Staff Handbook

By joining the staff of the University of Arkansas and the University community, you have become an important part of the state's most exciting and challenging educational endeavor. The University's success in carrying out its mission is, in large part, dependent on the success of each of its employees. Your skills, pride, and commitment to your work help ensure the continued progress and strength of the University.

This handbook is intended to help you by providing information about University policies and procedures related to employment, employee benefits, and programs and services available to staff. Much of the material in the Staff Handbook is summarized, excerpted, or paraphrased, so the handbook is a guide rather than a complete source of information on employment-related subjects. Whenever possible, the source of the information is cited, and additional details can be found in the Board Policies, Fayetteville Policies and Procedures, Universitywide Administrative Memoranda, State personnel policies, State laws, and other documents referred to in the handbook. If you need help in locating any of these source documents, please ask your dean, director, vice chancellor, or Human Resources. The Staff Handbook is accessible in electronic format through the Human Resources web site, http://hr.uark.edu, and may be downloaded, stored, or printed as needed.

If there is a conflict between this handbook and official University Board Policy, Universitywide Administrative Memoranda, Fayetteville Policies and Procedures, or State of Arkansas policy or law, those policies, memoranda, or laws will prevail. The University reserves the right to revise, modify, or repeal any statements included in this handbook and any of these policies or procedures through future actions. Information contained in this handbook is not intended to establish an employment contract of any kind or duration. This handbook is not a legal document. This edition of the Staff Handbook supersedes previous editions.

References:

University of Arkansas Board of Trustees Policies

Fayetteville Policies and Procedures

OPM Policies and Procedures Manual

Arkansas Code

United States Code

The University of Arkansas was established in Fayetteville by the Arkansas General Assembly in 1871 as the Arkansas Industrial University, and under the Morrill Act of 1862 became the state land-grant institution and first state-assisted college in Arkansas. In 1873 the University established its second campus in Pine Bluff, which in 1890 was designated as a land-grant campus. In 1879 the University accepted responsibility for the academic management and operation of a new privately-established, not-for-profit medical campus located in Little Rock. This campus was merged into the University by the General Assembly in 1911, and is now the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Little Rock University, a private institution founded in 1927 as Little Rock Junior College, was merged into the University System in 1969 as the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. In 1971 Arkansas A & M College was merged into the University System as the University of Arkansas at Monticello. The Pine Bluff campus, which had been separated in 1927 and called Arkansas A M & N College, was reunited with the University in 1972 as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 1996, two community colleges were adopted into the University of Arkansas system and became Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, located at Helena, and the University of Arkansas Community College at Hope. In 1998, Gateway Technical College became part of the University of Arkansas system and was renamed the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville. In 2001, Petit Jean Technical College became the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, and the System also acquired Cassatot Community College of the University of Arkansas, with a main campus in DeQueen and sites in Nashville and Ashdown. In 2002, Westark Community College joined the System as the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. In 2003, Forest Echoes Technical Institute and Great Rivers Technical Institute merged with the University of Arkansas at Monticello to become the UAM College of Technology, Crossett, and the UAM College of Technology, McGehee. The Arkansas School for Mathematics and Sciences merged with the University of Arkansas System on January 1, 2004.  The University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service was founded, in conjunction with the Clinton Presidential Library, on January 29, 2004.

The University of Arkansas System administration is located on the Cammack Campus in Little Rock.

The Cooperative Extension Service has headquarters in Little Rock and offices in all 75 Arkansas counties. The Agricultural Experiment Station operates research facilities on three University of Arkansas campuses, at Arkansas State University, at regional centers and in branch stations and other locations throughout Arkansas. The Criminal Justice Institute is headquartered in Little Rock. The Arkansas Archeological Survey's Coordinating Office is located in Fayetteville and Survey archaeologists are based at seven public universities. Research stations are located at Toltec Mounds State Park and Parkin Archeological State Park.

Through the major campuses, the community colleges, and through the state-wide operating divisions of the Arkansas Archeological Survey and the Division of Agriculture, the University carries out its mission, which may be broadly stated as follows:

The University of Arkansas is a comprehensive, multi-campus, publicly-aided institution dedicated to the improvement of the mind and spirit through the development and dissemination of knowledge.

