Bylaw 55 & Recording Faculty Votes

ByLaw 55 and Recording Faculty Votes

What is ByLaw 55?

Departmental Voting Rights - Academic Senate Bylaw 55

All departments should establish a voting policy in accordance with Bylaw 55 and file a copy in the Academic Personnel Office. The policy should include statements on voting rights for ladder rank actions, temporary actions, the effect of a leave on the voting rights of an individual, or any extension of voting rights made in accordance with Sections C or D of the Bylaw. It is assumed that in the absence of a specific voting policy, the general rules of Bylaw 55 will govern. Section B.7 and B.8 require that the Committee on Academic Personnel approve the method established by departments by which some personnel matters are determined.

Academic Senate Bylaw 55, Departmental Voting Rights

The tenured faculty members of a department shall establish the method by which personnel matters other than those listed in Paragraphs 1 to 6 of this Article B are determined (the established method). The method adopted must have the approval of the divisional Committee on Academic Personnel or its equivalent. (In other words, departments may deviate from the established method but must seek approval from CAP)

For information regarding recusal, see UCSC Academic Senate Bylaw 13.4.6;

For information regarding voting abstentions, see UCSC Academic Senate Bylaw 13.4.7; and  

For information regarding waiver of vote, see UCSC Academic Senate Bylaw 13.4.8

For the Department of Astronomy: The general rules of Bylaw 55 will govern.

Longstanding practice within the Astronomy and Astrophysics Department has been that:

(1) all non-emeritae/i Senate faculty vote on all decisions to hire a member of the Academic Senate within the department;  (all ranks, tenure, non-tenure have a vote)

(2) associate professors vote on all promotions and merit increases up to but not including the full professor level; (vote on assistant and associate professor actions)

(3) full professors vote on everything 

(4) Junior faculty/assistant professors (non-tenure) do not vote on promotions or merit increases but.....

Addendum – agreed upon by the faculty: The department can invite all junior faculty to attend all meetings at which promotions and merit increases are considered and to participate fully in the discussion, but not to vote. The files would also be available to junior faculty to view prior to the meeting.

Adjuncts are not part of the Academic Senate and therefore do not have voting rights unless specifically approved by the Dean, Cap, and the VPAA.