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DOCUMENT TYPE:
Policy
PURPOSE:
To establish the governance structure of the Department of Economics.
APPLIES TO:
Faculty of the Department of Economics
CAMPUS:
Lawrence
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
I. Mission Statement
II. Values Statement
III. Definitions
IV. Administration and Governance
V. Selection and Roles of Office Positions
VI. Policies
VII. Evaluations
VIII. Merit Salary Distribution
IX. Departmental Awards/Honors
X. Program Review Cycles
POLICY STATEMENT:
I. Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Economics is to create new economic knowledge and disseminate economic knowledge to our students and colleagues, the citizens of Kansas, and the world.
II. Values Statement
The values of the Department of Economics align with the IRISE values at the University of Kansas. They are: Integrity, Respect, Innovation, Stewardship, and Excellence.
III. Definitions
A. Faculty Membership. Faculty in the Department of Economics are categorized as those holding at least .10 FTE appointment as Tenured Faculty, Tenure-Track Faculty, or Teaching Professor in the Department of Economics are also graduate faculty. Unless otherwise noted, student representatives to the Faculty meetings and to the various policymaking committees are voting members.
B. Voting Membership. Unless otherwise noted, voting members of the faculty consist of those categorized as Faculty in the Department of Economics (see Section III.A. above). These members are also graduate faculty. Unless otherwise noted, student representatives to the Faculty meetings and to the various policymaking committees are voting members.
IV. Administration and Governance
A. Officers
1. Department Chair
A department chair, appointed by the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS), is the executive officer of the department. The chair is responsible for administering the Department, representing the Department to the College and University, and making any decision not assigned to some other person or committee. As noted in Section V.A.-V.C. (below), the chair serves at the pleasure of the Dean. Reappointment after an initial term (typically 3-5 years) requires a successful review, administered by CLAS. Selection of the chair is governed by the Policy on Chairperson/Director Selection and Appointment in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. See also Section V.A-V.C.
2. Associate Chairs
Two associate chairs are appointed by the Department Chair to assist in the effective leadership and management of the department. Associate Chairs serve at the pleasure of the Department Chair and are invited to serve for a specific number of years determined at the start of their term. Normally Associate Chairs serve at least two consecutive years.
a) The Associate Chair for Graduate Studies serves as the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS) and has primary responsibilities to assist with the administration of the PhD and MA programs within the department.
b) The Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies (DUS) and has primary responsibilities to assist with the administration of the BA, BS, and BGS programs.
B. Standing Committees
Each of the following committees includes a committee chair, charged with organizing, prioritizing, reporting to the department, and ensuring the timely achievement of goals. Additional faculty members and student representatives serve on each committee. Standing committees are those from which regular reports are given and whose policy recommendations are presented for faculty vote. Committees may be elected or appointed, as noted below.
1. Executive Committee (Elected)
Make-up: 1 Distinguished Professor, 1 Professor, 1 Associate, 1 Assistant, 1 Student, Department Chair (ex officio), Associate Chair for Graduate Studies (ex officio), Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies (ex officio).
This committee will meet at least once each semester, and more frequently if deemed necessary. It is empowered to make decisions on any issues for which it deems that a departmental meeting is unnecessary or infeasible. When a departmental meeting is called, this committee sets out the options for consideration. Usually, the committee will have prepared a motion on the agenda items.
This committee will also hear any disputes/complaints from a faculty member that results from a Chair’s execution of responsibilities (V.A.1.) where a private discussion is unable to resolve the matter. The faculty member will prepare a written complaint for the executive committee, and deliver it to the most senior members of the committee (excluding the Department Chair). The executive committee will then convene a meeting, excluding the student member, to hear the complaint and gather more information. This committee has the discretion to invite the Department Chair to respond to the complaint. The resulting decision of the committee on the matter will be binding to the Department Chair and the complainant.
2. Promotions and Tenure (Appointed)
Make-up: All tenure track and tenured faculty at or above the rank of the candidate for promotion.
This committee conducts progress toward tenure (PTTR) reviews, the evaluation for tenure and promotion from Assistant to Associate rank, and from Associate to Full, and the post-tenure review (PTR) evaluations as required by University procedures. This committee convenes as required by University procedures and during the annual evaluation cycle early in the spring semester. See Promotion and Tenure Procedures, Department of Economics.
The chair of P&T Committee must be at the rank of Professor or above, and is selected by department faculty each Spring. The selected chair will serve a 1-year term, at which point the next chair is selected.
3. Graduate Programs Committee (Appointed)
Make-up: Associate Chair for Graduate Studies, MA Advisor, 3 faculty, 1 graduate students. Considers issues relevant to the graduate program and makes recommendations to the Executive Committee or the Department.
4. Undergraduate Program Committee (Appointed)
Make-up: Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies, 2 faculty, 2 undergraduate students. Considers issues relevant to the undergraduate program and makes recommendations to the Executive Committee or the Department. The faculty members serve as undergraduate major advisors.