The University embraces and expands the historic trust inherent in the land-grant philosophy by providing access to academic and professional education, by developing intellectual growth and cultural awareness in its students, and by applying knowledge and research skills to an ever-changing human condition.

The University of Arkansas was established in Fayetteville in 1871. It opened its doors to students on January 22, 1872.

There were few facilities and practically no money for the beginning of that first academic year over a century ago, but the new institution had one advantage which has been of increasing importance throughout the years. It was established under provisions of the Morrill Act as both the State University and the Land-Grant College of Arkansas. This fact gave it an academic heritage from the universities of the past and the educational responsibilities in "agriculture and the mechanic arts" envisioned by Senator Justin Smith Morrill of Vermont, sponsor of the legislation setting aside federal land-grant funds to assist the various states in their efforts to establish programs of higher education.

The location of Fayetteville for the University was determined as a result of an election held in counties, cities, and incorporated towns for the purpose of voting bonds or subscriptions to support the establishment of the University. The largest bid came from the County of Washington and the City of Fayetteville for a combined total of $130,000. To this amount and the Congressional land grant of 150,000 acres, the state added an appropriation of $50,000.

The 160-acre homestead of William McIlroy was selected as the site at a purchase price of $12,000. The McIlroy home was converted into classrooms, and a new two-story frame building was constructed with one classroom on each floor.

From a small beginning of eight students and three faculty members on the opening day of classes, the University has developed into a mature institution and has become the major center in Arkansas for graduate-level instruction and basic and applied research. Its public service activities reach every county in Arkansas.

The academic units in Fayetteville include nine colleges and schools: the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences, the School of Architecture, the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, the Sam M. Walton College of Business, the College of Education and Health Professions, the College of Engineering, the Honors College, the School of Law, and the Graduate School.

The University maintains more than 60 special research and outreach programs, which are often interdisciplinary, and are conducted at centers and research units on campus, throughout the state, and in association with other universities. Information about these centers and research facilities can be found in the University of Arkansas Profile published annually and also available on the University's web site, http://www.uark.edu.

In 1997, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools continued the University's accreditation through the doctoral level, with the next review scheduled in 2006-2007. Full information concerning the current scope of the University's academic program, including course offerings, undergraduate degree programs, graduate degree programs, and requirements for degrees can be found in the Catalog of Studies, the Graduate School Catalog, or the School of Law Catalog, all of which are available on-line.

The University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, serves as the major center of liberal and professional education and as the primary land-grant campus in the state. In addition, it is Arkansas' major source of theoretical and applied research and the provider of a wide range of public services to people throughout the state and the nation. It is the vision of the University of Arkansas to be a nationally-competitive student-centered research university serving Arkansas and the world. Students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends of the University are working to realize that vision through five major institutional goals: strengthening the University's academic quality and reputation by enhancing and developing programs of excellence in teaching, research, and outreach; increasing the size and quality of the student body; enhancing diversity among our faculty, students, and staff; increasing public financial support; and increasing private gift support.

The University offers a broad spectrum of academic programs leading to baccalaureate, master's, doctoral, and professional degrees, not only in the traditional disciplines within arts, humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences, but also in the core professional areas of agriculture, architecture, business, education, engineering, home economics, and law. Through its faculty and its student body, the campus seeks to have all of its programs regionally competitive and, in addition, to offer nationally competitive programs in selected areas.

The campus has state-wide responsibility to provide research leadership in advancing the frontiers of knowledge. The research programs serve three primary purposes. First, as part of graduate instruction, research promotes students' abilities to appreciate and implement, to discover and to teach. Second, research programs serve as vital sources of information on the economic and social needs of Arkansas. Third, in selected areas, research on the Fayetteville campus serves a national and international scholarly community. The campus is committed to a future which includes sustained growth in its research and scholarship.

