Employment Periods

Excerpts From Board Policy 405.4 (Revised  May 25, 2023). Also see Academic Policy 1200.20 (Revised March 3, 2023).

Administrative Employees: The President of the University shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Trustees, uless otherwise provided by contract. The vice presidents, members of the system staff, and the chancellors or chief executive officers of each campus, division, or unit shall serve at the pleasure of the President, unless otherwise provided by contract. Vice chancellors, associate vice chancellors, and assistant vice chancellors shall serve at the pleasure of their appropriate chancellors or chief executive officer, unless otherwise provided by contract. Persons in such positions are “at-will” employees and may have their employment terminated by the university for convenience at any time or may be dismissed immediately for cause. 

Faculty Employees: Faculty members who have been awarded tenure have a right to continuous employment except for a disciplinary suspension, dismissal for cause (according to the procedures in Section IV.C of Board Policy 405.1 (Revised March 29, 2018) or for termination in the event of demonstrably bona fide financial exigency, reduction or elimination of programs, retirement, resignation or job abandonment.

Faculty members in tenure-track positions (assistant professor, associate professor, professor, distinguished professor, and university professor) who have not yet been awarded tenure may be terminated effective at the end of the appointment period by a written notice, given in advance, according to the following schedule of time:

For the first year of service, not later than March 1, if the appointment expires at the end of that academic year; or at least three months in advance of its termination if the appointment expires at some other time during the year.

For the second year of service, not later than December 15, if the appointment expires at the end of that academic year; or at least six months in advance of its termination if an appointment expires at some other time during the year.

After the second year of service, at least twelve months before the expiration of the terminal appointment. The terminal appointment will be for the academic or fiscal year, according to the appointment last held by the individual.

These termination notice periods are those specified under IV.B., “Non-Reappointment,” in Board Policy 405.1 (Revised March 21, 2018).  In addition to termination as outlined here, these employees may be dismissed for cause, or terminated in the event of demonstrably bona fide financial exigency, reduction or elimination of programs, retirement, resignation, job abandonment pursuant to Board Policy 405.1. (Revised March 21, 2018).

Non-tenure track faculty who have received a multi-year term appointment under merit-based campus procedures approved by the President, may be terminated upon the expiration of their appointment or under campus procedures for such purpose, or they may be dismissed for cause by written notice of the chief academic officer of the campus, division, or unit, following verbal or written notice and opportunity to respond (APS 1405.11).

Other faculty members and other academic employees in positions for which tenure may not be awarded (part-time faculty in the ranks of assistant professor, associate professor, professor, University professor, and distinguished professor; clinical, research, teaching, adjunct, or visiting faculty; research associates or research assistants; instructors; advanced instructors, senior instructors; lecturers; executive in residence; professor of practice) are considered “at will” employees and may be terminated for convenience at any time, or dismissed for cause by written notice by the chief academic officer or other senior designee of the campus, division, or unit, following verbal or written notice and opportunity to respond. 

Staff Employees: All staff employees of the university, whether full-time or part-time, who are appointed or hold regular positions are “at-will” employees and  may have their employment terminated by the university for convenience at any time or may be dismissed immediately for cause.

All other Employees and Student Workers (excluding Graduate Assistants)  All other employees and student workers, excluding Graduate Assistants who are addressed in Board of Trustees Policy 500.1 (Revised March 29, 2018), may be terminated at any time without advance written notice.  While advance written notice is not required, termination should be communicated to the employees and documented.