2.18.4 Procedures for Academic Program/Unit Closure

If a dean or the Provost determines that it is in the best interest of UAB to consider an academic program/unit closure that could involve the termination of faculty holding tenure in that academic unit, they shall prepare a statement describing (a) the rationale for proposing a program/unit closure 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 Libraires 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.

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2.18.4.1 Acquisition of Faculty Advice Concerning the Recommendation

If, after receiving the recommendation, the Provost believes that action may be appropriate and determines that internal school, college, or UAB Libraries review has been conducted, the Provost shall appoint a committee composed of five faculty members who do not hold administrative appointments above that of a department chair, selected by the Faculty Senate, and five faculty members who do not hold administrative appointments above that of a department chair, selected by the Provost.

The committee is charged with acting in the best interest of UAB as a whole and is responsible for evaluating whether the decision to close the academic unit or discontinue the program is based on educational considerations and assessing any other issues deemed relevant by the Provost and the committee.

The committee shall have access to all information reasonably available at the time, including documentation of the necessity and rationale for the academic program/unit closure and documentation concerning the Provost's plan. Within 30 calendar days after its initial meeting, the committee shall submit to the Provost and the faculty (through the chair of the Faculty Senate) a written recommendation concerning the advisability of the academic program/unit closure and the Provost's plan.

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2.18.4.2 Provost's Action

If the Provost believes an academic program/unit closure is in the best interest of UAB as a whole, the Provost shall submit a recommendation to the President describing the necessity and rationale for proposing the academic program/unit closure and a specific plan based on this rationale, including any recommendations for the termination of tenured faculty members. In the formulation of this plan, the Provost in consultation with the affected faculty member(s) and appropriate deans shall consider the feasibility and advisability of placing the potentially terminated faculty members in other academic units at UAB. The Provost also shall submit to the President the recommendations of the faculty committee.

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2.18.4.3 President's Action

Within thirty days of receipt of the Provost's and committee's recommendations, the President will (a) deny the recommendation, (b) return alternative recommendations to the Provost for their advice, or (c) accept the original recommendation.

If the President's decision requires the termination of tenured faculty, such faculty shall be notified in writing by the President before the President requests approval of the decision of academic program/unit closure by the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. A faculty member may request a hearing in accordance with Appendix C. If the President's decision is unchanged as a result of the hearing, the President shall submit the request for approval of the recommendation of closure to the Chancellor.