proposal document around these 7 components).
  1. Description of the proposed change(s);
  2. Rationale;
  3. Impact on Faculty lines and Faculty workload (including redistribution of work);
  4. Impact on students (e.g., recruitment, retention, and placement) and ability to maintain curricula, particularly in the case of mergers;
  5. Estimated financial costs or savings, including source(s);
  6. Comparison of similar programs at peer institutions (when applicable and available); and
  7. Possible consequences of the proposed change on the University’s Carnegie Research status.

RME / NUI or other forms may be included with the written proposal but may not substitute for the proposal.

• Written proposal is presented, discussed and (possibly) revised with requirements as below: (See Section 9.04)
  • An appropriate administrator coordinates implementation of 9.04.
  • Written proposal (along with required notifications right to provide written dissenting opinions and responses) is provided tall affected faculty, relevant administrators and the FA president.
  • Administrator schedules meetings tallow for discuss of proposal:
    • One or more meetings for faculty in affected units, with non‐bargaining unit administrators absent.
    • One or more meetings for faculty in affected units, with relevant administrator(s) present.
  • The scheduled meetings shall allow for:
    • Questions and clarifications posed from affected Faculty;
    • Anonymous non‐binding vote(s) and anonymous feedback; and
    • Written drafts from Faculty or administrators to further develop or revise the proposal.
• Timeline for the meeting / dialogue process
  • No more than 90 days after distribution of written proposal
  • Proposal may move forward prior to 90 days upon 60% majority vote of affected faculty in each affected unit.
  • After 90 days, proposal advances automatically, UNLESS 60% majority vote by affected faculty in each affected unit to extend discussion period by 30 days.
  • At end of any 30 day extension, proposal automatically advances.
• Any dissenting opinions / written responses must be received within 7 days of conclusion of the discussion/dialogue process.
• All documents created / contributed during the process are assembled. This packet is referred to the Program Change Plan. Relevant documents include, but are not limited to:
  • The proposal
  • Results of non‐binding votes
  • Dissenting Opinions
  • Written Responses
  • Formal University Proposal Forms (e.g., RME, NUI)
• Program Change Plan is submitted to department / college curriculum committee for review as appropriate (with possible departmental modification), then APAP office for informal review (again, with possible modification).
• Final Program Change Plan is Presented for Discussion and Vote (Section 9.05)
  • Appropriate Administrator submits final plan to APAA office
  • Appropriate Administrator ensures Faculty in affected units have electronic access to final change plan.
  • APAA provides Plan (and affected unit vote deadlines) to the Association President
  • APAA provides deadline for vote to Affected Units
  • Faculty Association has minimum of 7 days following Faculty vote to submit a review.
  • Administrator in each affected unit calls vote to discuss Plan.
  • If multiple units are involved, an additional meeting will be called for all affected faculty from all affected units to attend.
    •  Faculty may invite administrators, by majority vote
    •  Faculty may keep minutes by majority vote
  • Following Meeting(s), vote is scheduled:
    • Voting occurs in each affected unit
    • Specific time and place to vote
    • Secret Ballot
    • Proxy votes allowed as per Operating Papers
    • Vote immediately tabulated in presence of Faculty
  • Summary of Vote, Minutes, unit report (including minority reports, letters of support, etc, if any) forwarded to APAA, who forwards to Senate/Council and Faculty Association.
• If substantive changes occur after Senate / Council review, the revised plan is re‐presented to faculty (Section 9.05)
• After final approval, APAA provides notification to Faculty Association.

¹ This document is a guide t/ summary of the contractual provisions in Article 9 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the SIUC Faculty Association. In the event of any conflict, the Collective Bargaining Agreement provisions take precedence.

² reducing a department by separating, severing, or removing a program, but not eliminating it

³ associates, bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees

⁴ For interdisciplinary degree program proposals, affected Faculty shall also include those who hold cross‐ appointment in the Affected department/school or Library Affairs unit(s)