Academic Affairs
Proposals or modifications that are voted on or made during an academic year are incorporated into the following year's faculty manual. The current faculty manual and archived faculty manuals are available.
MODIFICATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 UPDATE
- Section II.III.B.2 Update on language regarding Ad Hoc Committee procedures
- [Faculty Vote]
- Section II.III.B.3.D.2 Revision to charge to Ad Hoc Tenure Committees/General Information on the Ad Hoc Report
- [Faculty Vote]
- Section II Revisions and corrections, inclusive pronouns
MODIFICATIONS FOR JANUARY 1, 2025 UPDATE
- Section II.II.D. Update on language regarding reappointment review service evaluation
- [Faculty Vote]
- Section II.III.B. Updated outdated language regarding student interviews
- [FEC consultation]
- Section V.VI Updated Rules of Public Order (formerly Regulations of Union College Governing Campus Conduct
- Section VI.X Updated Library Services Section
MODIFICATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 1, 2024 UPDATE
- Section II.III Update on language regarding tenure clock stop requests
- [FEC consultation]
- Section IV.II.B and Section IV.VIII, Amendments to provisions regarding the FCC
- [Faculty Vote]
- Section IV.XX Changes to constitutional amendment process
- [Faculty Vote]
- Appendix I New Language on Random Samples and Interviews
- [FRB consultation with the faculty]
- Appendix II Updated Letter to Students
- [FRB consultation with the faculty]
- Removal of Appendix III Letter to Alumni
- [FRB consultation with the faculty]
- Appendix IV Revision of Letter to Promotion Referees
- [FEC consultation]
MODIFICATIONS FOR January 1, 2024 UPDATE
- Section II.VI Change in vacation policy for professional librarians
- [FEC Consultation]
- Section II.VI Change in appointment type for professional librarians after the 6th-year review
- [FEC Consultation]
- Section II.XI Removal of language related to Triennial Merit Review
- [May 2022 Faculty Vote (which did not include a redlining of the Faculty Manual at that time); FRB consultation Spring 2023; FEC consultation Fall 2023]
- Section III.III Revised language on accommodative services policies
- [FEC Consultation]
- Appendix VI Revision of review procedures for professional librarians
- [May 2022 Faculty Vote on TMR; FEC consultation; FRB Chair consultation]
MODIFICATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 1, 2023 UPDATE
- All Sections: pronoun use was revised for the purpose of inclusivity
MODIFICATIONS FOR JANUARY 1, 2023 UPDATE
- Section II.II.A and Section II.V.B. allowing appointments of up to five years for Senior Lecturers, and requiring review of Senior Lecturers every five years
- Section IV.II.A on who is included in the General Faculty; and ex-officio status at faculty meetings
- Section V.XIII.C on guidelines regarding faculty access to student transcripts
MODIFICATIONS FOR SEPTEMBER 1, 2022 UPDATE
- Section IV.II.B on the election of faculty trustees
- Section IV.II.E on identifying replacements for members of governance structures
- Section IV.IX.A on the composition of the Conference Group
MODIFICATIONS FOR JANUARY 1, 2022 UPDATE
- (None)
modifications for september 1, 2021 update
- Section IV.IV.B (paragraph 5) regarding vacated tenure lines
- Section V.X. Consensual Relationship Policy language
modifications for september 1, 2020 update
- Sections IV-VI-A & IV-VI-C Regarding the Academic Chief Diversity Officer
- Section V-VII & VIII replaced old policies with new (discrimination and Title XI)
- Section I-VI replaced Adoptive Parent Leave Policy with the Parental Leave Policy
Modifications for January 1, 2020 update
- Regarding the FRB member on the FCC: Section IV-II-B
Modifications for September 1, 2019 update
- Regarding outside reviewers for promotion reviews: Section II-I-B-2-a
- Clarification for lecturers regarding full-time status: Section II-I-A-c
Proposals or modifications during 2017-18
(incorporated in the September 1, 2017 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Appendix I - Random Sampling | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted May 2017. | |
| Section II-II-D: Reappointment Prior to Tenure Review | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted July 2017. | |
Section IV-X-D: Benefits Committee Membership | February 21, 2017: approved at the General Faculty Meeting |
Proposals or modifications during 2016-17
