Faculty Role in Academic Restructuring and Program Discontinuance

AS-2634-03/FA - November 13-14, 2003

ATTACHMENT TO AS-2634-03/FA

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate of the California State University (CSU) urge campus senates to review or develop, as appropriate, policy recommendations related to discontinuance and suspension of academic and academic support programs, academic reorganization, and dissolution or merger of departments, schools, colleges, and similar academic units; and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Academic Senate CSU urge that any such policies embody the principles of joint decision-making and shared governance in the procedures they describe.

RATIONALE: The discontinuance or suspension of an academic program or the reorganization of academic units (departments, schools, colleges) bears directly on curriculum and affects the configuration of course offerings. For this reason, as indicated in numerous documents, faculty bear primary responsibility for the process by which any such action occurs and for the policy language affecting it. Appended are examples of such policies from several CSU campuses.

APPROVED - November 13-14, 2003