Faced with scarce resources and environmental uncertainty in the past decade, colleges and universities have experimented with different modes of academic staffing, most of which are attempts to preserve or create more flexible policies and practices. In spite of tenure systems in operation at 94% of all four year colleges, institutions have at…

The materials in this compendium are intended to assist counsel and administrators at institutions of higher education faced with the need to consider and plan for program closures. Some materials also deal with the closely related issues of financial exigency, faculty reductions, and reductions in force. Section I offers the following papers:…

The report addresses the problems being faced by the state of Alabama's postsecondary educational system during the current recessionary period, and to be expected in the years ahead, and makes recommendations on how these financial burdens can be dealt with while simultaneously increasing educational quality. The report explains that Alabama's…

A challenge now faced by dental school administrators is to maintain the feasibility of federally funded postdoctoral general dentistry residency programs when institutional, educational, and economic priorities stretch institutional limits. Some existing programs can offer ideas and insights through their diverse and nontraditional funding…

A University of Maryland at College Park administrator offers his perspective on a recent retrenchment process that resulted in program closings. He describes the dialog between administration and faculty and credits the faculty with important support and participation in difficult decision making. (MSE)

This paper focuses upon a variety of curriculum related issues that have potential legal connotations, such as whether the college bulletin forms a contract, whether advertisements can be considered contracts, and determining the appropriateness of student discipline for academic and other reasons. Presented first is a brief overview of contract…

A University of Maryland at College Park faculty member describes the recent retrenchment process, focusing on the role of the faculty senate and the academic planning advisory committee in decision making. The administration is credited with conducting an open and decisive process. (MSE)

Four key criteria used in academic program review (quality, centrality to institutional mission, competition, and demand) are defined and discussed. They are then applied to the process of strategic planning for an unspecified private university. Decision-making matrixes and their use are illustrated. (MSE)

Describes and reflects on the experience of the University of Washington's Slavic languages program when faced with termination in 1995, including the initial response of faculty, staff, and students; the successful effort made to garner support from other institutions, alumni, business, and organizations; relations with the legislature;…

Academic staffing practices used at four-year colleges and universities are identified, and recommendations are offered for achieving staffing flexibility in the face of conditions such as scarce resources. In addition to considering faculty flow models (e.g., Markov models and simulators) as a management/planning tool to evaluate personnel and…

The collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and the University of Connecticut Chapter of The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period July 1, 1986-June 30, 1989 is presented. Items covered in the agreement are: recognition, exclusions, academic freedom, governance,…

The collective bargaining agreement between the University of Connecticut Board of Trustees and the University of Connecticut Chapter (1,410 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) covering the period July 1, 1984-June 30, 1986 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: unit recognition, exclusions, academic…

This book approaches college and university budget reduction mandates as an opportunity to reexamine and recast outdated, inefficient processes and to increase administrative effectiveness and efficiency in supporting the academic missions of teaching and research. The book uses a road-map metaphor to tell the downsizing story and to advance the…

The collective bargaining agreement between the Board of Trustees of the California State University and the California Faculty Association chapter (18,000 members) of the National Education Association (NEA) covering the period August 16, 1983-June 30, 1986 is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: unit recognition; definitions;…

The collective bargaining agreement between Central State University and the university's chapter (295 members) of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), covering the period 1985-1988, is presented. Items covered in the agreement include: academic freedom, nondiscrimination, affirmative action plans, maintenance of practices,…