(incorporated in the January 1, 2017 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Appendix VI (Evaluation Criteria and Review and Promotion Procedures for Librarians) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted October 2016. | |
| Section VI-X (Library Services) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted October 2016. | |
| Minor wording changes to Section II-V-1 (Review of Visiting Faculty) and Appendix V (Letter to Promotion Referees) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted September 2016. |
Proposals or modifications during 2015-16
(incorporated in the September 1, 2016 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Honor Code Policy (Section III-IV) - Summary of Changes, Revisions in Track Changes, Final Revised Policy | May 17, 2014: Approved at the faculty meeting. May 24, 2016: Approved by the Student Forum. | |
| Section II-I (Faculty Ranks and the Criteria for Promotion) - Summary, Revisions in Track Changes, Final Revised Policy | April 26, 2016: Approved at the faculty meeting; May 23, 2016: Approved by the President, VPAA, & Board of Trustees. | |
| Section IV-IV-A (AAC Representation) | January 26, 2016: Approved at the faculty meeting. | |
| Section IV-X-B (Typographical error) | February 19, 2016: Proposed by FEC and accepted by VPAA. | |
| Section IV-X-D (Benefits Committee Chair) | May 17, 2016: Approved at the faculty meeting. | |
| Section II-VIII (Outside Work) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted February 2016. |
(incorporated in the January 1, 2016 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Indemnification Policy (Section V-VIII) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted October 2015. | |
| Benefits for Unpaid Leave of Absence (Section I-VI-C) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted October 2015 | |
| Retirement Plan Contributions for Prestigious Grants Direct Payments (Section II-VIII-C) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted October 2015 | |
| Reporting Obligations for Sexual Assault (new insertion - Section V-IX) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted October 2015 | |
| Smoke/Tobacco Free Policy (new insertion - Section V-XIV) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted October 2015. | |
| Changes to Titles and Offices to Appropriately Reflect Campus Organization: - Director of Student Services to Director of Student Support Services (Section III-III) - Dean of Undergraduate Education to Dean of Studies (Section III-III) - Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action to Office of Diversity and Inclusion (Sections V-VIII and V-VIII); Senior Director of/for Campus Diversity and Affirmative Action Officer to Chief Diversity Officer (Sections II & IV) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted September 2015. |
Proposals or modifications during 2014-15
(incorporated in the September 1, 2015 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Reorganization of Faculty Manual | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted November 2014. | |
| Revisions to Policy Against Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, Misconduct (Including Sexual Assault, Stalking, And Relationship Violence), Bias Activity And Retaliation and Title Ix Statement And Title Ix Coordinator And Deputy Coordinators (Sex Discrimination, Harassment, And Assault) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted March 2015. | |
| Revisions to wording on Promotion to Senior Lecturer (Section II-II-A-5-C) | No vote required. FEC consulted and adopted February 2015. |
(incorporated in the November 1, 2014 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Updated Links to Benefits Information (Section I) Sabbaticals for Shared Tenure-track Positions (Section II-III-B) Cohort Assignments for Merit Reviews (Section II-XV-B-1) Grievance Policy (Sections II-XVIII & II-XIX) Dismissal Policy (Section II-XIII-B-1) Declination of Salary or Stipend (Section VI-VI) Whistleblower Policy (Section VI-XIII) | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted November 2014. | |