The University provides extensive technical and professional services to varied groups and individuals throughout the state, helping to further Arkansas' economic growth. In addition, the Fayetteville campus serves as a significant academic resource to the state. It operates nationally respected high school and college level correspondence programs; it assists other institutions in developing educational programs; it offers graduate programs, both cooperatively and singly, throughout the state; and it makes specialized campus resources such as computing services and library resources available to other institutions in the state. The campus will continue to serve this unique role and may expand these services to continue providing distance education through an uplink/downlink network, through the world wide web and other distance-learning connections, and through additional cooperative graduate education programs.

(Board Policy 810.1, effective July 1, 1996; revised June 6, 2003)

The articles of campus governance for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville have been adopted by the Board of Trustees. The following excerpts from the Board policy include the full text of all sections which relate to staff governance. Sections relating to faculty and student governance are summarized or excerpted.

PREAMBLE

In adopting this policy for articles of local campus government for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the Board of Trustees, on its own motion, may at any time review, amend, revise, overrule or affirm any matter, policy, resolution or legislation that may be adopted by any group referred to hereinafter.

ARTICLE I - THE FACULTY

1. Authority
    
   1. The faculty, acting under the Board of Trustees, shall have responsibility for all matters of academic concern. Such matters shall include, but not be limited to:
      1. admission requirements; transfer of credits; withdrawals; academic honesty; scholastic probation, suspension, and dismissal;
      2. curriculum and courses;
      3. degrees and requirements for degrees;
      4. University academic calendars and schedules;
      5. award of academic honors.
          
   2. The faculty may make recommendations on any institutional matter of faculty concern. Such matters shall include, but not be limited to:
      1. a. policies regarding faculty status, including appointments, promotions, granting of tenure, retirement, nonreappointment, and dismissal;
      2. b. policies affecting the general welfare, working conditions, and the services performed by and for the faculty; and
      3. c. policies relating to academic and professional research and other scholarly and creative activities.

(sections omitted)

ARTICLE II - THE FACULTY SENATE

1. Authority
   1. The Faculty Senate shall exercise general legislative powers for the faculty as outlined in Article I, Section A.
       
   2. The Faculty Senate shall have sole jurisdiction over:
      1. admission requirements; transfer of credits; withdrawals; academic honesty; scholastic probation, suspension, and dismissal;
      2. curriculum and courses;
      3. degrees and requirements for degrees;
      4. award of academic honors;
      5. recommendations to the Board of Trustees of the names of individuals to receive honorary degrees.
          
   3. The Faculty Senate will report to the Campus Council for informational and advisory purposes all legislation which it passes.

(sections omitted)

ARTICLE IV - THE STUDENTS

1. Authority
    
   1. The students, acting through the Associated Student Government, shall participate in University decisions affecting their welfare. The Associated Student Government ("ASG" hereinafter) shall both represent the students and serve them.
       
   2. The judicial power of the Associate Student Government shall be vested in the All-Student Judicial Board, which shall have the duties and powers provided in the ASG Constitution and Code.
       
   3. The ASG Constitution has been approved by the Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas, and any changes in that constitution shall also be approved by the Board.

(sections omitted)

ARTICLE V - THE STUDENT SENATE

1. Authority
    
   1. The Student Senate shall exercise general legislative powers for the students, including but not limited to those powers listed in the ASG Constitution.
       
   2. The Student Senate will report to the Campus Council for informational and advisory purposes all legislation which it passes. Any legislation not within the sole jurisdiction of the Student Senate shall be referred to the Campus Council for final action.

(sections omitted)

ARTICLE VI - THE STAFF

1. Authority
    
   1. The staff, acting through the Staff Senate, shall have responsibility relating to the quality of the work life of the staff, the efficiency of the University's operations, and the staff's service to the campus community.
       
   2. The staff, acting through the Staff Senate, may make recommendations on any matter of staff concern. Such matters shall include, but not be limited to:
      1. fringe benefits;
      2. University calendars and schedules;
      3. compensation;
      4. work schedules and working conditions;
      5. hiring and dismissal procedures;
      6. staff and administrative evaluation;
      7. grievance procedures;
      8. environment and safety;
      9. physical facilities; and
      10. health and wellness.
           