5. MA Admission/Policy Committee (Appointed)
Make-up: MA Advisor, Director of Graduate Programs, 2 faculty members, 1 graduate student. All members are chosen from the Graduate Program Committee. Makes decisions on MA admissions. Makes recommendations regarding MA program policy.
6. PhD Admission/Policy Committee (Appointed)
Make-up: Director of Graduate Programs, 3 faculty members, 1 graduate student. All members are chosen from the Graduate Program Committee. Makes decisions on PhD admissions and financial aid. Makes recommendations regarding PhD program policy.
7. Grievance Committee (Appointed)
Make-up: 2 faculty, 1 student. See Grievance Procedure, Department of Economics. Considers formal complaints when presented by the Department Chair. If any Grievance Committee member is not a disinterested party or has had previous involvement in the specific situation forming the basis of the complaint, then the Chair will replace that member with another Department faculty member who is a disinterested party and has had no previous involvement in the specific situation forming the basis of the complaint.
8. Computer and Technology Committee (Appointed)
Make-up: 3 faculty, 1 student. This committee formulates policy regarding use of computer and information technology in the department and makes decisions regarding the purchase of any equipment or software. The committee oversees development and maintenance of department information technology related initiatives including: the department Web page, the department network server, and the department administrative database; is responsible for managing department technology related sources for teaching; and manages the graduate student computer lab.
9. Faculty Evaluation Committee (Elected)
Make-up: 4 faculty The Faculty Evaluation Committee will have four elected members: one associate professor, one full professor, and two at large faculty members who can be associate or full professors. Members will be elected for two-year terms. A faculty member who serves on the committee will be again eligible for membership two years after the completion of service. If an elected member is not able to complete a two-year term because of a leave of absence, resignation, retirement or promotion, another faculty member will be elected to complete the term. If there is not an available and eligible faculty member of a rank, then another at large associate or full professor faculty member will be elected instead. The duties of the Faculty Evaluation Committee are stated the Faculty Evaluation Plan.
10. Colloquium Committee (Appointed)
Make-up: 2 faculty members. One faculty member will chair the committee. The committee will administer the Department’s external and internal seminar series for an academic year. Committee members are expected to entertain suggestions for external speakers from all faculty members. A faculty member who suggests a visiting speaker is expected to make, within the budget constraints imposed by the committee, all the itinerary and hospitality arrangements for that visitor.
The Committee is responsible for: administering the seminar series budget, deciding which speakers to invite, scheduling the speakers, and ensuring that, for each visiting speaker, the itinerary, arranged by the faculty member who proposed the visitor, is planned and executed so as to demonstrate the courtesy and hospitality of the Department.
Because seminar visits for an academic year are often arranged during the Spring of the previous year, the committee members may be appointed for staggered terms of one-year duration to ensure some continuity between semesters.
11. Search Committees
When the department has been authorized to conduct a search for a multi-term lecturer, teaching professor, or tenured or tenure-track position, the department chair organizes a Search Committee. The committee is comprised of no fewer than three faculty members in the department of Economics, and when appropriate, an external faculty member. The committee is charged with overseeing the submission of all relevant paperwork, screening applications, and conducting screening interviews (normally by telephone or zoom). The Search Committee also includes a non-voting graduate student representative whose access to candidates’ applications materials is subject to HRM rules. The committee will provide regular updates on its work to the department's faculty as appropriate.
In a tenured/tenure track search, the Committee makes a recommendation regarding candidates to invite to campus interviews. All voting faculty members participate in the final deliberations regarding the approval and ranking of candidates. In addition, if a lecturer requests to convert their one-year appointment into a multi-term lecturer position, all voting faculty members review and vote on this request. This committee convenes as needed to achieve the goal of faculty recruitment effectively and efficiently. Each member of the Search Committee may cast one vote. See also Development of the Faculty Hiring Plan (VII.B.1 below)
12. Ad-hoc committees
As the needs arise, the department chair is tasked with appointing ad hoc committees to fulfill critical functions of the departments. Such committees will be recruited from the voting faculty and student representatives, as warranted, and as consistent with university policies and procedures.
C. Departmental Meetings
1. Meetings. Hybrid faculty meetings are scheduled for each month of the academic year, as described in section IV.C.3 (below). This meeting includes all full-time and jointly appointed faculty members (see section III.A. and III.B), a graduate student representative, and those invited to attend. The department may invite outside faculty, emeriti faculty, part-time lecturers, and other students to attend and provide information relevant for discussions. For more sensitive matters, these meetings may include closed sessions with more limited participation (e.g., faculty with full voting rights). The department chair may also cancel a scheduled meeting when circumstances warrant, and no urgent business needs attention.
2. Meeting Attendance. Faculty members (named above in section IV.A.) and the graduate student representative are expected to attend, ideally in person, monthly faculty meetings and to inform the Chair of any scheduling conflicts as early as possible. Other members of the department, including lecturers, part-time lecturers, visiting faculty, graduate students, and guests may be invited to attend.
