Only in exceptional circumstance, where the majority of the department faculty feel that options are severely limited, should there be deviation from this policy. D. Procedures for Elections 1. By March 15, those faculty in the department who are eligible to vote will establish a list of nominees for department chair. The names of the nominees will be placed on an official secret ballot for the department and distributed from the dean's office to those faculty eligible to vote. Faculty members eligible to vote but who are absent because of sabbatical leave, leave of absence, or for other official reasons will be provided with an absentee ballot.
Secret ballots are to be cast and.
In the case of a tie which cannot be resolved by the voters, the dean shall select the department chair from those faculty involved in the tie vote. If no nominee receives a simple majority of the votes, a run-off election of the top two nominees shall be held immediately under the same procedures outlined above. The deadline for accepting ballots for the run-off election will be the last working day prior to April 15. 5. Departments and the provost will be notified of election results by May 15. The department chair may continue in the position indefinitely by a simple majority of the voting faculty of the department.