2. Membership

   In these Articles, "staff" shall mean all UAF employees eligible for fringe benefits who are not represented by either the Faculty Senate or the Student Senate.
    

3. Officers

   The officers of the staff shall be the officers of the Staff Senate.
    

4. Meetings

   Meetings of the Staff Senate shall be open to all members of the staff, and they shall have an opportunity to be heard as provided in by-laws adopted by the Staff Senate.
    

5. Committees

   The Staff Senate shall establish appropriate standing committees of the staff, and shall adopt rules for the appointment of members to such committees.

ARTICLE VII - THE STAFF SENATE

1. Authority
    
   1. The Staff Senate shall exercise general legislative powers for the staff.
       
   2. The Staff Senate shall have sole jurisdiction to select the Staff Employee of the Quarter and the Staff Employee of the Year.
       
   3. The Staff Senate will report to the Campus Council for informational and advisory purposes all legislation which it passes. Any legislation not within the sole jurisdiction of the Staff Senate shall be referred to the Campus Council for final action.
       
   4. The Staff Senate shall elect the staff members of the Campus Council as specified in Article VIII, Section B.1.c.
       
   5. The Staff Senate shall act as the official liaison for staff with the administration, faculty, and students. The Staff Senate may review items of interest or concern brought to it by staff, administrators, faculty, and students.
       
   6. The Chancellor may veto any action of the Staff Senate within 30 days of receipt of the action. He or she may suspend the action for 30 days and seek Campus Council advice before taking action on the legislation.
       
   7. At its next regular or special meeting after the Chancellor has vetoed legislation of the Staff Senate, the Staff Senate may, by a vote of at least three-fifths of those present and voting with a quorum present, appeal the matter to the President of the University. In this event, if the issue is not resolved within thirty days, the President shall submit the matter to the Board of Trustees.
       
   8. The Staff Senate may adopt amendments to Article VII subject to approval of the Board of Trustees, provided, however, that such amendments may not alter those areas of sole jurisdiction reserved to the Faculty Senate or the Student Senate nor the procedures outlined in paragraph 3 above.
       
2. Membership
    
   1. Each member of the Staff Senate shall be a member of the staff (as defined in Article VI, Section B) and shall be based in Fayetteville.
       
   2. The voting membership of the Staff Senate shall consist of the Chair, the Vice Chair, and such others as provided in by-laws adopted by the Staff Senate.
       
   3. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration and Human Resources shall be a non-voting member of the Staff Senate.
       
3. Officers and Duties
    
   1. The officers of the Staff Senate shall be the Chair and the Vice Chair, each to be elected as provided in by-laws adopted by the Staff Senate.
       
   2. The Chair of the Staff Senate shall:
      1. call, and preside over, meetings of the Staff Senate;
      2. act as spokesperson for the staff;
      3. be a member of the Campus Council;
      4. appoint staff members to University committees as provided in rules of the Staff Senate;
      5. appoint members to standing committees of the staff;
      6. establish ad hoc committees as deemed appropriate, appoint the members of such committees, and appoint persons or panels advisory to the Chair as deemed appropriate; and
      7. perform such other duties as the Chair deems appropriate to the office.
          
   3. Should the Chair of the Staff Senate be unable to complete the term of office, the Vice Chair of the Staff Senate shall become, for the unexpired term, Chair of the Staff Senate.
       
   4. The Vice Chair of the Staff Senate shall:
      1. assist with the duties of the Chair of the Staff Senate;
      2. act for the Chair of the Staff Senate at such times as the latter may be unable to perform his or her duties; and
      3. have such other duties and powers as provided in by-laws adopted by the Staff Senate.
          
   5. Should the office of the Vice Chair of the Staff Senate become vacant during the term of office, the Chair of the Staff Senate shall call a special meeting of the Staff Senate to elect a new Vice Chair for the unexpired term. Nominations shall be made from the floor, and all nominees shall be current members of the Staff Senate.
       
   6. The Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration and Human Resources shall appoint an individual from his or her office to serve as Recording Secretary and to provide clerical assistance to the Staff Senate and its officers.
       
