Appendix 3: BOARD OF TRUSTEES STATEMENT OF POLICY ON TENURE

Adopted 6 May 1974

Tenure is understood as continuous appointment on the full-time teaching faculty of the College at the ranks of Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor or Professor. Prior to its award and during the probationary period, a faculty member shall have the same academic freedom enjoyed by those on continuous appointment. Promotion in rank of persons serving on the Whittier College faculty does not automatically confer tenure. The granting of tenure does not automatically presuppose subsequent advancement in rank. Administrative positions do not carry tenure status, although a previously tenured faculty member at Whittier College who assumes an administrative position retains tenure as a member of the faculty.

Subject to the guidelines stated below, procedures for the granting or denial of tenure are matters for faculty-administration decision. Tenure is granted by the Board of Trustees upon nomination by the faculty and recommendation of the administration.

A final decision on tenure must be reached prior to the end of a faculty member's sixth probationary year. Those denied continuous appointment at the end of the sixth probationary year have a seventh terminal year of service. Faculty members with previous full-time experience shall receive credit for up to, but no more than, three years of such prior experience leading to a final tenure decision.

The services of a faculty member on tenure may be terminated only for adequate cause or attainment of age 65. Adequate cause is understood to include professional incompetence, moral turpitude, or other cause determined by due process. Under extraordinary circumstances, financial exigency of the institution may be a cause for termination and shall be demonstrably bona fide.

In all cases where a faculty member on tenure is rendered subject to termination, he or she has the right of appeal to the appropriate faculty committee, the administration, and ultimately to the Board of Trustees.

In all instances of termination of a faculty member with tenure, notice of at least 12 months shall be given.

This statement of policy supersedes all previous policies adopted by the Board of Trustees.