FSRR Proposed Amendment: Interim Leaders (7-day Notice)

Dear colleagues,

Many faculty and staff have articulated to us the importance of having administrative leaders in community-facing roles that undergo community vetting through formal search processes. Faculty and University Governance worked in partnership with the Provost and the Chancellor to develop an amendment to Article X of the Faculty Senate Rules and Regulations (FSRR) to address these considerations. This amendment articulates a community agreement on best practices around interim leadership, while also opening up space for community dialogue when exceptions are necessary.

The proposed new Section 5 of Article X of the FSRR reads as follows:

Section 5. Interim Leaders. Administrative leaders, with clarity of roles and responsibilities, vetted through search processes that give community members the opportunity for input, are always preferable. The use of interim or acting administrators is sometimes necessary. When the university must appoint an interim leader, selection criteria for the role should be publicized and every effort should be made to give members of the community, whose roles and responsibilities are directly impacted by that leader, input on the selection in the form of nominations. Administrative replacements should be appointed to fill vacant administrative positions as soon as practicable. Accordingly, the use of interim Provosts, Vice Provosts, Associate Vice Provosts, Vice Chancellors, Assistant and Associate Vice Chancellors, Academic Deans, and Associate Deans is not to exceed eighteen (18) months, by which time an administrative appointment should be made. If the position cannot be filled by this timeline, an exception should be made following consultation with the University Senate.

The amendment was discussed at University Senate last month. It will be discussed by the Faculty Senate at the March 2, 2023 meeting. At that point, under University Senate Code, Article 1.8.2 (f), a motion may be made to suspend the provision requiring the senate to discuss code changes in one meeting and take a vote at a subsequent meeting. If such a motion is made and passes by a 2/3 majority, a vote on this amendment may occur at the March 2, 2023 meeting. 

It is a requirement that we provide written notification on any proposed code changes. No action is required on your part unless you wish to submit a written comment. Please forward your written comments on the proposed amendments to the University Governance Office (email:govern@ku.edu) by noon on March 2, 2023.

Thank you for all you do,

Ani Kokobobo, University Senate President

Nate Brunsell, Faculty Senate President