ACADEMIC SENATE

RESOLUTION 02/03-09

Annual Contracts

Whereas the Academic Senate upholds and affirms the principle of tenure;

Whereas the issuance of an annual contract to tenured and continuing appointment faculty members is incompatible with the spirit of tenure;

Whereas few of USC's peer institutions issue annual contracts to tenured and continuing appointment faculty;

Whereas changes in contract language may remain unnoticed when faculty sign such annual contracts;

Whereas changes to remuneration are currently signaled principally in an annual letter rather than in an annual contract;

Whereas the issuance of annual contracts is, in any case, a policy to which not all schools at USC currently adhere, creating inconsistency for faculty;

Whereas an annual letter affirming that no changes other than those stated can affect the basic contract affords faculty important protections;

Be it resolved that:

1. the issuance of annual contracts to faculty with tenure and continuing appointment be replaced by an annual letter, signed by the University President, the basic template for which will read as follows:

“I am pleased to inform you that your total salary for the XXX [academic/fiscal] year will be $XXX . [This total includes supplemental salary [or an administrative supplement] , for this year only, of $XXX .] In all other respects, your last tenured faculty contract remains unchanged.”

2. annual contracts continue to be issued to all untenured faculty, tenure-track and non-tenure track;

3. new contracts be issued to faculty only when there is a substantial change in their job description, including but not limited to a change in rank, appointment to the position of departmental chair or a deanship, or other administrative position which entails a significant change in the allocation of duties and responsibilities;

4. that faculty sabbatical leaves be addressed in the annual letter, and need not result in the issuance of a new contract for the year in which a sabbatical or similar leave is taken. Sabbatical text in the letter might read as follows: “You will be on [sabbatical or other] leave for [the full-year, or specify which semester] at [salary to be specified, as per agreement]”.

Resolution Number: 02/03-09 Motion by: Executive Board

Date: March 12, 2003 (No second required when moved by

committee)

To be presented at Senate meeting held: March 26, 2003

Action taken: passed: 20 yes, 4 no, 1 abstension