University if Hawai‘i Board of Regents
from Chapter 1, General Provisions, Section 10

Section 1-10    Regents' Policy on Faculty Involvement in Academic Decision Making and Academic Policy Development.

Introduction

	With unanimous agreement and understanding that the faculty of an educational institution contributes to its quality, spirit, aspiration, and effectiveness, the Board of Regents issues this policy to provide for organized faculty involvement in the development and maintenance of institutional academic policies and to emphasize the maintenance of a collegial approach to academic decision making and policy development.  The role of a university faculty governance organization is to advise the administration (primarily at the campus and unit level) on matters impacting and/or relating to the development and maintenance of academic policy and standards to the end that quality education is provided, preserved, and improved.

	The Board of Regents has the ultimate responsibility for the governance of the University and the formulation of policies which guide and determine its affairs. In carrying out these ultimate responsibilities, the Board entrusts and delegates various functions to members of the University community and various organizational levels.  Unless specifically delegated or entrusted to others, all governing authority resides with the Board.

	The President of the University is the chief executive officer of the Board and the University, and has primary responsibility for recommending and implementing Board policies. The interpretation of Board policies, however, shall rest exclusively with the Board or its designee(s).

	The Chancellors have the leadership responsibility for the immediate operational management and governance of their respective organizational units within Board governing and Presidential administrative policy. (April 12, 1979; am: Oct. 18, 2002)

Policy
	
	It is the policy of the University to maintain and strengthen organized and systematic involvement by faculty in academic decision making and policy development. Consistent with this policy, the faculties of the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, the University of Hawai‘i at West O‘ahu, and the Community Colleges are authorized to develop faculty 1organizations by which regular and organized faculty involvement may be exercised in
carrying out their collective responsibilities with their administrative colleagues in matters of academic policy to make recommendations or provide advice on academic policy for the particular campus, major organizational unit headed by a Chancellor, and the University, and to
make such determinations as set forth herein below.

	While the primary focus of this responsibility is at the campus level, involvement in University-wide academic policy through normal administrative channels is also important in protecting and strengthening the quality of the University.

	The following further describes details of this policy.
	1.  	Together with and subject to the approval of its Chancellor, each campus faculty may:
	   a. 	determine its own organization consistent with this policy;
	   b. 	adopt its own bylaws and rules of procedure for exercising the role and performing the duties outlined in this policy.

    	Once such organization or organizations and charters are approved, the pattern of participation in campus and University matters will be realized in accordance with the charters. 
	2. 	The duly authorized organization or organizations specified by each charter shall have the responsibility to speak for the faculty on academic policy matters such as:
	    a. 	policy determining the initiation, review, and evaluation of proposed or authorized research, instructional, and academic programs;
	    b. 	budget planning and implementation policy;
	    c. 	student-faculty relations policy;
	    d. 	policy for the evaluation of faculty and campus academic administrators;
	    e. 	the improvement and establishment of a canon of professional ethics and an effective means of professional maintenance of those ethics, including faculty self-discipline; and 
	    f. 	other subjects affecting academic policy subjects referred to it or them by the Provost and/or Chancellor, or by request of the appropriate faculty organization.

	3.  	As stated previously by the Board, the faculty has primary responsibility for such fundamental academic areas as curriculum content, subject matter, and methods of instruction and research.  On these matters the power of review and concurrence or final decision lodged in the Board of Regents or delegated to administrative officers should be exercised adversely only in exceptional circumstances and for reasons communicated to the faculty.

	4. 	In cases of academic policy proposals that may be initiated by the Regents or recommended by the President, the President shall decide the manner by which the advice and full input of duly constituted faculty organizations is obtained, and prior to final Board action such advice, along with Presidential recommendations, will be considered.

	5. 	The role of the faculty as set forth herein shall not be delegated to any other entity by the faculty organization or organizations established pursuant to this policy.

	6. 	Each action of the faculty under these provisions shall be consistent with such policy and directives as the Board may prescribe. If there is any conflict, the Chancellor shall notify the faculty of the conflict and initiate consultation to resolve the problem.

  	The authority for implementing this policy is vested in the President of the University or his/her designee. Each campus is encouraged to develop and submit for approval a system of faculty involvement in academic decision making and policy development in accordance with this policy. (Apr. 12, 1979; am: Oct. 18, 2002)