Unit Standards
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Departmental unit standards, in conjunction with the collective bargaining agreement (CBA), provide performance standards and expectations for the faculty.
- Each department's current unit standards are posted on the Department Reports page.
As required by the CBA, unit standards are revised every five years. The process involves review by the Dean, the Unit Standards Committee, and the Provost. Missoula College unit standards are presented to the Dean and then the Provost for approval.
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The role of the University Standards Committee (heretofore USC) is to ensure that unit standards are clear and, at a minimum, meet and comply with the standards outlined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). This ensures that a unit’s standards don’t violate the CBA. USC must approve any proposed changes per the CBA. A copy of the approved standards and any communications to the unit should be filed in the Faculty Senate Office. The process outlined below is to be understood jointly with the CBA. Units are requested to keep unit standards concise and limit descriptions of procedural details in the unit standards document.
The objective of the USC is to consider each unit’s standards from an outsider’s point of view and from the perspective of a newly hired faculty member (0.5 FTE and above). The USC evaluates the clarity of the Unit Standards in relation to the CBA and makes recommendations based on elements that seem unclear or don’t consider changes to the CBA that may have occurred since the USC last evaluated the unit’s standards.
A faculty member needs to know specifically what they need to do to earn promotion and tenure as well as be competitive for merit and outstanding performance awards, and the medium for articulating those expectations is the unit standards. Expectations not articulated in the unit standards are not part of a faculty member’s evaluation. The USC helps units craft standards that accurately reflect what the unit values across rank and across the areas of teaching, scholarship/creative activity, and service. -
This table lists the Dates, Actions, and Notes regarding Unit Standards Timeline and Procedures. Date Action Notes February 1 The Provost informs units (Department Chairs) that their unit’s standards will be reviewed during the subsequent academic year.
Unit standards are reviewed every five years (UFA CBA 10.130).
The Provost’s Office maintains the shared electronic file, available to the Faculty Senate Office and the USC, that includes communications to units.April 30 The unit sends standards to the Dean for review.
By September 30 The Dean reviews the standards and signals approval by signing the signature page and sending the page to the unit.
September 30 The unit sends the standards to the Office of the Provost along with the signature page signed by the Department Chair and the Dean.
The Provost promptly places the standards into the appropriate electronic shared folder for access by the Faculty Senate Office and the USC.
Unit standards received after this deadline may be scheduled for review in the following academic year.November 30 The USC reviews and signs the unit standards (indicating approval) and/or informs the unit, Dean, and Provost of changes to be made to the document.
If substantive changes are needed, the unit is requested to submit revised standards to the USC for a 2nd review.
If suggested changes are substantial, the USC may inform the unit that the department Chair and Dean should sign the signature page again. February 15 The Unit forwards the standards document to the Provost.
By the End of the Spring Semester The Provost approves unit standards and/or informs the unit, the Dean, and USC of changes to be made to the document.
Unless otherwise agreed, the effective date of reviewed unit standards is 12 months after approval by the Provost (UFA CBA 10.130).Approved standards are posted to the Office of the Provost’s Department Reports website. -
Questions? Contact the Program Manager within the Office of the Provost.