Board of Regents of the University of Michigan

Chapter V. The Faculties and Academic Staff (continued)

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Sec. 5.10. Severance Pay

Applicability. Academic personnel with indeterminate tenure who are dismissed in accordance with the provisions of Sec. 5.09 shall be entitled to severance pay for one academic year following written notification of dismissal except:
1. Where because of the character of the employee's conduct, the university is prohibited by law from making such payment; or
2. Where there is competent evidence to establish beyond reasonable doubt that the employee has been guilty of a felony, or a serious misdemeanor in connection with students or directly involving the university; or
3. Where there has been an intentional refusal, expressed or implied by conduct, to perform properly assigned academic duties.
Amount of Severance Pay. Severance pay in the case of an employee on indeterminate tenure means regular monthly payments, equal to the employee's salary during the appointment year of dismissal, covering a period following written notification of dismissal equal to one appointment year, except where the employee during such year secures other employment. In the latter event, from the time such other employment begins, the monthly payments shall not exceed the difference between the amount of the monthly payments otherwise provided herein and the employee's monthly compensation from such other employment.
Severance Pay for a Dismissed Faculty Member Under Contract for a Determinate Period. Severance pay in case of academic personnel under contract for a determinate period shall be the same as for personnel on indeterminate tenure, except where the period remaining under any contract following written notification of dismissal is less than one year. In such case, the payments otherwise provided herein shall extend at least to the regular terminal date of the contract.

Sec. 5.11. Divided and Part-Time Service

In case of an appointment of a member of the faculty or staff to serve in two or more departments of the university, the approval of the dean or other administrative head shall be secured in each department affected. All members of the staff receiving compensation from two or more departments shall be listed on each budget as part-time employees with a statement of the amount of compensation received from each unit.

In the case of the appointment of a member of the staff in any department on a part-time basis, the member shall be listed on the budget as a part-time employee, with a statement of the fractional amount of time devoted to service. The dean shall, subject to general rules formulated by the governing faculty, determine what constitutes "part-time" and "full-time" service by members of the staff.

Sec. 5.12. Outside Employment

A full-time member of the faculty shall not during the academic year be employed for remuneration by other agencies than the university except with approval of the proper university authorities. Such approval may be granted in the case of professional employment only when either or both of the following conditions exist:

When the work in question gives promise of enhancing the individual's usefulness as a teacher and scholar in the individual's field to a greater degree than a corresponding amount of work within the walls of the university.
When the work is of a distinctly public nature or when for any other reason the university wishes to be actively engaged in its furtherance.

In the case of nonprofessional employment, such approval may be granted only when it appears that such activity will not interfere with the performance of university duties or impair the usefulness of the individual as a teacher and a scholar.

Each of the governing faculties of the university shall formulate for the guidance of its administrative officers such regulations, appropriate to the fields represented by it, as it may consider necessary to give effect to the general policy defined herein.

Whenever outside employment is permitted in connection with a "part-time" appointment, the portion of time which is engaged by the university shall be stated in the appointment notice and in the budget.

Sec. 5.13. Governmental Activities

The holding of public office by staff members is considered desirable and those seeking such office should be encouraged.

Any regular staff member who becomes a candidate for any elective public office shall, upon the filing of that candidacy, notify the secretary of the university in writing of the candidacy and file with the secretary of the university a statement from the appropriate supervisor, department head, or dean that arrangements have been made and approved to assure that the candidacy will not interfere with the performance of university employment duties. Upon request, such candidates shall be given a leave of absence without salary during the period of the actual campaign.

All regular staff members who are elected to a public office and any regular staff member who is appointed to a public office shall file with the secretary of the university a statement from the appropriate supervisor, department head, or dean that arrangements have been made and approved to assure that the duties of the office will not interfere with the performance of university employment duties. If such assurance cannot be made, the staff member shall either request leave of absence without salary or resign effective upon the commencement of governmental duties or upon expiration of previously granted leave. If the staff member requests leave of absence without salary, such leave shall be granted by the president for the period of one term of office, if any, or for one year. Leaves without salary for additional terms of office, if any, or additional years of service may be granted by the president on recommendation by the dean or appropriate administrative officer.

Sec. 5.14. Leaves of Absence

Sabbatical leaves. Sabbatical leaves for study and research may be granted by the president on recommendation by the dean to members of the professorial staff who have completed six years of service in professorial ranks at the university. At the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the University of Michigan-Flint, sabbatical leaves for study and research may be granted by the president on recommendation by the chancellor to members of the professorial staff who have completed six years of service in professorial ranks at the university. All sabbatical leaves will be reported monthly to the board.

A sabbatical leave may be granted for an entire annual contractual period or for two halves of the annual contractual period during which time the professor shall receive one-half of his regular salary; or it may be granted for one-half of the annual contractual period, with full salary. A member of the faculty on sabbatical leave shall not render service for compensation in another institution or enterprise; provided, however, that this does not preclude the acceptance of a fellowship or other assistance in research but in each such case the source of additional funds and the fact that their use materially aids the planned research program of the recipient shall be fully set forth in the request for sabbatical leave.

