Faculty Handbook Revision Policy

To keep the Faculty Handbook current, it will be reviewed periodically (at least every two years) under the leadership of the Office of Academic Affairs with the assistance of a Faculty Senate subcommittee formed to assist such review.

All changes to the Faculty Handbook regarding faculty status, responsibilities, and workload must follow the process of shared governance as outlined in this section.

Revisions to the responsibilities for the Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs may be made by the Vice President for Academic Affairs without governance review. The VPAA may also make revisions to the responsibilities of Academic Program Directors and Academic Coordinators without governance review, after consultation with relevant committees/divisions/schools. The establishment of new director/coordinator positions is the prerogative of the VPAA, again in consultation with relevant committees/divisions/schools. The VPAA is responsible for updating all of these positions and descriptions in the Faculty Handbook as changes occur.

The following handbook sections/sub-sections require Board of Trustees approval prior to taking effect:

Organization and Governance - College Mission - Governance of the College - Board of Trustees - The President - Academic Organization - VPAA - AVPAA - Deans	Faculty - Qualifications for Appointment to Rank - Duties and Responsibilities: Policy Regarding Faculty-Student Interactions and Teaching Workload - Rights and Privileges (other than Development Grants and Library Privileges)
	Promotion and Tenure
	Separation and Termination

Changes to all other sections/subsections take effect as indicated below and will be conveyed to the Board of Trustees for informational purposes.

Process for Revisions of or Additions to the Handbook

Recommendations for revisions of or additions to the Faculty Handbook may be proposed at any time by divisions/schools, standing governance committees, ad hoc committees, individual faculty members, or college administrators. Proposals are submitted to the Faculty Senate or to the appropriate standing governance committee.

Faculty Senate may vote on a proposal, refer it to a standing governance committee, or send it to the full faculty for consideration at a general faculty meeting. Proposals approved by a governance committee must be forwarded to Senate for approval.

The full faculty may approve changes to the Faculty Handbook via majority vote at a general faculty meeting. Proposals to be considered by the full faculty may be brought to a general faculty meeting by any of the entities mentioned above.

Approval and Updating Process

Once Faculty Senate or the full faculty has approved a change that does not require Board approval, the change goes into effect immediately, unless specified otherwise. The Faculty Secretary forwards the new language to the Office of Academic Affairs, with a copy to the Academic Deans, Division Chairs, and the Library Director. The Office of Academic Affairs is responsible for making the change in the official handbook document. The VPAA is responsible for notifying the Board of these changes.

By virtue of their membership on the Faculty Senate, the College President has an opportunity to express their opinion on changes being considered for the Faculty Handbook.

Changes approved by Faculty Senate that also require Board approval do not go into effect until they have been approved by the Board of Trustees. The Faculty Secretary forwards the new language to the Office of Academic Affairs. It is the responsibility of the Vice President for Academic Affairs to communicate these changes to the Board and to notify Faculty Senate of Board approval or non-approval. Once the Board has approved a change, it takes effect immediately. The Office of Academic Affairs will communicate this change to the Faculty Senate, the Academic Deans, Division Chairs, and the Library Director, and will enter approved changes into the official handbook document.

Should a change approved by Senate not be approved by the Board, the VPAA will bring the matter back to Faculty Senate for further discussion and action, if warranted.

Changes to the MSMC Bylaws

All changes made to the MSMC Bylaws will be conveyed to the Faculty Senate by the President, who will also instruct the Office of Academic Affairs to make corresponding changes to the Faculty Handbook.