3. Frequency of Meetings. Faculty meetings normally occur once each month during the academic year, according to a schedule that is announced at the beginning of the Fall semester and adjusted as needed. Meetings typically last for one hour and are traditionally scheduled for Tuesday afternoons at 3:30pm, a day/time that is accommodated by the department’s teaching schedule. Longer meetings may be scheduled in advance as needed. The department chair strives to keep the meeting within the specified time and to alert attendees when it is anticipated that the meeting may exceed it. The schedule of these meetings may be adjusted according to administrative needs (e.g., to accommodate a change in CLAS administrative meetings or due to the availability of an invited guest), with the understanding that any such adjustments should be announced as soon as possible.
4. Publication of Agenda. The department chair issues a call for agenda items and announcements at the very latest by the Monday before a department meeting. All reminders of upcoming department meetings may be taken as a request for agenda items to be promptly conveyed to the department chair. The agenda is normally published at least one day in advance of a department meeting, and any documents requiring a vote or substantive discussion are circulated by the Chair or by a standing committee with adequate time for attendees to read and consider them.
5. Quorum. A meeting may take place and members may vote on decisions if presided by the department chair (or acting chair) with the presence of a simple majority of the voting membership as defined in section IV.B (except in the case of changes to the bylaws, which, as outlined in section XI, below, calls for a super-majority). Usually, the department chair accommodates meeting dates and times so that at least three fourths of the faculty can be present to vote on issues of significant policy change.
6. Voting Procedures. Unless otherwise noted, all voting members of the department (IV.B) may vote on policy issues. Members may not vote in absentia (in writing), but they may vote if attending the meeting remotely. The purpose of discussion and debate in a meeting is to persuade others in the process of decision-making. Only those present to hear the discussion may cast a vote. Absent members may request that the department chair convey their position or opinion on matters in their absence, or they may submit a brief written statement to the chair to be read during the meeting.
The Department of Economics supports the full inclusion of all faculty (tenure track and non-tenure track) in the governance of the department. Although KU Teaching Professor Job Title Series Guidelines do not allow non-tenure track faculty members to vote on personnel issues involving tenure-track faculty (e.g. hiring, promotion and tenure, progress toward tenure review, post tenure review), non-tenure track faculty in the department vote on all policies and procedures not expressly forbidden by university policy.
7. Additional Meetings. At their discretion, the department Chair or a three-fifths majority of the Executive Committee may call additional meetings to ensure timely decision making or to accomplish work for which regular monthly meetings are insufficient. Typically, such meetings are called around faculty searches, but other events or circumstances may also necessitate them. In principle, the department strives to minimize the number of such meetings and to maximize the efficiency of scheduled departmental meetings.
D. Student Representation on Department Committees
1. Student membership on committees. Each policymaking committee within the department (i.e., executive committee, the graduate program committee, and the computer committee) will include at least one student representative. The Undergraduate program committee will include two student representatives. Although the grievance committee is not a policy-making committee, it will include one student representative.
a. Student representatives (2) on the undergraduate program committee will be undergraduate students.
b. Student representatives on all other committees will be graduate students.
c. The composition of student representation on ad hoc policy-making committees will be determined at the time the committee is constituted.
2. Responsibilities of student representatives. The representatives will be expected to solicit the opinion of the other students on questions and issues that arise in committee meetings and faculty meetings, including such topics as graduate course offerings, changes in the graduate or graduate programs, questions of departmental policy, and faculty recruiting. The representatives will be expected to report back to the graduate students on the discussions in these various meetings. The graduate student representatives will also be responsible for advising the Graduate Director on TA office assignments and communicating to the Graduate Director matters and issues of general concern to both MA and PhD students.
3. Student Representative Voting Rights. Student representatives have voting rights equal to their representation on all policy-making committees. However, each of these committees may make some decisions that involve the application of policy to particular individuals or to particular circumstances; students will not vote on such issues.
a) Student Participation in Faculty Hiring Decisions. The student representatives will be responsible for gathering the opinions of graduate students concerning prospective faculty members who are invited for a campus interview and for communicating those opinions to the search committee. The representatives will work together with the search committee chair to arrange for meetings between students and prospective faculty members during the campus visits. After the campus visit the representatives will survey all graduate students concerning the candidate and report the results of that survey to the search committee chair. The representatives will also be prepared to present information about student opinions at the Department meeting at which discussion and voting about the candidates takes place. University policy prevents students from voting on faculty hiring decisions.
b) Student Participation in Promotion and Tenure Decisions. Students do not serve on the Department of Economics Promotion and Tenure Committee. Students are not to be involved in Promotion and Tenure decisions beyond their role in the normal evaluation of individual courses.