4. Meetings
    
   1. Regular meetings of the Staff Senate shall be held monthly, during regular office hours, and as provided in by-laws adopted by the Staff Senate.
       
   2. Special meetings of the Staff Senate may be called by the Chair, by a majority of the members of the Staff Senate, or otherwise as provided in by-laws adopted by the Staff Senate.
       
   3. A majority of the members of the Staff Senate shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. 4. Minutes of each regular and special meeting of the Staff Senate shall be promptly distributed by the Recording Secretary to all members of the Staff Senate, to the chairpersons of the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate, to the Chair of the Campus Council Agenda Committee, to the Chair of the Campus Council, to all vice chancellors, to the Chancellor, and to the Associate Vice Chancellor for Administration and Human Resources. Minutes shall be available for inspection by any interested person as provided in by-laws adopted by the Staff Senate.
       
5. Committees
   1. The Staff Senate shall utilize the standing committees of the staff.
       
   2. The Staff Senate may establish appropriate ad hoc committees.
       
   3. The Staff Senate shall adopt rules to govern the appointment of staff to University committees.

ARTICLE VIII - THE CAMPUS COUNCIL

1. Authority
    
   1. The Campus Council shall exercise general legislative powers in connection with all legislation not reserved to the sole jurisdiction of the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, or the Staff Senate.
       
   2. All legislation initiated in the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, or the Staff Senate shall be reported to the Campus Council for informational purposes. If the legislation is not within the sole jurisdiction of those bodies, it will require final action by the Campus Council for approval.
       
   3. The Campus Council may advise the Chancellor, the President of the University, and through the President, the Board of Trustees, on any matter of concern to the Campus Council including legislation reported by the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate, and the Student Senate.
       
2. Membership
    
   1. The voting membership of the Campus Council shall consist of the Chair of the Faculty Senate, the Vice Chair of the Faculty Senate, the ASG President, the President pro tempore of the Student Senate, the Chair of the Staff Senate, 16 additional faculty representatives as specified in paragraph a. below, 16 additional student representatives as specified in paragraph b. below, 16 additional staff representatives as specified in paragraph c. below, and administrative representatives as specified in paragraph d. below.
      1. The 16 additional faculty representatives shall be voting members of the Faculty Senate, and shall be elected for one-year terms by the Faculty Senate pursuant to its rules.
      2. The 16 additional student representatives shall be voting members of the Student Senate, and shall be elected for one-year terms by the Student Senate pursuant to its rules.
      3. The 16 additional staff representatives shall be voting members of the Staff Senate, and shall be elected for one-year terms by the Staff Senate pursuant to its rules.
      4. The administration representatives shall be the Dean of Students, the dean of each college or school (including the Graduate School and the Division of Continuing Education), and the dean (or director) of University libraries.
          
   2. Should a faculty, student, or staff representative be unable to complete the term of office, the senate which elected that person shall elect a replacement member to serve for the unexpired term.
       
   3. The Chancellor and all vice chancellors shall be non-voting members of the Campus Council.
       
3. Officers and Duties
    
   1. The Campus Council shall elect its Chair and Vice Chair from its members.
       
   2. Should the Chair of the Campus Council be unable to complete the term of office, the Vice Chair shall become, for the unexpired term, Chair of the Campus Council.
       
   3. The Secretary of the Campus Council shall be appointed by the Chair of the Campus Council, but with voting privileges only if entitled thereto by virtue of election to the Campus Council.
       
   4. The duties of the officers of the Campus Council shall be those normally associated with their respective offices.
       
4. Meetings
    
   1. The Campus Council shall meet at least once each semester, and at such additional times as the Chair of the Campus Council deems appropriate or upon call of the Chancellor.
       
   2. A meeting notice and tentative agenda shall be distributed by the Secretary to all members of the Campus Council, Faculty Senate, Student Senate, and Staff Senate, and to all members of the faculty, at least three business days in advance of each regular or special meeting.
       
   3. A majority of the voting members of the Campus Council shall constitute a quorum at any meeting. An action of the Campus Council shall require a simple majority vote of those present and voting, a quorum being present.
       
