Policies of Academic Freedom and Tenure

The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Approved by the Board of Governors of The University of North Carolina - May 14, 1976, effective June 11, 1976; revisions approved July 20, 1979, effective July 20, 1979; revisions approved May 10, 1982, effective July 1, 1982; revisions approved November 11, 1994, effective December 9, 1995; revisions approved January 2001, effective July 1, 2001; revisions approved August 2007; effective August 2007.

This document sets forth the official policy of The University of North Carolina at Wilmington regarding academic freedom, rights, and responsibilities, promotion, and tenure of its faculty. Fundamental in this policy are the concepts of academic freedom, rights, and responsibilities as stated in Chapter VI of the Code of The University of North Carolina. Equally fundamental is an explicit policy of promotion and tenure.

1. Freedom and responsibility in the university community
2. Academic freedom and responsibility of faculty
3. Academic tenure
4. Policies on appointment, promotion, and tenure
5. Mediation of faculty grievances
6. Nonreappointment hearings procedure
7. Faculty committee to hear grievances
8. Policies regarding cessation of university employment
9. Termination of faculty employment
10. Retirement
11. Policy on leave
12. Implementation

Section VIII. Policies Regarding Cessation of University Employment

1. Suspension and Discharge
   1. The permissible grounds for the discharge or suspension of either a faculty member with permanent tenure or a faculty member without permanent tenure before a fixed term expires are incompetence, neglect of duty, and misconduct of such a nature as to indicate that the individual is unfit to continue as a member of the faculty.
   2. The policy for due process before discharge or the imposition of serious sanctions, i.e., diminishment in rank, is identical to the procedure described in Section 603 of the Code.
         
2. Resignation
        A faculty member who decides to resign shall, as soon as possible, notify the appropriate dean of the decision in writing. The dean shall notify the Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, who shall then forward the notice to the Chancellor.
        
3. Disability
        Retirement for reason of disability shall be in accordance with North Carolina statutes and regulations governing retirement for faculty who are members of the state retirement system. A faculty member who is not a member of the state retirement system and who is mentally or physically disabled but refuses to retire may be discharged because of that disability only in accordance with the procedures of Section 603 of the Code.