August 20, 2018
Dear Members of the Faculty,
As the campus springs back to life in preparation for the start of a new academic year, I am pleased to provide an update on the progress that has been made to enhance several aspects of the lecturer and adjunct faculty appointment procedures, as well as some new programs that we have been developing and implementing in the Office of the Provost in partnership with Santa Clara’s collaborative governance system.
Improved and Accelerated Appointment Process for Academic-Year Adjunct Lecturers
In June, the Faculty Affairs Committee recommended a new reappointment process for academic year adjunct lecturers (AYAL), and the Provost’s Office has been working through the summer to draft procedures. This Fall, we will be inviting feedback from all faculty while working closely with the Committee on Lecturers and Adjuncts (COLA), the Lecturer Best Practice Task Force (LBPT), the Faculty Affairs Committee (FAC), the Faculty Senate Council (FSC) and the Deans’ offices. This improvement of process, originally proposed by the FSC, will enhance job security and continuity among our faculty.
The Provost’s Office is working with the Deans’ offices to ensure that going forward all AYAL faculty members receive notification by April 1 on the status of their appointments for the next academic year. This is a response to concerns we have heard from AYAL colleagues about the timeliness of reappointment processes. After broad consultation with deans and department chairs in Fall 2018, the Provost’s Office will distribute a revised set of target dates for appointments and reappointments of adjunct faculty.
Expedited Renewal Process for Renewable Term Lecturers
In June, the Faculty Affairs Committee recommended a simplified renewal process once a renewable-term lecturer has successfully completed his or her first renewal, provided that the lecturer maintains strong annual performance reviews with no significant concerns. Over the summer, the Provost’s Office has worked with the Deans’ offices to draft a set of detailed procedures. Early in the fall quarter, we will consult with COLA, LBPT, FAC, and FSC to seek their feedback and refine the procedures document before it is adopted. I am committed to ensuring that such procedures are approved only after faculty have had sufficient opportunity to comment through our collaborative governance system.
Career Track for Teaching Faculty
The Lecturer Best Practice Task Force has been working all summer and is investigating how other universities have structured a career track for faculty who primarily focus on teaching. In July, the task force led a design thinking workshop with participation from 25 adjunct faculty, lecturers, senior lecturers, and tenure-track faculty to brainstorm possible models. The Task Force will be providing recommendations to the Faculty Affairs Committee by October 1. The Faculty Affairs Committee and its new Adjunct and Lecturer Subcommittee will engage all faculty in a robust discussion of this important topic.
Consistent University-wide Practices and Procedures
In the President’s listening sessions with lecturers and adjuncts, many faculty expressed the need to structure and communicate clear, fair, and equitable practices and procedures across the University. We have begun discussing with the Deans ways that we can offer greater training and support for all department chairs. Among other expected benefits, this effort is intended to help ensure that leaders throughout the university offer clear, accurate, and consistent information to lecturers and adjunct faculty, and to help chairs support a community-wide effort to cultivate and maintain a culture of respect and appreciation for faculty of all appointment types and ranks.
Expanded Housing Assistance Programs
As Fr. Engh announced on April 18th, the University has introduced a new rental assistance program for renewable-term faculty. With the start of this academic year, we will begin providing salary supplements to those faculty who are qualified for the program.
As I announced in May, Santa Clara University has also introduced a new shared-equity, down-payment program, offered with the assistance of Landed Housing Solutions, to assist tenured faculty and senior lecturers (who meet specific eligibility criteria) with down-payment assistance to buy a home. We offered two information sessions in June and will offer more in the coming year. The Provost’s Office is accepting applications year-round for this program. In addition, for those participating in the new down-payment assistance program with Landed Housing Solutions, we are also providing limited mortgage subsidy support.
In the upcoming year, the Provost’s Office will continue its review of faculty salaries across all ranks and further streamline administrative processes around the appointment and evaluation of faculty members.
Let me close by expressing my sincere gratitude to you for the talents, energy, and dedication you share with our students and the rest of the Santa Clara community. I also wish to thank all of you who have provided suggestions to my office. My staff and I are committed to continuing to listen to your valuable feedback, and to evaluate and improve policies, processes, and programs offered by the University to support you in the important work you do. Please feel free to share your ideas with me by email, in one of my monthly drop-in hours, or by scheduling a private appointment with me.
May these final days of summer be a period of respite and rejuvenation for you.
With warm regards,
Dennis