Statement of Policy on Academic Freedom, Faculty Status, Tenure, and Due Process

Adopted by the Board of Trustees May 31, 1997
Amended by the Board of Trustees May 23, 2002; October 9, 2003; October 1, 2009; October 6, 2011; April 26, 2012; May 9, 2013; May 11, 2017; May 9, 2019; June 22, 2021; and September 23, 2023

DOWNLOAD AS A PDF FILE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

I. ACADEMIC FREEDOM

II. GENERAL PRINCIPLES

III. ESTABLISHMENT OF TENURE AT COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

IV. ACADEMIC APPOINTMENTS

V. CRITERIA FOR FULL-TIME FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

VI. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR TEACHING-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

VII. ACADEMIC YEAR WORKLOAD FOR FACULTY MEMBERS WITH TEACHING-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

VIII. TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF ASSISTANT PROFESSORS OF INSTRUCTION IN THE FIRST YEAR OF APPOINTMENT

IX. EVALUATION OF FACULTY MEMBERS WITH TEACHING-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

X. APPOINTMENT PERIOD, RENEWAL AND NONRENEWAL OF FACULTY MEMBERS WITH TEACHING-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

XI. PROMOTION PROCESS FOR FACULTY MEMBERS WITH TEACHING-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

XII. TEACHING-TRACK FACULTY APPLICATION FOR TENURE-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

XIII. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS FOR TENURE-TRACK AND TENURED APPOINTMENTS

XIV. ACADEMIC YEAR WORKLOAD FOR FACULTY MEMBERS WITH TENURE-TRACK AND TENURED APPOINTMENTS

XV. EVALUATION OF FACULTY WITH TENURE-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

XVI. RENEWAL AND NONRENEWAL OF TENURE-TRACK APPOINTMENTS

XVII. GRANT OF TENURED APPOINTMENTS

XVIII. REVIEW AND EVALUATION OF FACULTY MEMBERS WITH TENURED APPOINTMENTS

XIX. GRANTING THE RANK OF PROFESSOR TO FACULTY WITH TENURED APPOINTMENTS

XX. SANCTION AND DISMISSAL OF FULL-TIME FACULTY MEMBERS

XXI. TERMINATION OF FACULTY MEMBERS WITH TENURED APPOINTMENTS FOR REASONS OTHER THAN CAUSE

XXII. REVIEW OF NONRENEWAL, DENIAL OF TENURE, OR TERMINATION OF FACULTY APPOINTMENTS

XXIII. ALL COLLEGE TENURE COMMITTEE

XXIV. ALL COLLEGE PROMOTION COMMITTEE

XXV. PROCEDURAL REVIEW COMMITTEE

XXVI. ACADEMIC PERSONNEL FILE

XXVII. REVIEW OF STATEMENT OF POLICY

XXVIII. DEFINITIONS

COLUMBIA COLLEGE CHICAGO

STATEMENT OF POLICY ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM, FACULTY STATUS, TENURE, AND DUE PROCESS

On May 31, 1997, the Board of Trustees of Columbia College Chicago adopted this Statement of Policy (Statement)1 for the purposes of securing the values of academic and artistic freedom to which the College is committed; confirming the professional stature, academic excellence, and employment status of the faculty of the College; and advancing the mission of the College. The Board of Trustees amended this Statement, effective May 23, 2002, for the purpose of improving the operation of the tenure-granting and post-tenure review processes; eliminating possible ambiguities and inconsistencies; and promoting a clearer understanding of the goals of the tenure system at Columbia College Chicago. The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective October 9, 2003, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII, for the purpose of more clearly specifying the processes by which an Adverse Circumstance (as defined in Section XXI.A. of this Statement) is declared and acted upon and adjusting certain procedures instituted by the May 23, 2002 amendments. The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective October 1, 2009, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII. The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective October 6, 2011, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII. The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective April 26, 2012, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII. The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective May 9, 2013, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII. The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective May 11, 2017, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII. The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective May 9, 2019, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII.The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective June 22, 2021, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII.The Board of Trustees further amended this Statement, effective September 23, 2023, in accordance with the recommendation of the Statement Review Committee appointed pursuant to Section XXVII.2


1 All capitalized terms in this Statement are defined terms. Section XXVIII.A. contains an index of all defined terms and either a reference to the Section of this Statement where such term is defined or a definition of such term.

2 This Statement, as amended, supersedes all previously adopted policies, regulations, statements, announcements, or other pronouncements of the College, including all materials in faculty and student handbooks (collectively, “College Policies”) insofar as they are inconsistent with any provision of this Statement. A subsequently adopted College Policy in so far as it is inconsistent with any provision of this Statement will have no force or effect unless it has been adopted or approved by the Board of Trustees. Notwithstanding the provisions of any College Policies to the contrary, if a provision of this Statement sets forth standards and procedures for the challenge or review of a College determination, the standards and procedures in this Statement will be the exclusive means available for such challenge or review. This Statement does not supersede any collective bargaining agreement and it is subject, in all respects, to applicable laws and regulations.