   4. Minutes of each regular and special meeting of the Campus Council shall be promptly distributed by the Secretary to all members of the Campus Council, to the chairpersons of the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, and the Staff Senate, to all members of the faculty, to all vice chancellors and deans, and to the Chancellor. Minutes shall also be available in the office of the Secretary for inspection by any interested person, and shall be deposited in the office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs as the office of record.
       
5. Committees
    
   1. The standing Agenda Committee shall consist of ten members. Three members shall be faculty members, three shall be staff members, three shall be students and one member shall represent the administration. The term of appointment shall be for one year. Members can be re-appointed.
      1. Any person represented on the Campus Council may submit to the Committee, through a member of the Council, proposed motions, reports, discussion items, or other business to be placed before the Council, with an appropriate rationale to accompany each such proposal. The Committee shall, before each of its meetings, call attention to this privilege by notice in a campus-wide publication.
      2. The Committee shall review each proposal submitted under the provisions of paragraph a. above, and may recommend that the proposal be changed or withdrawn by the initiator(s) thereof, who may accept or reject any such recommendation.
      3. The Committee shall review all legislation reported by the Faculty Senate, Student Senate, or Staff Senate. If final action is required by the Campus Council, the Committee shall include such items as top priority on the agenda for the next meeting of the Campus Council. If legislation reported by the Faculty Senate, Student Senate, or Staff Senate appears to the Committee to be legislation which rests within the sole jurisdiction of a Senate other than the one from which it was reported, it shall be promptly referred to the Senate with the sole jurisdiction over such legislation and shall be considered enacted only if approved by the Senate with sole jurisdiction.
      4. The Committee shall prepare, for each meeting of the Campus Council, a tentative agenda, consisting of a priority-ordered list of items. The agenda shall include all items submitted under the provisions of paragraph a. above and not subsequently withdrawn; any item(s) referred to the Campus Council for final action by the Faculty Senate, Student Senate, or Staff Senate; and such items as should be carried over from the agenda adopted at the preceding meeting of the Campus Council.
      5. The agenda prepared by the Committee shall be submitted to the Secretary of the Campus Council for distribution.
          
   2. The Campus Council shall utilize the standing committees of the faculty, students, staff, and administration as the Campus Council deems appropriate.
       
   3. The Campus Council may establish appropriate ad hoc committees. Provision shall be made for faculty, student, staff, and administration representatives on such committees unless the Campus Council deems such provision clearly inappropriate.
       
6. Amendments to Article VIII
    
   1. The Campus Council may adopt amendments to Article VIII subject to approval of the Board of Trustees, provided, however, that such amendment may not alter those areas of sole jurisdiction reserved to the Faculty Senate, the Student Senate, or the Staff Senate.
       
   2. One or more proposed amendments to Article VIII may be presented to the Campus Council at any regular or special meeting. Any such proposal may be amended at the same meeting by majority vote of those present and voting, a quorum being present.
       
   3. A recommendation to amend Article VIII shall not be voted upon at the same Campus Council meeting at which the proposed amendment was presented. If such proposal is amended by the Campus Council, the amended proposal shall not be voted upon at the same meeting at which such proposal was amended.
       
   4. If approved by a majority of those present and voting at a regular or special meeting of the Campus Council, a quorum being present, such recommendation shall promptly be forwarded to the Chancellor with a request that it be promptly forwarded to the Board with the Chancellor's own recommendation regarding the proposed amendment.
       
   5. An amendment of Article VIII shall be effective from the time of its adoption by the Board of Trustees.

The Staff Senate has adopted by-laws, which are available, along with other information about the Staff Senate, on the Staff Senate web page at http://www.uark.edu/ua/stsenate/.

University committees fall into two general categories: administration boards, committees and councils; and committees of the campus governance groups. Some Staff Senate committees include staff members who are not current senators, and there are also opportunities for staff to serve on several administration boards, committees, and councils as well as on some Campus Council committees. Information about the membership composition and the responsibilities of campus committees can be found at: http://www.uark.edu/admin/vcacsey/Governance.html.