Task force formed to revise faculty handbook

Edit. Revise. Repeat.

This little lesson, introduced to most in grammar school, stands to make a big impact on DePaul University's faculty.

Last July, University Provost Dr. Helmut Epp approved a Faculty Council motion that issued the formation of a joint task force, which will be responsible for rewriting the Faculty Handbook. Faculty Council approved a motion to establish the task force in June.

The task force will focus on revising four policies in the handbook during the rewrite process: the definition of faculty, tenure and promotion, appeals within the tenure and promotion process and faculty grievances. Faculty input will be welcomed as well.

Co-chairs of the task force, College of Communication Dean Jacqueline Taylor, Ph.D. and the economics department chair Thomas Donley presented the task force's timeline for completion during January's Faculty Council meeting.

At the end of the academic year, the task force will have made policy proposals and collected comments from the full faculty so that it can write a draft over the summer.

In September the task force hopes to present the draft to full faculty for comments. The group will refer to the previous work of committees and other bodies and will call on the expertise of those bodies as needed. The task force's deadline of 18 months was called ambitious but essential.

An online survey invited faculty members to comment on what they think are the key problems in the four mentioned policy areas and to introduce other critical areas that might require extensive revisions. Faculty members may fill out the survey until Jan. 31.

The Faculty Council motion introduced in June stated that the task force would have five faculty members appointed by Faculty Council and two representatives of the administration. University President Rev. Dennis Holtschneider later decided that one faculty member and one dean would serve as chairs to be elected by members of the task force. The task force had to identify an external consultant for approval by both Faculty Council and Rev. Holtschneider.

Faculty members on the task force include Mary Jeanne Larrabee, Anna Law, Thomas Miller and Bamshad Mobasher. Dr. Taylor and CDM Dean David Miller represent the university administration. Ann Franke is the handbook consultant. To avoid conflict of interest, she has agreed to sever ties with the University except for those activities involving the handbook.

Co-chairs Donley and Taylor will present weekly updates on the revision to Faculty Council President Michaela Winchatz to solicit feedback from other Faculty Council representatives and faculty members. Council members' responses will be considered by the task force in future revision work. Once a final draft is complete, Faculty Council will vote on it before a referendum is presented to the whole faculty for approval.