Skip to Main Content

The University of Tennessee

Office of the Provost

Frequently Used Tools:




Chapter 8: Revision of the Faculty Handbook

8.0 Board of Trustee’s Policy

The Board of Trustees’ Policy on Faculty Handbook revisions, adopted in 1992, and any subsequent amendments, governs the revision of faculty handbooks. The following sections are intended as a general summary of those provisions. In the event of any conflict or inconsistency between the board’s policy and this handbook, the board’s policy will control.

The Faculty Senate, the chancellor, and the vice president accept the provisions of this handbook. All have responsibility for revision.

8.1 Faculty Handbook Review

The Faculty Senate Faculty Affairs Committee may initiate proposed revisions to the Faculty Handbook, after consultation with the chancellor and the vice president.

8.2 Revision of Titles and Editorial, Technical, and Housekeeping Changes

The secretary of the Faculty Senate, with concurrence of the Faculty Affairs Committee, the chancellor, and the vice president, may make recommendations on editorial, technical, and other housekeeping changes, including changes to titles of administrative offices, academic units, or other positions or units named in the Handbook, following appropriate action on these title changes by the chief academic officer for the system, the university president, or the University of Tennessee Board of Trustees. The chancellor and the vice president shall submit these recommendations to the chief academic officer for the system, who will forward them, with his or her recommendation, to other appropriate vice presidents, the General Counsel, and the president. Final approval lies with the president.

8.3 Policy Revisions

The Faculty Senate Faculty Affairs Committee will periodically review the provisions set forth in this Handbook. The committee is responsible for recommending changes, which should have input from the chancellor, the vice president, and their administrative staff including deans for consideration by the Faculty Senate Executive Committee and final consideration by the full Faculty Senate.

Major revisions to the Handbook may result from certain actions, including

  • adoption of new or amendment of existing policies of the Board of Trustees
  • recommendation brought by the chancellor or the vice president to the faculty senate executive committee, after review by the faculty senate affairs committee
  • recommendation brought by any senate committee to the faculty senate executive committee after review by the faculty senate faculty affairs committee

Recommendations of the senate for revision of the Faculty Handbook will be presented to the chancellor and the vice president, who will submit their recommendations concerning the proposed revision to the chief academic officer for the system. The chief academic officer for the system will submit his or her recommendation to other appropriate vice presidents, the general counsel, and the president.

If the proposed revision involves a substantive change in policy matters outlined in the Board Policy on Faculty Handbook Revisions, the president, in consultation with the vice presidents and the general counsel, will present his or her recommendation concerning the proposed revision to the board, or appropriate committee of the board. Final approval of all other proposed revisions of the handbook lies with the president, in consultation with the vice presidents and the general counsel.