Earth Sciences Department

Department Chairperson Policy

(adopted December 5, 1997)

This policy replaces the previous policy adopted May 22, 1978. It becomes effective December 5, 1997.

In as much as each member of the Earth Sciences department has a great deal to contribute both to the department and to Palomar College as a whole, all Earth Sciences Department faculty are expected to serve as department chairperson sometime during their tenure at Palomar College.

The department chair position shall rotate on a seniority basis with terms of office to last three years. This rotation shall be among the department faculty who have tenure and have been teaching Earth Science Department courses for all of their contract hours for at least four years.

The chairperson shall serve a total of three years regardless of his/her sabbatical or load-bank leave time. Should that person's leave time become effective during his/her term, a replacement shall be named to carry on the responsibilities during the chair’s absence. Upon return from leave, he/she will continue to serve as the department chairperson until a full three-year term has been served.

A majority of the full-time contract faculty may vote to remove a sitting chair at any time. If this happens, the next in line by seniority shall serve a full term.

A faculty member may decline the position under obviously extenuating circumstances. After declining, he/she must return to his/her original position in the rotation order.

The only exception to the rotational policy established above is a pre-retirement option. When the position of chair is up for rotation and a faculty member plans upon retiring within a maximum of three years, he/she may assume the position for those last three years of employment if a majority of the faculty and the next person in normal rotation approve.