Their specific responsibilities, including teaching assignments, are negotiated with the administration at the time of appointment. Chairs who serve two or more consecutive terms receive at the end of their last term a study leave equivalent to one-half year's pay for a full academic year's leave or full pay for a semester's leave. If they elect to take such a study leave, however, they may not succeed themselves in an additional term as chair. During an unforeseen vacancy or during illness or temporary absences of an incumbent chair, the dean or Provost may appoint an acting chair to serve until such time as the regularly appointed chair assumes or reassumes the position. Except under unusual circumstances, the final candidate must be acceptable to both.
Chairs have the same rights with regard to their personnel files as other faculty members.
Incumbent chairs who are not reappointed by the President because of negative recommendations and action at the department, college, or university level will receive a prompt account in writing as to the reasons for this non-renewal, if they request it. A search committee is constituted no later than December 10th. The department elects its members of the committee after the appointments by the dean have been made known. The decision is transmitted to the dean, the search committee, and the members of the department faculty as promptly as possible. Upon notification of the President's decision, the dean extends a formal invitation to the person chosen.