Southern Polytechnic State University
Policy and Procedure Manual
P&P Number:  803.06
Original Date: November 1987
Previous Revisions: none
Approved: August 26, 2002
 
Resignation, Termination, and Dismissal of Faculty
Contents This P&P includes the following main sections:
  • Background
  • Notice of employment and resignation
  • Removal of faculty members
  • Suspension for violation of state and federal laws
Background This section describes the resignation and termination policy for tenured faculty as well as the policy to notify non-tenured faculty of the university’s intent concerning renewal or non-renewal of a contract. It also describes the policy for dismissal of tenured faculty and for the handling of suspension of faculty for violations of state or federal laws. These policies derive from, or are excerpted from, the Board of Regents policies and procedures and the Southern Polytechnic State University Statutes.
Notice of
Employment and
Resignation 		 A.  Tenured
All tenured faculty members employed under written contract for the fiscal or academic year shall give 60 days’ written notice of their intention to resign to the president of the institution or to his or her authorized representative.

B. Non-tenured

  1. Each year, on or before the dates specified in Regents' Tenure regulations, the president of an institution or his or her authorized representative, shall advise, in writing, all non-tenured faculty who have been awarded academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) and who are employed under written contract whether an employment contract for the succeeding academic year will be offered to them. Such written notice shall be delivered by hand or by certified mail, to be delivered to the addressee only, with receipt to show to whom and when delivered and the address where delivered.
  2. Notice of intention to renew or not to renew a non-tenured faculty member who has been awarded academic rank (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, professor) shall be furnished, in writing, according to the following schedule:
    • At least three months before the date of termination of an initial one-year contract
    • At least six months before the date of termination of a second one-year contract
    • At least nine months before the date of termination of a contract after two or more years of service in the institution
    Note:
    This schedule of notification does not apply to persons holding temporary or part-time positions, or persons with courtesy appointments, such as adjunct appointments.
  3. Non-tenured faculty and other non-tenured personnel employed under written contract shall be employed only for the term specified in the contract, and subsequent or future employment, if any, shall result solely from a separate offer and acceptance requisite to execution of a new and distinct contract.
Removal of Faculty
Members		 The president of an institution may at any time remove any faculty member or other employee of an institution for cause. Cause shall include willful or intentional violation of the policies of the Board of Regents or the approved Statutes of an institution.  Further causes or grounds for dismissal are set forth in the Tenure Regulations of the policies of the Board of Regents and in the approved Statutes or Bylaws of an institution.
Suspension For
Violation of State
and Federal Laws		 When a faculty member in any institution of the University System is charged with the violation of a state or federal law, or is indicted for any such offense, a thorough review of the circumstances shall be carried out by the president. In the event a faculty member is temporarily suspended, the administration shall immediately convene an ad hoc faculty committee or use the services of an appropriate existing faculty committee, for the purpose of hearing an appeal by the faculty member. The appeal shall be submitted in writing in accordance with procedures to be established by the hearing committee, which shall render its decision within ten (10) days from the conclusion of the hearing.  Thereafter, any further appeal by the faculty member shall be in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article VIII of the By-Laws of the Board of Regents.