Application for sabbatical leave shall be made in writing and addressed to the dean of the unit concerned not later than February 1, preceding the university year within which the leave is desired. The application must be accompanied by a statement of a well-considered plan for spending the leave in a manner calculated to contribute to the professional effectiveness of the applicant and the best interests of the university.

A member of the staff who is granted a sabbatical leave is expected to return to his duties in the university for at least one year.

Other Leaves of Absence. Leaves of absence other than sabbatical, and not in excess of one year, may be granted by the president on recommendation by the dean or appropriate administrative officer to members of the faculty or to other employees of the university.

Leaves in excess of one year may be granted only by the board upon appropriate request and recommendation. Leaves for teaching staff will be reported monthly to the board.

Sec. 5.15. Vacation Allowance

Instructional staff who hold appointments on a twelve-month basis shall receive annual vacation allowances equivalent to one month in twelve, with proportional allowances for appointees who have been in the service of the university for more than six months but less than twelve months. Any person who is in good standing and has been in the service of the university for one year or more, and who has earned a vacation allowance under the foregoing provisions but is unable to receive it because the person is resigning or being granted a leave without pay, may be paid in terminal allowance equal to the salary that the person would have received for the vacation period had the person continued in the university service.

Sec. 5.16. Temporary Absences (revised November 1993)

All absences of members of the teaching staff or other academic employees shall be reported to the dean or director. All absences extending over more than three weeks at any one time must be reported to the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs or, at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the University of Michigan-Flint, to the chancellor.

Sec. 5.17. Sick Leave for Teaching Staff and Academic Research Staff

In the event of accident or sickness rendering a member of the teaching or academic research staff temporarily incapable of performing his or her duties, application may be made to the president for sick leave privileges as follows, provided that the duties of the staff member shall be cared for without added expense to the university.

Any professor, associate professor, or member of the academic research staff who has been a full-time member of the staff for ten years or more, may apply for sick leave with salary during incapacity, but not exceeding one year of leave at full salary and thereafter one year of leave at one-half salary.
Any professor, associate professor, assistant professor, or other member of the teaching or academic research staff not included under paragraph (1), who has been a full-time member of the staff for two years or more, may apply for sick leave with salary during incapacity but not exceeding one-half year of leave at full salary and thereafter one-half year of leave at one-half salary.

In the event of successive periods of incapacity, a total sick leave of not more than the foregoing maximum will be allowed in any five year period. The first three weeks of any period of incapacity on account of accident or sickness shall not be included in computing the maximum allowable under the foregoing provisions. In each instance of incapacity in excess of three weeks, application shall be made to the president stating the facts and requesting the leave of absence. Reports will be made monthly to the board for all teaching staff.

The term "incapacity" as herein used means temporary total inability to perform university duties, with the likelihood of restoration to full capacity for service. Cases of partial incapacity and of chronic recurring incapacity are not included but each such case shall be subject to special action by the president providing for a part-time appointment or making such other adjustment as the circumstances may indicate.

Sec. 5.18. Sick Leave for Other Academic Personnel (revised November 1993)

Academic appointees not included in the teaching staff or academic research staff shall be entitled to sick leave with pay in accordance with regulations issued by the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, provided that periods of three weeks or longer shall be reported to the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, or, at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the University of Michigan-Flint, to the chancellor.

Sec. 5.19. Retirement of the President, Faculty, and Executive Officers (revised April 1995)

Subject to the other provisions of this section, the term of service of the president and the other executive officers shall terminate no later than the end of the fiscal year in which their seventieth birthday occurs.
Subject to the provisions of subsection 3, the members of the professorial staff appointed prior to January 1, 1984, during the last year preceding retirement shall be entitled to be relieved of normal responsibilities and may be called upon to act in a consulting capacity to the president, executive officers, deans, or department heads, or to conduct research in the individual's field of interest unless otherwise specifically provided by the board, and the salary during this period shall be the regular annual salary. This year preceding termination of service is hereinafter referred to as the "terminal furlough" year. Individuals appointed on or after January 1, 1984, are not eligible for the terminal furlough year.
The terminal furlough year shall not be available unless the individual (a) has been employed by the university at least ten years prior to the effective date of the terminal furlough; and (b) has not taken a sabbatical leave during the past four years next preceding the effective date of the terminal furlough. A person covered by this section but ineligible for the terminal furlough year will continue to carry normal responsibilities in the university until retirement.
A person eligible for a terminal furlough year under subsections 2 and 3 above may not begin such terminal furlough year until the beginning of the next academic term following his or her sixty-second birthday.
Emeritus or emerita status appropriate to the office or rank shall not be granted prior to the date of full retirement.

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Sec. 5.20. Emeritus and Emerita Faculty (revised April 1995)

Emeritus and emerita faculty shall be regarded as members of the university instructional and primary staff who have retired and as such are entitled to attend without vote meetings of the University Senate, to march in positions of honor in academic processions, to receive the University Record, to avail themselves of the library and other facilities offered to university faculty members, to represent the university on appointment at academic ceremonies of other institutions, and in general to take part with the faculties in all social and ceremonial functions of the university.

