Policies of Academic Freedom and Tenure

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Approved by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina - May 14, 1976, effective June 11, 1976; revisions approved July 20, 1979, effective July 20, 1979; revisions approved May 10, 1982, effective July 1, 1982; revisions approved November 11, 1994, effective December 9, 1995; revisions approved January 2001, effective July 1, 2001; revisions approved August 2007, effective August 2007; revisions approved October 2009.

This document sets forth the official policy of The University of North Carolina at Wilmington regarding academic freedom, rights, and responsibilities, promotion, and tenure of its faculty. Fundamental in this policy are the concepts of academic freedom, rights, and responsibilities as stated in Chapter VI of the Code of The University of North Carolina. Equally fundamental is an explicit policy of promotion and tenure.

1. Freedom and responsibility in the university community
2. Academic freedom and responsibility of faculty
3. Academic tenure
4. Policies on appointment, promotion, and tenure
5. Mediation of faculty grievances
6. Nonreappointment hearings procedure
7. Faculty committee to hear grievances
8. Policies regarding cessation of university employment
9. Termination of faculty employment
10. Retirement
11. Policy on leave
12. Implementation

Section XII. Implementation

1. These policies and regulations supersede all other institutional documents governing the matters covered herein.
2. Except as otherwise provided below, all provisions of these policies and regulations shall become operative (with respect to all existing and all future faculty appointments) on the effective date, which shall be the date twenty-eight calendar days after the day on which these policies and regulations have been approved by the President and the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina:
   1. The provisions in Section IV.B.2.a prohibiting appointment of instructors after five years at that rank shall apply only with respect to persons who, upon the effective date, have not served at the rank of instructor for four years. The provisions of that sentence shall not apply to those who, upon the effective date, have served at the rank of instructor for four or more years. It shall neither require nonreappointment nor insure reappointment when their then-current or subsequent one-year terms expire, but shall leave this decision to be made as under the policies and regulations formerly applying.
   2. All provisions hereof requiring a department chairperson or school dean to consult with the assembled senior members of the department or school, and the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs to consult with the assembled college review committee shall apply only with respect to personnel recommendations initiated after the effective date.
   3. The provisions of Section VI shall apply with respect to both those who are given notice of nonreappointment within ninety calendar days before the effective date. Instructors, assistant professors, and associate professors to whom notice of nonreappointment has been given within ninety calendar days before the effective date shall have twenty calendar days after the effective date within which to initiate the procedures for review provided in Section VI.
      4. The provisions of Section X shall apply both to all persons who, upon the effective date, have attained normal retirement age and are in continued terms of employment, and to those persons who attain normal retirement age after the effective date.