| Changes to the Faculty Constitution (original agenda) Item 1: reduce the number of junior faculty to serve on the FRB (Section IV-VI-A) Item 2: expand eligibility pool of junior faculty to serve on the FRB (Section IV-VI-A) Item 3: correct error in wording (Section IV-VI-C) Item 4: remove junior faculty members of FRB from serving on reappointment reviews (Section IV-VI-C) Item 5: allow junior faculty to participate in reappointment reviews (Section IV-VI-C) Item 6: change membership of Liaison Committee on Study Abroad (Section IV-XVII-A) | September 16, 2014 Faculty Meeting (summary of voting results) Item 1: Approved Item 2: Approved Item 3: Approved Item 4: Not Approved Item 5: Approved Item 6: Approved |
Proposals or modifications during 2013-14
(incorporated in the September 1, 2014 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Honor Council membership changes (Section III) | May 27, 2014: Approved unanimously at the faculty meeting. | |
| Liaison Committee for Academic Computing & Technology membership changes (Section IV) | April 8, 2014: Approved unanimously at the faculty meeting. |
Proposals or modifications during 2012-13
(incorporated in the September 1, 2013 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Policy on Acceptable Use of Information Technology Resources (Section VI) | No vote required. FEC and senior staff consulted. Adopted August 2013. | |
| Pets in the Workplace Policy (Section VI) | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted May 2013. | |
| Drug-Free Workplace and Drug/Alcohol Policy (Section VI) | No vote required. FEC consulted in July 2010. | |
| Changes to the Academic Honor Code (Section III-I-L) | May 28, 2013: Approved unanimously at the faculty meeting. | |
| Name changes to Division I, Division III, and Division IV(all relevant sections in the faculty manual). | April 16, 2013: Approved unanimously at the faculty meeting. | |
| Formation of the Liaison Committee for Campus Diversity (Section IV) | No vote required. Established by the President (Stephen Ainlay) in consultation with appropriate individuals and groups. Adopted October 2012. |
Proposals or modifications during 2011-12
(incorporated in the September 1, 2012 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Update to Section III-G (Examinations) to reflect new Honor Code | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted August 2012. | |
| Honor Code & Honor Code Implementation | Actual vote conducted in 2010-11. Refer to voting results and additional information provided in "Proposals or modifications during 2010-11" below. | |
| Shared Tenure-Track Position Guidelines | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted August 2012. | |
| Added wording at beginning of Section I-IV (Personal Leaves) to assist faculty with identification of relevant policy. | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC and Director of Human Resources. Adopted August 2012. | |
| Update of position titles in Sections II, III, IV and VI to accurately reflect academic organization. | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted August 2012. | |
| Scientific Misconduct Policy (Section VI-VIII-A) | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty), with involvement from the Grants Office, consulted the FEC. Adopted May 2012. | |
| Course Evaluation Form Proposed Course Form (v31), Lab Form (v31), Existing Class & Lab Forms (2011-12) | April 29, 2011: 55 for the new proposed forms 25 for the current forms | |
| Online Balloting | November 11, 2011: Question 1: 117 Yes, 5 No, 1 Qualified Yes Question 2: 115 Yes, 6 No | |
| Triennial Merit Review Form 2009-10 Form, 2011-12 Form | October 26, 2011: 48 for "Form that the FRB proposes using in 2011-12" 27 for "Form used in 2009-10" 1 Abstention, 5 write-in indicating "neither" form |
Proposals or modifications during 2010-11
(incorporated in the September 1, 2011 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| June 2011 Proposal | ||
| 1) Honor Code & Honor Code Implementation | June 20, 2011 : Recommendation accepted by President (Stephen Ainlay) and Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) June 17, 2011 : Approved by Union College Faculty (89 Accepted, 24 Rejected, 1 Abstention, 4 Blank) April 27, 2011 : Approved by Union College Student Forum (12 Accepted, 3 Rejected, 1 Abstention) Note: A process was undertaken in 2011-12 for the implementation of the Honor Code. During 2011-12 the existing academic honesty policy, as described in the 2011-12 Student Handbook and the 2011-12 Faculty Manual, was still in effect. The Honor Code that was passed in 2010-11 was made effective September 1, 2012 and was incorporated in the 2012-13 Faculty Manual. | |
