Impacts of changes to UNC Policies/state law on unit codes

Equality Within UNC impacts

Revise/change in focus for equity or DEI committees within units

“Equity or DEI committees within the units of the university, considered subdivisions of the university, must shift their focus to broader student, staff, and faculty success and wellbeing, rather than matters of contemporary political debate or social action. The committees must be renamed to reflect this new focus.” (ECU’s Office of University Counsel FAQ about UNC System’s Equality Within the University of North Carolina policy).

Prohibition against compelled speech impacts

Remove any diversity, equity, and inclusion requirements for promotion, tenure, advancement in title, or subsequent contract consideration.

“To mitigate the risk of compelled speech that undermines the intellectual freedom and fostering of free expression required of the University of North Carolina by Article 36 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes and embraced in Chapter VI of The Code and Section 1300.8 of the UNC Policy Manual, the University shall neither ask nor require an employee or applicant for academic admission or employment to affirmatively ascribe to or opine about beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles regarding matters of contemporary political debate or social action as a condition to admission, employment, or professional advancement. Nor shall any employee or applicant be solicited or required to describe their actions in support of, or in opposition to, such beliefs, affiliations, ideals, or principles. Practices prohibited here include but are not limited to solicitations or requirements for statements of commitment to particular views on matters of contemporary political debate or social action contained on applications or qualifications for admission or employment or included as criteria for analysis of an employee’s career progression. Any constituent institution believing a requirement or solicitation prohibited hereby to be necessary for reasons related to the educational, research, or public service mission of the University established in G.S. 116-1 shall obtain prior written approval to include such a requirement or solicitation from the President following discussion in open session of a meeting of the Committee on University Governance attended by the requesting constituent institution’s chancellor, its provost, and its chair of its board of trustees.” (UNC Policy Manual and Code 300.5.1 Political Activities of Employees (PDF))

Faculty Senate Resolution #21-41 – Master Teaching Instructor Title

Addition of Master Teaching Instructor title for fixed-term appointments in Part VIII.I Personnel Policies and Procedures for the Faculty of East Carolina University

“Master Teaching Instructor:
This title is normally appropriate for a Senior Teaching Instructor who has a minimum of six consecutive years of full-time service in that title or has equivalent professional qualifications and has met the following criteria:

  • Has demonstrated excellence in teaching
  • Has established an excellent professional reputation among colleagues
  • Is qualified and competent in mentoring others (such as students, instructors, etc.)

In recognition of the ongoing record of excellence represented by this title, an appointment of up to five years should be considered.”

Faculty Senate Resolution #24-36 – Annual Evaluation ratings change

Revision of Part VIII.I Personnel Policies and Procedures for the Faculty of East Carolina University.

“The annual evaluation shall include ratings and summarize the faculty member’s performance in each category of responsibility as “exceeds expectations,” “meets expectations,” or “does not meet expectations” and shall conclude with an overall rating.”

Faculty Senate Resolution #24-37 – Post-tenure Review changes

Revision of Part IX, Section II and the Faculty Senate Guidelines for Faculty 5-Year Comprehensive Work Plan

Review PTR guidelines to make sure they do not conflict. Main changes to the process are that a peer review committee conducts the initial review, and the unit administrator and dean write independent reviews.

Faculty Senate Resolution #24-49 – Peer Observation Instruments

Revision of Peer Observation Instruments for units that do not have their own approved instruments

New peer observation instruments for units that do not have their own approved instruments were developed and are linked below:

Faculty Senate Resolution #24-53 – Advancement in Title, fixed-term faculty can serve on personnel committees

Revision of multiple areas of Part IX to provide more information and guidance related to fixed-term faculty.  

Revision of Part IX.I.II.B.4 Fixed-Term Faculty to include processes for Advancement in Title, and Part IX.I.IV.F.2 for information about the Professional Portfolio for Advancement in Title. Revision to Part IX.I.IV.D.1.b to allow fixed-term faculty to serve on Personnel Committees (and later updated by Resolution #24-79 to specify that fixed-term faculty need to have served for six or more consecutive years).

Faculty Senate Resolution #24-55 – Professional Portfolio for Advancement in Title requirements

Revisions to Part X.I Documentation for Personnel Actions.

The revisions to Part X.I. standardized the requirements for Professional Portfolios for Advancement in Title.

Faculty Senate Resolution #24-82 – Performance Review of Tenured Faculty

Further revisions to Part IX.II to align the language with UNC System Office policies.

Faculty Senate Resolution #25-53 – Advancement in title criteria language

Revisions to Part VIII.I.I.D.3 Titles of Fixed-Term Appointments.

These revisions make clear that faculty members who meet title criteria may receive advancement in title earlier than the minimum years of service noted for each title.

Faculty Senate Resolution #25-56 – voting faculty clarification

Revisions to Part IX.I.IV.B and Part IX.I.IV.D.b.

Amended the language regarding whether unit administrators were voting faculty to read “is not a unit administrator or an individual whose appointment letter assigns administrative duties as half or more of their total duties.” This definition was carried down into the subsection on the composition of unit personnel committees.

Faculty Senate Resolution #25-64 – additional information in provisional code proposals

Revision to Part IV.I

Revision to specify that provisional code submissions include memos delineating when the new code will be activated after Chancellor approval and plans for the transition from the old to new unit codes.

Faculty Senate Resolution #25-65 – Faculty Workload Guidelines revision

Revision of Part IV.II, subsection IV. Faculty Workload Guidelines

Revision to specify that the guidelines must ensure proportional revisions of annual workplan if responsibilities in one of the areas are increased or decreased after the creation of the initial annual workplan.

Faculty Senate Resolution #25-66 – Updated Unit Code Format

Consult the Submitting Codes or Constitutions for Committee Review page for updated code, cover/signature page, and memo templates.