Policy Number: 101.6

Policy: Faculty Work-Life

Date Adopted: 01/08

Revision Date:

References: Collective Bargaining Agreement (UFA CBA)

Approved By: George M. Dennison, President

The University of Montana-Missoula has work-life policies that promote the diversity, productivity, and success of the faculty. Exercising these options will not negatively affect a faculty member’s ability to obtain tenure.

1. Requested Extension of the Tenure Clock
   1. Tenure-track faculty may request a tenure clock extension for the following reasons:
      1. The birth or adoption of a child, or the foster care placement of a child;
      2. To care for a spouse/partner, child, or parent of the employee in the event of a serious health condition; and/or
      3. Incapacity to fulfill assigned responsibilities because of a serious health condition or other hardship situation.
      4. On request approved by the Chair, Dean, and Provost, the University also allows a tenure clock extension for probationary, full-time faculty who take up to one year of uncompensated leave (UFA CBA, section 15.222 on extraordinary uncompensated leave).
      5. Requested Reductions in FTE
         1. Reductions in FTE will entail proportionate reductions in pay for the period of the FTE reductions.
         2. Faculty may request a temporary reduction in FTE for the following reasons:
            1. The birth or adoption of a child, or foster care placement of a child;
            2. To care for a spouse/partner, child, or parent in the event of a serious health condition; and/or
            3. Incapacity to fulfill assigned responsibilities because of a serious health condition or other hardship situation.
            4. Faculty may also request a permanent reduction in FTE as allowed by the UFA CBA, Section 9.30: “By an agreement signed by the Provost, the faculty member, the academic chairperson, and the dean, a tenured faculty member may permanently reduce his/her tenured appointment from 1.00 FTE to not less than .50 FTE. Thereafter, the faculty member will have tenure over only the agreed portion of the reduced appointment.”

               
               NOTE: The faculty member who receives an approved FTE appointment reduction may request a return to 1.00 FTE, but the CBA does not guarantee any such return. A faculty member who reduces FTE appointment to less that .50 FTE loses tenured or tenure-track status.

            5. Spousal/Partner Employment or Accommodation

            6. The University of Montana has a commitment to help qualified candidates for employment find suitable positions for their spouses or partners. An offer to employ a candidate does not guarantee a position for the candidate’s spouse or partner, but the University will work with the candidate to identify appropriate options at the University and/or in the community, considering the spouse’s or partner’s experience and credentials.

               Policy Procedure