Opinion ID: 769726
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Tenure Review at the University of Oregon

Text: 15 Notwithstanding the regulations vesting the president with the authority to make tenure determinations, id., according to the University's pattern of practice and its internal documents, the final decision to grant or deny indefinite tenure rests with the provost. Appellant's Excerpts of Record at 39 (98-36218) (University of Oregon, Office of Academic Affairs, Faculty Handbook at 81 (10th ed. 1996)). Tenure review begins at the department level, where tenured faculty vote by secret ballot and where an elected personnel committee makes a recommendation to the department head. The department head then makes an independent recommendation to the dean of the school or college of which the department is a part, and that dean makes a recommendation to the provost. The provost then makes his independent and final determination. According to the University's internal documents, the provost is the only officer in the university . . . who may award tenure. Id. 16 The defendants do not explain how the delegation of authority from the president to the provost came about, and there is no administrative regulation that specifically sanctions or explains that delegation. The record, however, shows that the provost has had this authority since before Frohnmayer became University President. The defendants admit that they do not contend that the Provost derives his authority from the Faculty Handbook, which is merely an informal, internal document. Appellant's Excerpts of Record at 35 (9836218) (Georges Letter). Instead, the defendants rely on an affidavit of President Frohnmayer, which states that he made the delegation, and on their interpretation that the president's power to control the practical affairs of the school, Or. Rev. Stat. S 352.004, includes the power to make such a delegation.