4. Election of Student Representatives
a) Graduate student representatives are elected by the graduate students enrolled in the PhD and MA program. The elections will take place near the end of the Spring semester and are facilitated by the Graduate Program Coordinator. Graduate Student Representative terms of office begin on August 1 will run for one year. Graduate student representatives may be elected for a second term.
b) Two undergraduate student representatives will be elected by the Undergraduate Student Economics Organization. In the absence of an active Undergraduate Student Economics Organization, the undergraduate representatives will be appointed by the Director of Undergraduate Studies. Undergraduate Student Representative terms of office begin on August 1 will run for one year. Undergraduate student representatives may be elected for a second term.
V. Selection and Roles of Office positions
A. Department Chair. The Department Chair is the administrative and operating head of the department, the chair of departmental meetings, and an ex officio member of all departmental committees. The Chair is also the representative of the department with other units, divisions, and administrators of the university, except in those cases when another member of the department has been specifically designated to act in that capacity.
1. The Chair serves at the pleasure of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and has the following primary responsibilities:
a) Providing oversight and leadership for all unit activities.
b) Administering the undergraduate and graduate academic programs of the unit, including monitoring enrollments, staffing courses, and the appointment in consultation with other faculty members of a Director of Undergraduate Studies, Director of Graduate Studies, and committees to oversee these activities.
c) Reviewing and revising long-range plans for the unit, in consultation with the department faculty.
d) Overseeing all internal administrative, space, and personnel matters.
e) Overseeing financial and budgetary matters of the department. This includes allocations and expenditures for the department’s operating (day-to-day and administrative expenses) and instructional (instructional costs from non-tenure faculty and GTAs) budgets, and KUEA (endowment) accounts. Given the importance of transparency and accountability on fiscal matters, the Chair will engage in the following:
i. Deliver an annual budget report to the entire faculty (typically at the annual Fall retreat). The report should include allocation and spending in the previous fiscal year, as well as projections for the current/forthcoming fiscal year. Past-year expenditures greater than 2.5% of the available fund must be itemized in the report.
ii. Deliver at least quarterly (every 3 months) budget reports to the Executive Committee. The quarterly report should include all discretionary spending since the previous report, with as much transparency as possible (noting that some spending may be less transparent due to confidentiality matters). Expenditures or planned expenditures greater than 2.5% of the available fund must be itemized in the report.
iii. Receive prior approval from the Executive Committee for any discretionary spending that is greater than 2.5% of the available fund. The request for approval must clearly articulate the nature of the expense, how it supports the mission/goals of the department, and how it impacts the funding source.
f) Supervising and reviewing the unit’s faculty, professional, academic, and support staff.
g) Chairing the annual evaluation committee; managing evaluation processes; writing annual evaluation letters; managing faculty evaluations according to College and University regulations and policies.
h) Seeking to enhance resources available to the unit by actively seeking internal and external funding.
i) Developing and enhancing research and educational relationships between the unit and other units across the College and University, as well as with agencies outside the University, public and private.
j) Cultivating future leadership for the department by mentoring faculty members and providing leadership opportunities.
k) Executing College and University policy within the unit effectively.
l) Representing and reporting for the unit to the College and other University entities.
m) Appointing other departmental officers, faculty representatives, and employees to perform designated tasks.
n) Maintaining, in consultation with the unit, accurate, up-to-date versions of departmental bylaws and policies that are posted in the KU policy library.
o) Hearing recommendations and complaints about faculty, staff, or students. When appropriate, the Chair will communicate these to University administration, or when relevant to Annual Faculty Evaluation or committee service, to the Faculty Evaluation Committee.
2. The Chair, when acting in that capacity, routinely speaks and acts on behalf of the department. Consequently, it is vital for the Chair to ascertain the will of the department by consultation and to act on that will. It is recognized that this consultation may take many forms and that this requirement in no way inhibits the right of the Chair to speak and act as an individual.
3. The term of office of the Chair shall be three to five years. Term length is to be determined by agreement between the incoming chair and the Dean of the College, and whatever agreement is reached will be promptly communicated to the department. Extension of the term of office of the Chair for more than one year beyond the original term requires consultation with faculty at a departmental meeting.
B. Procedures for Selection and Appointment of a Chair. The selection of the Department Chair should reference current College policy: see the Chairperson/Director Selection and Appointment in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. In the case of an external search, the department will also follow bylaws for faculty appointments. In either case, the following procedure is required:
1. The Dean or Associate Dean meets with voting members of the unit to review procedures and charge them to initiate the search.
2. The Search Committee will be composed of all eligible voting faculty (III.A.-B.), excluding self-identified internal candidates. The Dean’s Office will specify whether the current department chair can or cannot be a member of this committee. Unless specified otherwise by the Dean’s Office, a applicant or spouse/partner of the applicant may not participate on the committee. This committee will request from the Dean’s Office that a committee member external to the department be assigned to the committee, and the committee will elect this external members as the search committee chair.
3. The voting members of the unit will prepare a position description and presents it to voting members for discussion and approval and then to the College Dean’s Office for final approval.
4. In conjunction with the Dean’s Office and SSC, the position announcement is uploaded to the University’s hiring system and published more broadly if it involves an external search.
