Opinion ID: 1306572
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: DRI as a Division of the University of Nevada System.

Text: Winterberg bases his claim to Systemwide tenure upon the assertion that the DRI was not a separate division of the University of Nevada but was part of the University of Nevada, Reno, at the time he received his tenure in 1966. We do not agree. In 1963, the DRI was established by NRS 396.795, which provides: To contribute more effectively to the security of the nation and to promote the general welfare of the State of Nevada and its citizens through the development of educational and scientific research, the board of regents of the University of Nevada is authorized to establish an educational and scientific research division of the university, to be known as the desert research institute. Moreover, the personnel policy and procedure for the DRI are separate and distinct from normal University policies. [6] Finally, the contract under which Winterberg held his position during the time he received his tenure shows that he was appointed solely as a member of the DRI staff. Appellant puts great emphasis upon a letter from President Armstrong, notifying him that he had been given tenure as a member of the University Faculty. The term University Faculty at that time included all persons holding professional positions and included those who were not tenured. Even if the term University Faculty could be construed as having special meaning, the board of regents alone is the body which must make final approval of tenure, and President Armstrong had no authority to grant Systemwide tenure on his own. University Code, ch. II, § 2.8 (Faculty POLICY Bull. #68-3, July 1968).