Academic Policy  1407.10 

Academic Affairs Administrators: Appointment, Service, and Performance Review

Consistent with Board of Trustees Policy 405.1.II.B., academic administrators such as department chairs/heads, directors, and deans serve at the pleasure of the administrator who appoints them. In addition to annual reviews,  department chairs/heads and deans will typically have a comprehensive review, not more than five years after the initial appointment or the last review consistent with or comparable to that defined in Academic Policy 1407.20 as a basis for a reappointment decision. In addition, findings from annual performance reviews will be utilized in this process.

All other academic administrators, such as associate or assistant department heads/chairs, program directors or coordinators, associate deans, and vice provosts, also serve at the pleasure of the administrator who appoints them.  Such positions typically do not have an established comprehensive review schedule other than the annual review.  However, the administrator who appoints them may require a comprehensive review be conducted consistent with practices within each college or school.

An annual evaluation will be conducted of all academic administrators. The specific nature of the evaluation process will be determined by the administrative officer to whom the administrator reports. The format for the evaluation will be provided to those to be evaluated at the beginning of each appointment period.

The format for the annual evaluation for academic administrators  who report to the Provost – the Administrator’s Annual Evaluation– is one example that may be chosen. Administrators and evaluators are also encouraged to seek input from representative constituents as applicable to the unit the administrator is appointed in.

If a merit increase is provided in connection with a comprehensive review, it should be inclusive of, rather than in addition to, any merit increase and must be awarded during the annual budget cycle.  Rare out of budget cycle increases must follow appropriate approval procedures as detailed in Fayetteville Policies and Procedures 318.2.