5. A call for applications and nominations is emailed to the unit and affiliated faculty.
6. The search committee chair will solicit feedback from non-voting members and staff of the department and share the feedback with the committee.
7. The search committee will conduct interviews with the candidates.
8. Voting procedure: There are two voting procedures, the results of which will be reported to the Dean’s Office.
a) One of the voting procedures will be that required by the Dean’s Office, compliant with the Chairperson/Director Selection and Appointment in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. This vote must exclude the current chair, the candidate(s), partner or spouse of the candidate(s), and students.
b) The other voting procedure, Head-to-Head Pair Voting, will supplement what is required (V.B.8.i.) by the Dean’s Office. For this voting procedure, the current department chair, the candidates, and candidates’ partners/spouses will be allowed to vote. This voting procedure will be implemented and organized by the Chair of the Search Committee.
i. Each voting member casts one vote for each head-to-head pairing (randomized order).
ii. Each head-to-head win for a candidate will be equal to 1 point. Each head-to-head loss for a candidate will be equal to 0 points. Each head-to-head tie will be equal to 0.5 points for each candidate.
iii. While the candidates can vote in the head-to-head, they cannot be present for other candidates’ interviews.
iv. The point totals will be reported to the Dean’s Office. The search committee will also comply with any information the Dean’s Office specifically requires.
C. Associate Chair for Graduate Studies. An Associate Chair for Graduate Studies will be appointed and supervised by the Chair to assist in the effective leadership and management of the department. The Associate Chair for Graduate Studies serves as the Department’s Director of Graduate Studies and presides over the department’s graduate program and the Graduate Committee. The DGS will receive a one-course reduction in teaching responsibilities each year, and depending on the availability of funding from CLAS, a summer stipend as compensation for their work. The Associate Chair for Graduate Studies serves at the pleasure of the Chair and has the following duties:
1. Ensuring that departmental protocols and policies for graduate students conform to College and University standards.
2. Representing the graduate program to the College and University; working in close collaboration with the COGA advisor.
3. Responding to the questions and concerns of present, past, and prospective graduate students and of faculty regarding the graduate program.
4. Serving as liaison between graduate students and faculty.
5. Overseeing and implementing strategies for the recruitment of graduate students.
6. Guiding applicants, overseeing, and coordinating the annual admission process.
7. In collaboration with the Graduate Student Organization, planning and executing prospective students visits for newly admitted students, when feasible.
8. Collaborate with the Chair and the Executive Committee on the granting of departmental awards for graduate students.
9. Preparing applications for graduate student funding and awards internal to the College and University (e.g., Self-Graduate Fellowships, University Graduate Fellowships)
10. Planning and executing professional development activities for graduate students.
11. Collaborating with the chair and department officers on course offerings and teaching schedules.
12. Assigning GTAs to courses each semester in consultation with department officers and instructors of record and considering GTA preferences when appropriate and feasible.
13. Recommending to the Chair and DUS advanced graduate students to teach upper division courses.
14. Serving as liaison between GTAs and instructors of record regarding performance and related concerns.
15. Overseeing graduate teaching assignments for summer school courses, in consultation with the chair and department officers.
16. Overseeing the pursuit and implementation of agreements between KU and other institutions pertaining to the graduate program.
17. Collecting, preparing, and submitting data on the graduate program for the College and University.
D. Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies. An Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies will be appointed and supervised by the Chair to assist in the effective leadership and management of the department. The Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies serves as the Department’s Director of Undergraduate Studies and presides over the department’s undergraduate program and the Undergraduate Committee. The DUS will receive a one course reduction in teaching responsibilities each year, and depending on the availability of funding from CLAS, a summer stipend as compensation for their work. The Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies serves at the pleasure of the Chair and has the following duties:
1. Ensuring that departmental protocols and policies for undergraduate students conform to College and University standards.
2. Representing the undergraduate program to the College and University.
3. Overseeing the department’s undergraduate course schedule and staffing of courses, including which courses are offered and the dates and times of instruction. The DUS will work with the Administrative Associate and collaborate with the department officers.
4. Responding to the questions and concerns of present, past, and prospective undergraduate students and of faculty regarding the undergraduate program.
5. Serving as liaison between undergraduate students and faculty.
6. Collaborate with the Chair and the Executive Committee on the granting of departmental awards and scholarships for undergraduate students.
7. Collecting, preparing, and submitting data on the undergraduate program for the College and University.
8. Overseeing study abroad programs, including the selection of faculty members to serve as instructors in the summer language institute program.
9. Coordinating undergraduate advising with the department’s advising specialist, and where appropriate, with faculty and other student advisors in the College and University.
10. Preparing applications for undergraduate student funding and awards internal to the College and University.
11. Collaborate with department chair in overseeing cases of academic misconduct by undergraduates.
12. Overseeing and implementing strategies for the recruitment of majors and minors.
13. Other responsibilities as directed by the Chair. E. Director of the Master’s Program. A Director of the Master’s Program (DMP) is appointed and supervised by the Chair of the department. The main duty of the DMP is to preside over the department’s Master’s program and serve on the Master’s Program Admissions/Policy Committee.
