2.18.3 Bona Fide Financial Crisis and Bona Fide Financial Exigency

Should a dean, in consultation with the Provost, determine that a bona fide financial crisis exists within a school, college, or UAB Libraries, and that the resolution of the crisis could involve the termination of faculty members holding tenure in academic units within the affected school, college, or UAB Libraries, the dean shall prepare a statement describing (a) the rationale for proposing the existence of a bona fide financial crisis and (b) a specific plan based on this rationale. The statement shall be reviewed by the faculty affairs committee within the potentially affected school, college or UAB Libraries for the purpose of advising the dean. In addition, the dean should review the rationale and plan with the school, college, or UAB Libraries administrative leaders (associate and assistant deans), department chairs, and elected Faculty Senate members from the school, college, or UAB Libraries. Based on these consultations, the dean shall make a recommendation to the Provost.

If the President believes that a bona fide financial exigency exists or is predictable or concurs with the school, college, or UAB Libraries that a bona fide financial crisis exists or is predictable and if the resolution of either financial emergency could involve the termination of a tenured faculty member, then the President shall inform the Senate through the Chair of the Faculty Senate of the nature and extent of the financial emergency and shall request that the Provost develop a plan to accommodate academic and research portions of the financial emergency. The Provost's plan to resolve a bona fide financial crisis may propose the termination of tenured faculty only from the school, college, or UAB Libraries in which the bona fide financial crisis exists.

(Return to top)

The committee is charged with reviewing the urgency of the bona fide financial exigency or bona fide financial crisis and the appropriateness of the Provost's plan, while acting in the best interests of UAB as a whole. The committee shall have access to all information reasonably available at the time, including documentation that a bona fide financial exigency or bona fide financial crisis exists and documentation concerning the Provost's plan for alleviating the financial emergency. Within 30 calendar days after its initial meeting, the committee shall submit to the Provost a written recommendation concerning the financial urgency and the Provost's plan for its resolution.

2.18.3.2 Provost's Actions

The Provost shall submit a recommendation to the President describing a specific plan to accommodate the bona fide financial exigency or bona fide financial crisis, including any recommendations for the termination of tenured faculty members. The Provost also shall submit to the President the recommendations of the faculty committee.

(Return to top)
 

2.18.3.3 President's Actions

Within thirty days of receipt of the Provost's and committee's recommendations, the President shall (a) deny the recommendation, (b) return alternative recommendations to the Provost for their advice, or (c) accept the original recommendation. Alternative recommendations returned to the Provost for their advice will follow the process of acquisition of faculty advice detailed in this Handbook.

If the President's decision requires the termination of tenured faculty member(s), such faculty will be notified in writing by the President before the President requests approval of the decision of financial exigency or financial crisis by the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. A faculty member may request a hearing in accordance with Appendix C.

If, after the above notification(s), the President remains committed to a declaration of a financial emergency, then, in accordance with Board Rule 301, the President shall notify the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees that a bona fide financial exigency or bona fide financial crisis exists within UAB and the President shall propose UAB's plan to meet the crisis, including any and all proposals for termination of tenured faculty members. The Chancellor and the Board of Trustees must approve the declaration of a bona fide financial exigency or a bona fide financial crisis before the termination of any tenured faculty member for either financial cause. Simultaneous with the President's notification to the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees, the President shall inform the Faculty Senate through the Chair of the Faculty Senate of the details of UAB's proposed plan.