Approved by Board of Trustees
Effective Date: June 5, 2017
Responsible Division: Business and Finance
Responsible Office:  Business and Finance
Responsible Officer:  Vice President, Business and Finance

I. Purpose

This policy establishes the criteria and process regarding financial exigency at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU or University), providing for emergency procedures, including reduction in force, should the University experience a condition of financial exigency.

II. Definitions

A.  Financial Exigency. The formal declaration by the MTSU Board of Trustees (Board) that the University faces an imminent financial crisis; that there is a current or projected absence of sufficient funds (appropriated or non-appropriated) for the campus as a whole to maintain current programs and activities at a level sufficient to fulfill its educational goals and priorities; and that the budget can only be balanced by extraordinary means, which include the termination of existing and continuing academic and non-academic appointments.

B.  Reduction in Force. The termination of employment of faculty or staff resulting from a budgetary crisis reflected in a declared state of financial exigency.

C.  Academic or Administrative Unit. An academic department or other similar account-level unit.

D.  Faculty Senate. The major representative faculty body devoted to governance.

E.  Primary Budgetary Sub-unit. A major budgetary area of the University (i.e., Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, Business and Finance) headed by the Provost or a Vice President reporting directly to the President.

III. Actions Required Prior to the Declaration of Financial Exigency

A.  Financial exigency results from an imminent fiscal crisis characterizing the entire University; thus, the condition of financial exigency may not be declared at an academic or administrative level.

B.  In light of the gravity of consequences resulting from a declaration of financial exigency, the process leading to a recommendation to the Board that financial exigency be declared must be cautious, fair, well informed, and as responsive as possible to the interests of various segments of the University.

1.  The responsibility for initiating the proposal for declaration of financial exigency resides with the President. Since recommending the declaration of financial exigency is an extreme measure, that responsibility requires the President to provide all appropriate assurances and documentation that available and reasonable procedures to reduce the expenditure levels of the University are exhausted and that no efforts have been spared to enhance revenues.

2.  Prior to proposing the declaration of financial exigency, the President shall share with the Faculty Senate, and representatives of other University personnel constituencies, all pertinent analysis and documentation that, in his/her opinion, demonstrate an imminent fiscal crisis for the entire University that would warrant a declaration of financial exigency. That analysis and documentation should be shared promptly and with sufficient notice to the Faculty Senate and representatives of other personnel constituencies. Opportunities should be provided for discussions with, and advice from, those bodies, along with providing answers to appropriate questions and general deliberations befitting an educational institution.

3.  After discussion and review of any advice from the Faculty Senate and representative of other personnel constituencies, the President shall, if he/she remains convinced that conditions warrant a recommendation for declaration of financial exigency, present the recommendation with full documentation to the Board.

4.  The documentation presented to the Board shall include at least the following:

a.  A description of the current fiscal condition of the University, including the projected amount of deficit that would result from failure to declare financial exigency.

b.  A projection of the fiscal condition that would result, in the opinion of the President, from general types of action anticipated to be taken subsequent to a declaration of financial exigency.

c.  An analysis of the reason for the current imminent fiscal crisis characterizing the entire University, specifying with appropriate documentation those identifiable factors contributing to the crisis.

d.  A statement of assurance, with supporting evidence, that available and reasonable procedures to reduce expenditure levels of the University are exhausted, that further retrenchment within existing policies is not compatible with the objective of assuring maximum protection for the academic programs of the University and the educational needs of students, and that efforts to enhance revenues have been carried out in a responsible manner.

e.  A transmittal of any advice, alternatives, or information in writing by any University personnel constituencies and the Faculty Senate.

IV. Actions Required Subsequent to the Declaration of Financial Exigency

A.  Should the Board formally declare a state of financial exigency, the President shall, in a reasonable time and with appropriate documentation, initiate a proposed plan to allocate necessary funding reductions among the primary budgetary sub-units within the University.

B.  The following procedures shall be followed:

1.  The President shall convene the University’s Financial Exigency Committee (Committee), which shall be comprised of the following: University Provost, Vice Presidents, Director of Athletics, Faculty Senate President, a staff representative, Assistant Vice President for Human Resources Services, and University Counsel.

2.  The President's proposed plan for allocating necessary funding reductions to primary budgetary sub-units shall be reviewed by the Financial Exigency Committee.

a.  The Committee shall review the amounts of proposed reductions, evaluate proposed reductions in the light of University priorities, and consider administrative organization and academic priorities.

b.  It shall also consider the magnitude of proposed reductions in each primary budgetary sub-unit in light of factors prescribed by applicable state or federal laws regarding fair employment practices.

c.  The Committee shall submit in writing, within thirty (30) days, to the President its response to the President's plan, which shall include either an endorsement or a recommendation of alternatives.

(1)  The President shall consider any alternatives recommended by the Committee and, within thirty (30) days, shall indicate to the Committee a final decision relative to the internal allocation of necessary funding reductions.

(2)  This final plan should be communicated broadly to all personnel constituencies.

3.  Heads of primary budgetary sub-units, with broad and clearly defined faculty and staff consultation, shall recommend to the President plans for effecting their designated budget reductions. Those recommendations from heads of primary budgetary sub-units shall include proposed reductions in programs or personnel, shall achieve the designated reductions, and shall respond to any inquiries the President or the Committee may direct.

4.  As a primary component of his/her review of plans submitted by heads of primary budgetary sub-units, the President shall, prior to accepting them, submit the plans for review by the Committee.

