Because the structure and organization of the University's academic units can have a profound effect on the financing and delivery of educational programs, the Senate adopts the following policy with respect to reorganization of academic units. In general, both the Senate and its committees should be involved in any organizational or structural decision affecting an academic unit made at the level of the campus or college or across colleges. The provisions of this policy calling for reporting information are also intended to provide the Senate a broad overview of the changes in academic programs that are occurring in the various colleges and campuses.

It is the position of the Senate that program changes within colleges should be subject to appropriate consultation with faculty and students from the beginning of planning for such changes. The primary focus of consultation should be the impact that the changes will have on the delivery of education to students. If actions leading to change are conducted in a reasonable manner, with consultation, the Senate has no interest in second-guessing academic decisions made by the colleges.

For the purposes of this policy, "academic unit" is defined as any unit which offers programs leading to a degree.

1. The campus assembly (or analogous body) of an affected campus or college unit shall review and make recommendations on the establishment of new collegiate units, the merger or elimination of existing collegiate units, or the addition to an existing campus/college of a major new mission with college- or campus-wide impact or ramification.

2. The Executive Vice President shall consult with the Senate Consultative Committee as to whether additional consultation with University Senate committee(s) is appropriate, and the timetable for such consultation.

3. These reorganizations shall be reported to the University Senate for information.

II. Reorganization Within and Across Colleges and Campuses

1. Proposals to establish, eliminate, split, or merge collegiate academic departments as well as intercollegiate transfers of departments shall be reviewed by appropriate college governance committees and reported to the Committee on Educational Policy for information

2. All proposals for the addition or deletion of undergraduate majors or degree programs shall be reported for information to the Committee on Educational Policy as part of decisions made by the administration or Board of Regents. Such proposals must incorporate an analysis of policy and budget implications. Changes within colleges and campuses shall be reviewed by the appropriate internal faculty governance process.

3. The Committee on Educational Policy shall report annually to the Senate, at the first meeting of the academic year, on the changes it reviewed under Section II(1) of this policy.

4. For each campus, it is expected that discussion of curricular issues (including conflict and duplication of courses) will be carried out in the appropriate campus governance committee(s), and that recommendations made to campus academic officers will also be reported to the Committee on Educational Policy.

5. Addition and deletion of programs in the Graduate School will be reported annually for information to the Committee on Educational Policy.

1. The organization and selection of officers is appropriately at the discretion of the appointing authority. The president should have considerable discretion in setting the structure of the central administration of the University and to select and direct the officers who report to him or her; other senior academic officers (e.g., vice presidents, provosts, chancellors, deans) should have similar discretion.

2. When the president contemplates (a) the establishment or elimination of senior administrative position(s) of high rank (e.g., vice president, provost, chancellor), or (b) a major reorganization of the central administration, he or she shall present a proposal to the Senate Consultative Committee (or separately to the Faculty Consultative Committee and Student Consultative Committee) for information and discussion. Approval of the committee(s) for such proposals is not required.

   When a campus executive officer (chancellor or provost) contemplates the establishment or elimination of senior administrative positions for a campus, the provost or chancellor shall present a proposal to the appropriate consultative body (assembly executive committee or its faculty-student equivalent) for information and discussion. Approval of that consultative body for the proposals is not required.

The Senate Committee on Educational Policy has been reviewing existing policies for the last several years; this proposal represents one more presentation of a consolidated and clarified policy, this one relating to the reorganization of the University at various levels. This particular policy has been under review for almost two years, has been circulated to the deans for their comment, and has also been endorsed by the Senate Committee on Finance and Planning. It replaces all existing policies.

The following are EXISTING policies on reorganization (with dates of adoption in parentheses):