School deans/department chairs will normally be appointed as school dean/department chair for a four-year term that coincides with the employment year. School deans/department chairs will be evaluated at the end of their four-year terms per the procedures in “Evaluation of School Deans/Department Chairs,” above. This evaluation will be the basis for the recommendation of renewal or non-renewal of the school dean’s/department chair’s position.
There is no limit to the number of terms that a dean/chair can serve. The appointment can be renewed without limitation, but is subject to reevaluation during the fourth year of each term.
The four-year term of appointment could be interrupted either by the university or the school dean/ department chair prior to the end of the term. Interruption could be for the same reasons as the non-renewal of the appointment. The procedure for replacement would be the same as in Hiring Process, Policy 5000.
The appointment of a school dean/department chair to a four-year term in that position in no way guarantees individual employment for four years. Employment is still maintained on a year by year basis per the standard employment contract and the university’s policies, rules and procedures. The language in the section “Evaluation of School Deans/Department Chairs” is not intended to weaken the “employment at will” rights of Southern Adventist University.