E. Director of the Master’s Program. A Director of the Master’s Program (DMP) is appointed and supervised by the Chair of the department. The main duty of the DMP is to preside over the department’s Master’s program and serve on the Master’s Program Admissions/Policy Committee.
VI. Policies
It is generally understood that the Department of Economics adheres to all policies and procedures outlined in the University Senate Rules and Regulations (USRR).
A. Grievance Procedure. Pursuant to Article XII of the University Senate Code and VII of the University Senate Rules and Regulations of the University of Kansas, Lawrence, the Department of Economics has established procedures to hear grievances arising within the Department. These procedures are formally located in the policy library at Grievance Procedure for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
B. Faculty Hiring Plan. Tenure track and non-tenure track faculty lines are provided at the discretion of the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. In the spring of each year, the Dean’s office tenders a call for recruitment requests/priorities, which allows departments to identify priorities for tenure track faculty positions. The chair is responsible for responding to the annual call for tenure track recruitment requests in consultation with the faculty and the Faculty Hiring Plan. The Chair will prepare proposals for hiring following discussions with department faculty. The proposal will be advanced to the Dean’s Office following a discussion and vote by Departmental faculty.
C. Grade Appeal. The Department of Economics has adopted the University’s procedures for addressing grade appeals. These procedures are formally located in the policy library at University Rules and Regulations Article 2, Section 3.
D. Academic Misconduct.Pursuant to USRR Article 2 section 6 (Academic Misconduct), and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Student Academic Misconduct Policy, the Department Chair upholds academic standards by supporting faculty members who identify instances of academic misconduct in their classes; faculty members must consult with the Department Chair regarding every case of academic misconduct. These procedures are formally located in the policy library at University Rules and Regulations Article 2, Section 6.
E. Graduate Student Handbook. This Handbook provides information regarding policies and requirements for successful completion of the MA and PhD programs, KU policies, and employment. The Director of Graduate Studies in concert with the COGA advisor and the Graduate Committee will update the Handbook annually.
F. Conflict of Interest. Pursuant to KU’s Employment of Relatives, Consenting Relationships, and Individual Financial Conflict of Interest Policies, and the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Nepotism Policy, employees must avoid conflicts of interest. Faculty and staff should not exercise any control over the conditions of employment and activities of a partner or family member (such as initial appointment, retention, promotion, tenure, salary, leave of absence, grievance advantage, or evaluation), nor should they influence those activities. As a matter of sound judgment and professional ethics, instructors have a responsibility to avoid any apparent or actual conflict between their professional responsibilities and personal interests in terms of their dealings or relationships with students. These professional constraints to avoid conflicts of interest ensure that the evaluation of students is conducted fairly and without any perception of favoritism or bias.
G. Key Policy. The policy of the Department of Economics is that no key shall be issued to anyone who does not have a clear need. Sub-master keys are issued only to office administrative support staff and the Department Chair. A deposit of $5.00 is collected from students who are issued keys (teaching assistants and assistant instructors).
H. Adjunct and Courtesy Appointments in the Department of Economics. The University Handbook stipulates that the prefix “adjunct” may be added to basic academic titles for those contributing to the University's instructional and/or research efforts without remuneration from the University. “Courtesy” faculty members are employees of KU who perform additional, affiliate services a unit outside of their home unit without additional compensation for that service.
1. These positions are approved for no more than one academic year at a time. Requests for reappointment must be made each year.
2. If justified, the request is to be initiated by the chair and/or dean before action by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs is taken. These appointments carry no salary and no credit towards academic tenure.
3. The Department of Economics uses the following criteria in making Adjunct and Courtesy appointments:
a) Persons appointed to Adjunct or Courtesy positions should contribute to the Department's primary goals of teaching and/or research;
b) The extent of such contributions should be consistent with the fact that there is no remuneration for such positions;
c) Any privileges such as (but not limited to) the use of office space, and administrative services granted to Adjunct appointments must be explicitly specified at the time of appointment by the Chair and should be reviewed at the time of reappointment.
VII. Evaluations
A. Annual Faculty Evaluation Plan. All tenure, tenure-track, and non-tenure track faculty shall be evaluated by the Faculty Evaluation Committee each year. Consistent with the Teaching Professor Job Title Series Guidelines, all teaching professors will be evaluated annually, with comprehensive evaluations conducted every three years of the appointment prior to the offer of another limited term appointment.
1. The Faculty Evaluation Procedures for tenured, tenure-track, and non-tenure track faculty are described in the Faculty Evaluation Plan document, formally located in the Policy Library at Faculty Evaluation Plan, Department of Economics.
B. Progress Toward Tenure Review. The Department follows Article VI of the Faculty Senate Rules and Regulations, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and the Office of the Provost, Center for Faculty Development and Mentoring procedures and guidelines in conducting a formal progress toward tenure review of all tenure-track faculty members. These procedures are formally located in the policy library at Faculty Senate Rules and Regulations, Promotion and Tenure Procedures for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, and Center for Faculty Development and Mentoring Promotion and Tenure.
