Common use of Department Leadership Clause in Contracts

Department Leadership. Each of the departments listed above shall elect a department head annually during spring quarter, for a term of office for the following academic year (summer through spring academic quarters). If the department adheres to state or national accreditation standards requiring that individuals with specific qualifications be program chairs or coordinators, the District shall appoint the appropriate Department Head. The department head shall be a full-time academic employee unless there are no full-time employees in the department, in which case a part-time academic employee may serve. Except as otherwise provided herein, each full-time academic employee in the department shall be eligible to vote and the department head shall be elected when he or she receives a majority of valid votes cast in a secret ballot election. The election shall be conducted by the appropriate supervisor, who shall provide a minimum of five (5) working days' notice of the election in writing. In the event of a tie, or impasse in the election, selection of the department head shall be made by lottery. No individual may vote in more than one (1) department's election. (If no individual will stand for election, the supervisor will appoint the department head.). Department-head vacancies shall be filled by mutual agreement between the AFT-Y President and the District. If the parties fail to agree on a department head, an election shall be held. If the election does not result in a new appointment, the District may appoint a department head to fill the position. An academic employee who has held the position of department head under the predecessor to this AGREEMENT may stand for re-election or, if applicable, reappointment, provided, however, that under no circumstances shall such an employee be required to serve in the position against his or her wishes. In addition to the Department Heads, the District may appoint Program Chairs to coordinate efforts of a particular program of study. The Program Chair may be the Department Head, but if he/she is not, he/she will coordinate program efforts with the assigned Department and appropriate Department Head.