| 2-6) Slate of candidates for at-large committees | June 2011: No vote counts provided for each position | |
| 7) Amendment to Section IV-II-E (Criteria for Elections of Faculty Members) | June 2011 : 105 Accepted, 8 Rejected, 1 Abstention, 4 Blank | |
| 8) Amendment to Section II-VIII-A (Sabbatical Leaves) | June 2011 : 112 Accepted, 2 Rejected, 4 Blank | |
| Rewrite of Appendix VI and insertion of text in Section II-VII regarding the evaluation criteria, review, and promotion procedures for professional librarians. | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted March 2011. | |
| Revisions to Appendix V (Letter to Promotion Referees) | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty), with involvement from the FRB, consulted the FEC. Adopted December 2010. | |
| Deletion of text in Section II-XIX-E (Procedures Dealing with Cases of Harassment) due to recent legislative changes. | No vote required. Senior Director of Campus Diversity and Affirmative Action (Gretchel Hathaway) consulted the FEC. Adopted April 2010. | |
| Deletion of superfluous text in Section X-A-5 (Outside Work Policy) | No vote required. Academic Affairs consulted the FEC. Adopted December 2010. | |
| Correction of misspelled word in Section IV-IV-C(Academic Affairs Council) | No vote required. Academic Affairs consulted the FEC. Adopted August 2011. |
Proposals or modifications during 2009-10
(incorporated in the September 1, 2010 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal or Modification | Voting Results | |
| Proposal I-IV | ||
| I: Revision regarding the AAC Sub-council on the Standing of Students | May 2010 : 91 Accepted, 5 Rejected, 2 Abstentions | |
| II: Revision regarding the General Education Board | May 2010 : 88 Accepted, 8 Rejected, 2 Abstentions | |
| III: Add language designating the Writing Board as a standing Sub-Council of the AAC | May 2010 : 89 Accepted, 7 Rejected, 2 Abstentions | |
| IV: Add language designating the Sub-Council on Courses and Programs as a standing Sub-Council of the AAC | May 2010 : 88 Accepted, 2 Rejected, 9 Abstentions | |
| Updates to Appendix II (Letter to Students), Appendix III (Letter to Alumni), and Appendix IV (Letter to Referees) as per revised checklist for tenure reviews. | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted August 2010. | |
| Revisions and updates to Section I (Salary and Fringe Benefits) along with corresponding modifications to Section II-VIII (Leaves) to maintain consistency between faculty manual and current salary & benefits policy administered by Human Resources. | No vote required. Benefits Committee consulted the FEC and the Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty). Adopted in August 2010. | |
| Revised wording in Section II-VI-B-1 from "Junior members may not choose to sign the cover letter if they wish" to "Junior members may choose to not sign the cover letter if they wish". Replacement of all instances of incorrect wording "tenure and tenure" to "tenure" found in faculty manual. | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted August 2010. |
Proposals or modifications during 2008-09
(incorporated in the September 1, 2009 version of the Faculty Manual)
| Proposal and Modification | Voting Results |
| Slate of candidates for at-large committees | June 11, 2009 : 106 Accepted, 5 Rejected, 1 Abstention |
| Faculty appeals of pre-tenure contract renewal and tenure | June 11, 2009 : 96 Accepted, 9 Rejected, 7 Abstentions |
| Description of Planning & Priorities Group | June 11, 2009 : 105 Accepted, 3 Rejected, 4 Abstentions |
| Description to the Liaison Committee on Study Abroad | June 11, 2009 : 100 Accepted, 6 Rejected, 6 Abstentions |
| Title for V.P. of Admissions & Financial Aid | June 11, 2009 : 98 Accepted, 7 Rejected, 7 Abstentions |
| Prestigious grants leave policy | No vote required. Dean of the Faculty (Therese McCarty) consulted the FEC. Adopted April 2009. |
| Procedures for review of visiting faculty and lecturers | April 2, 2009 : 104 Accepted, 8 Rejected, 0 Abstentions |
| AAC recommendations on tenure-track positions | April 2, 2009 : 90 Accepted, 18 Rejected, 4 Abstentions |
| Establishment of Liaison Committees for Study Abroad and Information Technology | No vote required. Established by President Ainlay, in conjunction with the Conference Committee and in accordance with the procedures laid out in the Faculty Constitution. Adopted September 2008. |