C.  The Committee will consider all plans submitted to the President by heads of primary budgetary sub-units.

1.  While policies may include other principles, the Committee must consider at least the following general principles:

a.  Retrenchment other than reduction in force should reflect as its major priority, maximum protection for the academic programs of the University and the educational needs of students.

b  When an academic or administrative unit undergoes reduction in force, the principal consideration in determining which persons to retain and which to terminate should be the maintenance of viable academic or support programs within that unit.

c.  Personnel of affected academic or administrative units should have clearly defined advisory involvement relative to determining specific persons and minimal personnel needs or areas of specialization essential to a unit's viability.

d.  To avoid the possibility of compromising the quality of highly productive programs within the institution, and to recognize the best interests of continued academic excellence, reduction in force cannot normally be accomplished on a strictly across the board basis.

e.  Affirmative action plans should be carefully considered in all personnel decisions.

f.  Unless an exception is made to maintain a viable academic or support program, or for reasons of affirmative action, decisions as to the order of personnel terminations in academic or administrative units should be made in light of factors clearly defined in University policies.

g.  Any financial exigency plan should specify clearly, and in rank order, the role of defined factors in determining order of personnel terminations in academic or administrative units under conditions of financial exigency. Those factors shall include, but are not limited to, tenure status, rank, seniority within rank, local seniority within rank, length of service, and performance evaluations.

2.  The Committee shall submit in writing to the President its response to the plans for recommended reductions submitted by heads of primary budgetary sub-units.

a  That response shall include either an endorsement or a recommendation of alternatives.

b.  After appropriate review of the Committee’s response, the President shall indicate his/her acceptance, rejection, or amendments to reduction plans submitted by heads of primary budgetary sub-units.

3.  The President shall communicate his/her composite plan for reducing expenditures to the entire campus community.

4.  The President shall submit for approval by the Board his/her composite plan for effecting budgetary reductions, as required by the fiscal condition of the University. That transmittal must include the written response by the Committee to both:

a.  The President's plan for allocating necessary funding reductions to primary budgetary sub-units; and

b.  Plans for the primary budgetary sub-units for effecting their designated budget reductions.

V. Procedures for Termination of Personnel under Conditions of Financial Exigency

A.  Following declaration by the Board that a condition of financial exigency exists, the President, having complied with those actions required subsequent to the declaration of financial exigency, is authorized to carry out those actions, including reduction in force.

B.  Reduction in force, under this policy, may include any personnel classification, including tenured faculty members or tenure-track faculty members prior to the end of their terms of appointment.

C.  The procedures for termination described in this policy are in force only during a period in which the Board has declared the University to be in a condition of financial exigency.

D.  An individual selected for termination shall receive prompt written notification from the President. That notification shall include the following:

1.  A statement of the basis on which the individual was selected for termination;

2.  An indication of the data or reasons supporting the choice, if it is not a clearly defined factor such as rank or tenure status;

3.  The date the termination is effective;

4.  A copy of the declaration of financial exigency adopted by the Board; and

5.  Such other information as the President may deem appropriate.

E.  An individual who receives notice of termination may appeal the decision under the conditions indicated in this section.

F.  At the time of declaration of a state of financial exigency, the President shall appoint a Faculty Hearing Committee and a Staff Hearing Committee. The committees shall ensure prompt hearings that are thorough and fair, but will not be judicial in nature. Strict rules of procedure (i.e., confrontation, cross-examination, and formal rules of evidence) will not be required.

G.  The following conditions constitute grounds for appeal by an individual of notice of termination:

1.  That established procedures or provisions of this policy were not followed, resulting in the termination.

2.  That appropriate criteria were not applied, including, but not limited to, the allegation that his/her selection constituted a violation of the individual’s academic freedom or was based on unfounded or arbitrary assumptions of fact.

H.  The Hearing Committees shall not review the decision concerning the declaration of financial exigency or the President's plan for the amount of reduction to be assumed by each primary budgetary sub-unit.

I.  A recommendation will be sent from the Faculty or Staff Hearing Committee to the President recommending that he/she uphold or reverse the action of termination, and the President will inform the appropriate Hearing Committee and the individual of his/her final decision.

J.  The final decision of the President may be appealed to the Board pursuant to Policy 60 Appeals and Appearances before the Board.

VI. Continuing Rights of Persons Terminated Under Conditions of Financial Exigency

A.  No vacancy caused by a termination under conditions of financial exigency shall be filled for a period of three (3) years from the time of notice of termination without first offering the position to the person terminated (academic or non-academic), provided that the person terminated keeps the University informed of his/her current mailing address.

B.  If the person previously terminated is offered the position and accepts, he/she will be returned in the same rank (and tenure status, if applicable) as at the time of termination with any unfunded salary increases that occurred in the interim.

VII. Termination of Declaration of Financial Exigency

A.  If the financial health of the institution improves sufficiently, the President shall initiate a proposal for the termination of a declared state of financial exigency.

B.  Procedures established by this policy shall continue in effect during the period of a state of financial exigency.

C.  At the termination of a declared state of financial exigency, that action by the Board shall cause all policies, procedures, and bodies created in this policy, for the sole purpose of making and implementing exigency decisions, to cease to exist.

Forms: none.

Revisions: none.

Last Reviewed: March 2022.

References: Policy 60 Appeals and Appearances before the Board.