C. Tenure and Promotion. For faculty appointed to tenure-track positions, the Department’s preparation for the evaluation for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor begins in the spring semester prior to the candidate’s mandatory review year. A list of twelve external reviewers is submitted to the Dean’s Office for approval, according to a deadline set by the Dean, which is typically in April. After approval from the Dean’s Office, research dossiers are sent to external evaluators in the spring so that external evaluations are received in time for the meeting of the Tenure and Promotion Committee early in the fall semester of the candidate’s review year. The Department articulates its standards and procedures for promotion and/or tenure in its Promotion and Tenure Procedures.
D. Promotion in Rank (Tenure track). For an Associate Professor in the tenure track seeking promotion to Full Professor, the Department’s preparation for the candidate’s evaluation begins in the spring semester prior to the candidate’s voluntary review year. A list of twelve external reviewers is submitted to the Dean’s Office for approval, according to a deadline set by the Dean, which is typically in April. After approval from the Dean’s Office, research dossiers are sent to external evaluators in the spring so that external evaluations are received in time for the meeting of the Promotion Committee early in the fall semester of the candidate’s review year. When requested by an associate professor on the Department’s annual review form submitted in the spring semester prior to the candidate’s voluntary review year, the Promotion Committee, consisting of Associate and Full Professors, will review the progress toward promotion of the Associate Professor in the subsequent fall semester. The Promotion Committee, in collaboration with the Department Chair, provides the Associate Professor with timely feedback in written communication that encourages their progress toward promotion and identifies areas of strength and weakness by the end of the fall semester. This review does not automatically signal the start of the promotion application process. The faculty member must explicitly indicate their intention to submit their application for promotion to the chair in written communication no later than March 1st following the review of progress toward promotion conducted in the fall. The Department articulates its standards and procedures for promotion and/or tenure in its Promotion and Tenure Procedures.
E. Promotion of Teaching Professors. High quality teaching is serious intellectual work grounded in a deep knowledge and understanding of the field and includes the ability to convey that understanding in clear and engaging ways. The conduct of classes is the central feature of teaching responsibilities at KU but teaching also includes supervising student research and clinical activities, mentoring and advising students, and other teaching-related activities outside of the classroom. The department has developed and adopted formal evaluation procedures and standards for the promotion of teaching professors. That policy is located in the policy library at Teaching Professor Promotion Procedures, Department of Economics.
1. Under the University standards for the award of promotion to associate teaching professor, the record must demonstrate effective teaching, as reflected in such factors as command of the subject matter, the ability to communicate effectively in the classroom, a demonstrated commitment to student learning, and involvement in providing advice and support for students outside the classroom.
2. Under the University standards for promotion to the rank of full teaching professor, the record must demonstrate continued effectiveness and growth as a teacher, as reflected in such factors as mastery of the subject matter, strong classroom teaching skills, an ongoing commitment to student learning, and active involvement in providing advice and support for students outside the classroom.
F. Post-tenure Review. The Department of Economics has established procedures for the review of tenured faculty members within the Department. These procedures are formally located in the policy library at Post-tenure Review in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.
G. Staff evaluations. The Chair of the Department conducts annual evaluations of the University Support Staff (USS) and the Unclassified Professional Staff (UPS) consistent with university policy. Supplementing these summative annual evaluations, the chair provides ongoing (formative) feedback to UPS and USS to facilitate departmental operations and USS and UPS professional development. The annual performance evaluations inform merit salary increases for USS and UPS (see below).
VIII. Merit Salary Distribution
A. Tenure track faculty. The Evaluation Committee provides the Department Chair with information that is to be used in ranking all tenure track faculty members based on their annual performance. The annual evaluation is based on the faculty member’s position description to account for differences in allocation efforts. Faculty members who have negotiated a Differential Allocation of Effort (DAE) are evaluated on individual amount of effort in the DAE as it relates to the effort assigned to teaching/advising, research, and service. The Department Chair establishes a procedure for allocating merit funds according to the rankings established using the analysis of the Evaluation Committee. The annual salary notification letter includes a brief explanation of the total pool provided for merit salary increases and the mechanism used for dividing the pool among the departmental faculty. The merit salary increase of the Department Chair is determined by the Dean.
B. Non-tenure track faculty. The Evaluation Committee provides the Department Chair with information that is to be used in ranking all non-tenure track faculty members based on their annual performance. The annual evaluation is based on the faculty member’s position description to account for differences in allocation efforts. Faculty members who have negotiated a Differential Allocation of Effort (DAE) are evaluated on individual amount of effort in the DAE as it relates to the effort assigned to teaching/advising, research, and service. The Department Chair establishes a procedure for allocating merit funds according to the rankings established using the analysis of the Evaluation Committee. The annual salary notification letter includes a brief explanation of the total pool provided for merit salary increases and the mechanism used for dividing the pool among the departmental faculty. The merit salary increase of the Department Chair is determined by the Dean.