Sec. 5.21. Distinguished University Professorships

There is hereby created the title Distinguished University Professor, to which faculty members in the grade of professor may be appointed. Such appointment shall be in recognition of distinguished achievement and reputation in the appointive field of scholarly interest as a member of the faculty of the university. A distinguished university professorship title may be retained after retirement. Each appointee shall be entitled distinguished university professor, to which title shall be attached the name of a person of distinction in the same general field of interest, preferably a person formerly associated with the university. Appointment to distinguished university professorships shall not modify the status of appointees as members of their respective faculties.

Sec. 5.22. Adjunct Professorships

Persons whose primary responsibilities lie outside the university or in another capacity within the university may be appointed on a part-time basis as adjunct professors, associate professors, assistant professors, instructors, or lecturers in order to supplement the instructional program.

Appointment and/or promotion criteria shall be consistent with those for regular instructional ranks to the extent applicable.

Adjunct appointments or reappointments are recommended by the appropriate instructional department and school or college, and at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and the University of Michigan-Flint by the chancellor, and are approved by the president.

Appointments as adjunct instructional staff are on an annual or shorter basis and without tenure.

Sec. 5.23. Clinical Instructional Staff (revised June 2001)

Adjunct Clinical Instructional Staff. Any academic unit may appoint professional practitioners in the community or within the university at appointment fractions below 50 percent as adjunct clinical professors, adjunct clinical associate professors, adjunct clinical assistant professors, adjunct clinical instructors, or adjunct clinical lecturers to support the instructional program.
Appointments as adjunct clinical instructional staff are on an annual or shorter basis and are without tenure. Appointment and/or promotion criteria shall be consistent with those for regular instructional staff to the extent applicable.

Adjunct clinical appointments and reappointments are recommended by the appropriate instructional unit and school, college, or division and are approved by the chancellor (Flint or Dearborn) and president.
Clinical Instructional Staff. An academic unit may be authorized to appoint clinical instructional staff to support its instructional program only if a policy authorizing such appointments has been adopted by the school, college, or division in accordance with the bylaws of that unit and has been approved by the appropriate provost, chancellor (Flint or Dearborn), president, and Board of Regents.
Clinical appointments are at appointment fractions of 50 percent or greater and are without tenure. The following titles may be used for clinical appointments: clinical professor, clinical associate professor, clinical assistant professor, or clinical instructor.

Appointments to the clinical track are for a fixed term, cannot exceed seven years in duration, and may be renewed. Appointment and promotion criteria shall be consistent with those for the regular instructional staff to the extent applicable. Further definition of the rights and responsibilities of clinical faculty, not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Board of Regents, may be addressed by the bylaws of the academic units.

Clinical appointments, reappointments, and promotions are recommended by the appropriate instructional unit and school, college, or division and are approved by the appropriate provost, chancellor (Flint or Dearborn), and president.

The vice president and secretary of the university shall maintain a list of those schools, colleges, and divisions that are authorized to make appointments to the clinical instructional staff.

Sec. 5.24. Research Scientists and Research Professors (revised October 2003)

Research Scientists. An academic or research unit may appoint research scientists to support the research activities of the university if a policy to authorize such appointments has been adopted by the school, college, division, or research unit in accordance with the bylaws of that unit and has been approved by the vice president for research.
Research scientist appointments are not appointments to the tenured or tenure-track instructional faculty. The following titles may be used for research scientist appointments: research scientist, associate research scientist, assistant research scientist, and research investigator. Further definition of the rights and responsibilities of research scientists, not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Board of Regents, may be addressed by the bylaws of the academic or research units.

Research scientist appointments and promotions are recommended by the appropriate instructional unit and school, college, division, or research unit and are approved by the vice president for research, the chancellor (Dearborn or Flint), and the president.

The vice president and secretary of the university shall maintain a list of those schools, colleges, divisions, and research units that are authorized to make research scientist appointments.
Research Professors. An academic or research unit may appoint research professors to support the research activities of the university if a policy to authorize such appointments has been adopted by the school, college, division, or research unit in accordance with the bylaws of that unit and has been approved by the vice president for research and the appropriate provost.
Research professor appointments are not appointments to the tenured or tenure-track instructional faculty. The following titles may be used for research professor appointments: research professor, research associate professor, and research assistant professor. Further definition of the rights and responsibilities of research professors, not inconsistent with the Bylaws of the Board of Regents, may be addressed by the bylaws of the academic or research units.

Research professor appointments and promotions are recommended by the appropriate instructional unit and school, college, division, or research unit and are approved by the vice president for research, the appropriate provost, the chancellor (Dearborn or Flint), and the president.

The vice president and secretary of the university shall maintain a list of those schools, colleges, divisions, and research units that are authorized to make research professor appointments.

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Bylaws updated: November 2009 (revision of Sections 11.43, 11.44, and 11.45)