Faculty Handbook: Introduction

The Faculty Handbook is intended to be a general summary of university policies, guidelines, services, and resources. When official university policies and procedures are changed by the Board of Trustees, or other duly constituted authority, such changes become effective on the date designated at the time of their adoption and supersede any conflicting or inconsistent provision in the Faculty Handbook. Notification of such changes is given to department and college offices. The most recent versions of the University of Tennessee Fiscal Policies and Procedures and the UT Personnel Policies and Procedures are available on the University of Tennessee website. Questions about a particular policy or issue should be addressed to the department administrator, human resources representative, vice chancellor for academic affairs, or chief business officer.

This handbook is the work of a task force appointed by Chancellor Loren W. Crabtree and the Faculty Senate in Fall 2001. The task force was composed of Marian Moffett (Chair), Beauvais Lyons, Mary Albrecht, Jon Coddington, Bill Dunne, Clark Garland, Kathryn Greenberg, Peter Hoeyng, David Patterson, Charles Reynolds, Joe Trahern. In September 2002 and 2003, the faculty senate retreat considered the handbook and contributed to its development. After the retreat, all faculty members had an opportunity to provide comments through an interactive web site, with members of the Handbook Task Force serving as moderators. Several meetings of the Council of Deans were devoted to review of the handbook. Thus, this handbook is the result of the work of many individuals and represents the thinking and ideals of many faculty members.