Heads are members of the Faculty Association and all of the protections and terms afforded to faculty are available to them. Processes for the selection, appointment and reappointment of Heads are set out in UBC’s Policy AP9.
Selection
Heads are normally full professors appointed by a collegial process from within the department. Deans will sometimes authorize an external search for a head/director.
Terms
Heads normally serve 3, 4 or 5-year terms, renewable once to a maximum of 10 years. The length of term and its renewal can be negotiated with the Dean.
Benefits/Support
Heads normally receive teaching release (full or partial), a minimum administrative stipend of $5000 each year, and administrative leave at the end of their term to enable them to reintegrate into teaching and research. The administrative stipend is not to be added to base salary or subject to annual compounding.
Administrative Leave is intended to provide a reasonable period of time for a Head to focus on their teaching, educational leadership and scholarly activities and to reintegrate with their disciplines before they resume regular duties as a faculty member. A leave of 8 months will be granted at the end of a 3-year term, with an additional 2 months for every subsequent year of service up to 5 years. If a Head’s appointment is extended, the total amount of leave available will not exceed 18 months.
In Vancouver, Heads are also eligible for the Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP) which offers a series of workshops and seminars to train and inform new heads and directors.
Duties
The Faculty Association can assist you in three major parts of your work as Head:
- Negotiating and clarifying the terms of your own position;
- When you need help applying and implementing elements of the Collective Agreement for the members of your Unit; and
- Providing you with representation as appropriate if you are directly involved in a conflict, complaint, grievance or disciplinary action.
