UT Department Head Toolkit

Department chairs serve as academic leaders and administrative heads of their respective departments and represent their department when interacting with university administration. Chairs are responsible for a wide range of tasks, including departmental, program, and curriculum planning, overseeing academic personnel and staff in the department; managing finances and space allocation; and ensuring compliance with campus and board policy.

The purpose of this toolkit is to provide department chairs with up-to-date and easily accessible information from the system level by providing key links, contact information, and answers to frequently asked questions. Additional information will link to campus policies and documents, providing quick access for department chairs across the system. Please note that creation of this toolkit began in July 2018 and we will continue to add more information. We welcome your feedback for making this toolkit a useful resource.

Do you have an announcement or event that we should know about? Updates to Quick-links, contact info, resources, or policies? Contact Karen Etzkorn for all changes to this web page.

Recent News, Announcements, and Current Events

• 10/02/17 – UTM Department Chair Information Event
• 10/11/17 – UTHSC Department Head Development Day with Tina Gunsalus
• 11/03/17 – UT Board of Trustees Academic Affairs Committee Meeting
• 02/08/18 – UTK Department Head Development Day with Jeff Buller
• 02/09/18 – UTK Department Head Development Day with Jeff Buller

Key System and Campus Contact Information and Resources

 UT System:

• System President, Dr. Joe DiPietro (Jane Pullum): 865-974-2241
• Vice President for Academic Affairs & Student Success (Interim), Dr. India Lane: 865-974-6210
• Research & Special Projects Manager, Dr. Karen Etzkorn: 865-974-2104
• Office of General Counsel: 865-974-3245

UT Chattanooga:

• Chancellor, Dr. Steve Angle (Theresa McKinney): 423-425-4141
• Provost, Dr. Jerald Ainsworth: 423-425-4633
• Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Dr. David Rausch: 423-425-4228
• Assistant General Counsel, Yousef Hamadeh: 423-425-5703
• Campus Office of Human Resources Staff: 4223-425-4221
• Distressed Faculty and Staff Support (UTCares): 423-425-CARE (2273)
• UTC Department Head Guidebook

UT Health Science Center:

• Chancellor, Dr. Steve Schwab: 901-448-4796
• Vice Chancellor for Academic, Faculty and Student Affairs, Dr. Lori Gonzalez: 901-448-4930
• Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Affairs, Dr. Cindy Russell: 901-448-6158
• Campus Office of Human Resources: 901-448-5600
• Faculty Resources
• Information for Department Heads
• UTC Department Head Guidebook

UT Knoxville

• Chancellor, Dr. Beverly Davenport: 865-974-2444
• Provost, Dr. John Zomchick: 864-974-9033
• Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Dr. R.J. Hinde: 865-974-0684
• Campus Department Heads Contact List
• Campus Office of Human Resources Staff: 865-974-8372
• Distressed Faculty and Staff Support: 865-946-CARE

UT Martin

• Chancellor, Dr. Keith Carver: 731-881-7500
• Provost (Interim), Dr. Richard Helgeson: 731-881-7010
• Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Dr. Victoria Seng: 731-881-7854
• Academic Policies Directory
• Campus Deans, Department Heads and Directors Contact List
• Campus Office of Human Resources Staff: 731-881-7845
• Quick Links for UTM Faculty and Staff

 Quick Links to UT System Policies

Academic Freedom, Responsibility, and Tenure

1. Policies Governing Academic Freedom, Responsibility, and Tenure
2. Academic Freedom and Responsibility of the Faculty Member
3. Academic Freedom and Responsibility of the University Administration
4. Definition of Tenure
5. Eligibility for Tenure Consideration
6. Probationary Period
7. Criteria for Tenure
8. Procedures for Consideration and Grant of Tenure
   • Tenured Faculty’s Recommendation- Appendix A
   • Department Heads Recommendation – Appendix A
   • Deans Recommendation – Appendix A
   • Chief Academic Officers Recommendation – Appendix A
   • Chancellors Recommendation – Appendix A
   • Presidents Recommendation – Appendix A
   • Action by the Board of Trustees – Appendix A
9. Locus of Tenure
10. Evaluation of Tenured Faculty Members
11. Termination of Tenure
    • Preliminary Steps for UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE – Appendix B
    • Chancellors Decision to Initiate Termination Proceedings – Appendix B
    • Suspension With Pay or Reassignment Pending Completion of Termination Proceedings – Appendix B
    • Failure to Contest – Appendix B
    • Hearing Under TUAPA – Appendix B
    • Hearing Before a Tribunal – Appendix B
    • Chancellors Recommendation on Termination – Appendix B
    • Review by the Board of Trustees – Appendix B
    • Preliminary Steps for MISCONDUCT – Appendix C
    • Chancellors Decision to Initiate Termination Proceedings – Appendix C
    • Suspension or Reassignment Pending Completion of Termination Proceedings – Appendix C
    • Failure to Contest – Appendix C
    • Waiver of Hearing Under the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act – Appendix C
    • Hearing under the Tennessee Uniform Administrative Procedures Act – Appendix C
    • Expedited Procedure for Termination or Suspension Without Pay in Certain Cases of Misconduct – Appendix C
12. Disciplinary Sanctions Other Than Termination for Adequate Cause

Fiscal Policies:

1. General Statement on University Fiscal Policy

This page was last updated 10/2/17