Objective 1.3.1 Strategies and Benchmarks
1.3.1 The University will increase its number of full-time tenure track faculty with appropriate terminal degrees.
UMA will hire, on average, a minimum of one new faculty member each year during FY '07 - '11. The primary source of funding the five new positions will be the cumulative savings from retirements during this period. A second source of funding could be from any adjustment to the System's funding formula, which infuses new funds for UMA. State Senator Libby Mitchell has introduced legislation in 2007 that, if passed, would fund another five new tenure track faculty. As a result of 2006 legislation, UMA received funds to add one new Nursing faculty member. A second new fixed-length Nursing position funded by Waldo County General Hospital has some potential to evolve into a tenure track position. However, we will not consider this second Nursing position within the target of five unless it does become a tenure track appointment.
There are two priority positions that need to be addressed, one in the Library Information Services and another in Veterinary Technology. These two programs function today with only one faculty member, and the necessity to have at least two faculty members in every program has become evident in recent years. Medical Laboratory Technology, despite having only one UMA faculty member, is not being considered in the same situation as these other two programs since it is offered in conjunction with UM at Presque Isle who also has a faculty member teaching in the joint program.
Aside from the noted specific targets above, the colleges will establish what their highest hiring priorities are for fiscal '09 by January 2007. Provost's staff by February 2007 will establish the highest priorities for the school. President's staff in consultation with the Presidents' Advisory Council will make a final determination as to which positions go to search by April 15, 2007. (Job descriptions, composition of the search committees, etc. will be established by June 2007, and searched during FY '08. This planning cycle will be repeated annually thereafter.)