C. Lecturers. The Department Chair reviews annual performance materials submitted by lecturers to determine their merit salary increase when such funds are available. The Department Chair establishes a procedure for allocating merit funds according to the annual performance evaluation. The annual salary notification letter includes a brief explanation of the total pool provided for merit salary increases and the mechanism used for dividing the pool among the departmental lecturers.
D. Graduate Teaching Assistants. The Department Chair reviews Graduate Teaching Assistants’ (GTAs) performance materials to determine merit salary increases when funds are available. Merit salary increases are awarded to GTAs based on their annual teaching evaluations, which includes students’ evaluations and class observations by faculty. Letters of salary notification, with a short description of the merit pool and evaluation process, are signed by the Department Chair.
E. Staff. The Department Chair reviews UPS and USS performance materials to determine merit salary increases when funds are available. Merit salary increases are awarded to UPS and USS based on their annual performance evaluations, which includes self-evaluations and supervisor evaluations. Letters of salary notification, with a short description of the merit pool and evaluation process, are signed by the Department Chair.
IX. Departmental Awards/Honors
The following awards for faculty and graduate students have been established to recognize meritorious service and/or teaching in the department. Nominations for all awards will be tendered to the Chair, who will present the nominations to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee functions as the Awards committee and will determine the recipients of all awards.
A. De-Min and Chin-Sha Wu Associate Professor. This award was established by Lawrence Wu and Clara Wu Tsai, to honor their parents, Dr. De-Min and Chin Sha Wu. Dr. Wu is credited with development of the Wu-Hausman Test, an important tool to evaluate the endogeneity of a variable. The fund provides for a rotating award to honor excellence among associate professors in the Economics Department. The recipient shall receive the title, DeMin and Chin-Sha Wu Associate Professor of Economics, for the term of the award along with ~$5,000 per year in spendable funds. The term of the award is 3 years (or less) and may be renewed for one additional term. Nominations will only be considered when the award is vacant or the term of an active award is expected to expire.
B. Award for Exemplary Faculty Teaching. The Economics department offers a biannual (every two years) teaching award for exemplary teaching by a faculty member. The Chair or assigned representative will review assessments of teaching that appear in the annual faculty evaluations for the two most recent academic years. Based on this review, three faculty nominations will be made to the Executive Committee. The committee will evaluate the nominations holistically, and select a winner. Selection of outstanding Faculty Teaching will be made before the end of the spring semester, and the award will be presented at the annual Economics Awards Ceremony
C. Awards for Exemplary Student Teaching. The Economics department offers three two an annual teaching award for exemplary teaching by a graduate student. The DGS or representative will solicit nominations (including self-nominations) during the spring semester, requesting materials supporting an exemplary record of over the previous 3 semesters. The DGS will review these nominations, and recommend the award winner to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee will vote on the recommendation. The selection of outstanding GTAs is made before the end of the spring semester, and the student award is presented at the annual Economics Awards Ceremony.
X. Program Review Cycles
A. Program Review. In accordance with University of Kansas guidelines, Assessment and Program Review, the Department periodically conducts an internal review of all programs and submits a report to the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The Board of Regents mandates a seven-year external program review cycle.
B. Internal Cycle of Review. The Department maintains quality and coherence by systematically reviewing the various components of its programs on a rotating basis. It is the Chair’s responsibility to charge the appropriate committees with conducting these systematic reviews. The following table lists the regular cycle of internal reviews.
| Annual: or as needed |
Graduate Student Handbook |
| Every two years; or as needed |
Undergraduate Program |
| Every four years; or as needed |
Graduate Programs (PhD, MA) |
| Every five years; or as needed |
|
C. Bylaws Review. These bylaws will be reviewed every two years upon the final approval date from the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. The review process may determine that no changes are needed. An ad-hoc committee will be appointed by the Chair to review the bylaws. The department also reserves the right to open discussion of the bylaws on an emergency basis. A super-majority (defined as two-thirds) of all voting faculty members is required to initiate an emergency review of the bylaws. During regular reviews and for emergency reviews a super-majority of all voting faculty members in the department is required to change the bylaws.
D. Revisions to Bylaws. Any member of the Economics Department may propose a revision to the Economics Department Bylaws. All such proposals will be reviewed by the Executive Committee, which will make a recommendation to the Department. Approval of a revision must be made at a Department meeting attended by a quorum of more than half of the eligible faculty members and student representatives. Approval of a revision requires a favorable vote of at least two-thirds of the voting department members in attendance.
CONTACT:
Department of Economics
econ@ku.edu
785-864-3501
RESPONSIBLE UNIT:
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
APPROVED BY:
Dean, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
APPROVAL DATE:
2025-12-01
EFFECTIVE DATE:
2025-12-01
REVIEW CYCLE:
1 year
CHANGE HISTORY:
06/04/2026: New policy added to Policy Library.
TITLE:
Bylaws, Department of Economics