WACO FACULTY SENATE

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Non-Renewal of Contract 

The general consensus of all the campus' and system administration is that they reserve the right to terminate any faculty member by not renewing their contract for no cause whatsoever and no cause need be given for termination.

This means a faculty member could be terminated without regard to academic freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, racial discrimination, or any other freedom or rights a citizen of the United States would normally have.  The administration claims this right to terminate without cause because of the Texas Right-to Work Act which they claim gives all employers in Texas to terminate an employee without giving a cause.  The catch is that they cannot terminate an individual for the above "if they give a cause" but since they do not give a "cause" then they apparently can.

In order to be given cause, the administration basically requires that the faculty member file a lawsuit and files numerous requests under the Freedom of Information Act.  The State of Texas would then use tax dollars to defend the College.

The Waco campus administration has stated that they "would give cause" for any termination but Systems and the other campus' maintain that they are not required to give cause.

This item has not been taken to the Board of Regents for consideration since Systems claims that the Board of Regents wouldn't consider giving employees a reason for termination anyway, so why bother.

TSTC must continue to encourage its current faculty to remain and give reasons to attract new faculty.

The Waco Faculty Senate has drafted a proposal for the procedure for non-renewal of contracts.

NON-RENEWAL OF CONTRACT

For a full-time faculty member who has a minimum of 6-years continuous employment as a full-time faculty member and has received a meets expectations or better on their annual faculty evaluation for the previous three years, the faculty member may be dismissed by non-renewal of contract only for good cause. The faculty will also follow the Code of Professional Ethics as published by the Texas Community College Teachers Association. Good cause for dismissal of a faculty member may include any of the following:

1.   Professional incompetence adversely affecting the performance of duties or the meeting of responsibilities to the Institution, students or associates.

2.   Continuing or repeated substantial neglect of professional responsibilities adversely affecting the performance of duties or the meeting of responsibilities to the Institution, students or associates.

3.   Moral turpitude adversely affecting to a material and substantial degree the performance of duties or the meeting of responsibilities to the Institution, students or associates.

4.   Mental or physical disablement of a continuing nature adversely affecting to a material and substantial degree the performance of duties or the meeting of responsibilities to the Institution, students or associates subject to federal law.

5.   Unprofessional conduct, as defined by the Texas Community College Teachers Association's Code of Professional Ethics, adversely affecting to a material and substantial degree the performance of duties or the meeting of responsibilities to the Institution, students or associates.

6.   Bona fide financial exigency or the phasing out of institutional programs requiring reduction of faculty.

FACULTY SENATE SCHEDULE

Officers and chairs will be allowed 2 hours per week release time from classes.  Not attending these meetings would be the equivalent of missing a regularly scheduled class.  The release time is to enable the faculty member to go to the meetings and perform Faculty Senate duties. 

The above nomination process is for Senator Officers and Chairs only.   The Officers and Chairs are elected from the faculty at large.

One department Senator will be elected from each department as that particular department sees fit.  The elections are held within the departments.   Senators will meet the second Monday of each month at 5:15 PM.  Each Senator is allowed 1 hour per week release time from classes.  The release time is to enable the faculty member to go to the meetings and perform Faculty Senate duties.  Before a department elects an individual as its senator, please check to make sure the individual is willing and capable of performing the job functions and attending the meetings.