Resolution Opposing the Board of Regents Resolution 21-06 and Attendant Changes to Regents Policy 9.201

Presented to the Mānoa Faculty Senate by the Committee on Academic Policy and Planning (CAPP), the Committee on Administration and Budget (CAB) and the Committee on Professional Matters (CPM) for a vote of the full Senate on October 20, 2021, a resolution opposing proposed changes to tenure outlined in the Board of Regents resolution 21-06 and attendant proposed changes to Regents Policy (RP) 9.201.  Approved unanimously by the Mānoa Faculty Senate on October 20, 2021 with 51 votes (100.00%) in support; 0 votes (0.00%) opposed and 0 abstentions.

RESOLUTION OPPOSING THE BOARD OF REGENTS RESOLUTION 21-06 “SUPPORTING THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TENURE TASK GROUP AND REQUESTING THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI`I ADMINISTRATION TO FACILITATE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF BOARD POLICY REVISIONS” AND ATTENDANT CHANGES TO REGENTS POLICY 9.201

WHEREAS, at its regular meeting on February 18, 2021, the University of Hawaii Board of Regents (BOR) appointed a Permitted Interest Group (PIG) to “fully explore tenure, including its history and purpose, how tenure has evolved, current views of tenure from those outside the University of Hawai‘i system, and a review of current processes, criteria and decision-making on tenure”; and

WHEREAS, the BOR PIG to explore tenure issued a report recommending revisions to RP 9.201 “to establish policy direction in conducting promotion and tenure to ensure that University priorities and mission are met” (Report, Regents Materials for the 9/16/21 BOR meeting); and

WHEREAS, the Mānoa Faculty Senate has broad concerns with the PIG report, including proposed changes to RPs 9.202 and 9.213, this resolution is primarily concerned with the proposed changes to RP 9.201; and

WHEREAS, proposed changes to RP 9.201, Paragraph III, B., 2. (Attachment B, Regents Materials for the 9/16/21 BOR meeting) read as follows:

“Before recruitment for tenure-track positions occurs, and before award of tenure, the administration shall ensure that: (1) the position fulfills current enrollment requirements and strategic growth priorities for the university and the State; (2) there are no qualified faculty in other units that are available and that could meet the needs of the hiring unit; (3) the balance of tenure-track and other faculty is appropriate given enrollment, mission, and accreditation standards; and (4) the unit is successful and relevant in contributing to the institutional mission and goals.”; and

WHEREAS, the awarding of tenure has been historically based upon the assessment by the faculty of the professional record of the faculty member being considered for tenure and/or promotion, and not budgetary concerns; and

WHEREAS, the proposed changes to RP 9.201 would require administrative certification of the continuing programmatic need for the position, thus setting aside the quality of the faculty member’s record when being considered for tenure or promotion if the administration were to judge that there was no programmatic need for the position; and

WHEREAS, the proposed changes to RP 9.201 move control of curriculum from faculty in the disciplines to the administration; therefore

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mānoa Faculty Senate asserts that decisions about tenure shall remain based upon assessment of the professional record of the faculty member being considered for tenure and/or promotion and any decisions regarding tenure by administrators including but not limited to deans, provost, and president will be based exclusively on the faculty member’s record as presented in the dossier, regardless of external budgetary needs; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mānoa Faculty Senate sustains that the quality of a faculty member’s record as presented in the dossier shall be the primary consideration in determining qualification for tenure or promotion; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the faculty retain control of the curriculum, which includes the sole right to assign specific teaching duties, and to evaluate the qualifications and experience of other faculty from their unit, or other units, for that purpose; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Mānoa Faculty Senate rejects the changes to RP 9.201 proposed by the BOR PIG.