Regarding Academic Analytics Data

Memorandum of Understanding  

WHEREAS, Bowling Green State University (the “University”) and the Bowling Green State University Faculty Association – AAUP (“BGSU-FA”) (collectively, the “Parties”) have agreed to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) setting the terms and conditions of employment for Bargaining Unit Faculty Members (“BUFM”);  

WHEREAS, the CBA sets out standards for evaluating faculty, policies pertaining to evaluating faculty, and other working conditions of faculty;  

WHEREAS, the University is contemplating entering into an agreement with Academic Analytics (“AA”) to provide data about the University’s faculty;  

WHEREAS, AA has been implemented successfully at other universities;  

WHEREAS, analytics describing research activity, such as those produced by AA, can be useful tools to identify and enumerate university strengths, promote institutional self-awareness, and establish goals for building and maintaining areas of excellence;  

WHEREAS, if the University enters into an agreement with AA, the accuracy, transparency, and communication of AA research activity data are important to both Parties;  

NOW, THEREFORE, the University and the BGSU-FA agree as follows:  

1. BUFM will have access to AA data about themselves and their academic programs. The College Dean shall provide this information upon request by the BUFM to the extent allowed by the Academic Analytics, LLC Master License Agreement. The Contract Administrator and Grievance Officer shall be copied on replies.  
2. BUFM may contest the accuracy of AA data about themselves by contacting their Chair/Director and explaining the issue. If the BUFM and the Chair/Director do not agree on the inaccuracy of the information or how to correct it, the BUFM may appeal to their Dean.  
3. When data aggregated beyond the individual faculty level is used to make decisions affecting a BUFM, the BUFM shall have the right to review and question the accuracy of such data, to the extent permitted by the Academic Analytics, LLC Master License Agreement.  
4. Academic units may choose to revise their criteria, standards and procedures for RTP and merit purposes to use AA data, or any other system for evaluations, according to the procedures stated in Articles 14 and 17 of the collective bargaining agreement in place at that time. However, in no event may RTP and merit decisions be made solely upon AA data. The University administration shall not require any academic unit to incorporate the use of AA data in their RTP or merit procedures. If academic units do not incorporate the use of AA data in their RTP policies, AA data may not be used in any level of review in the RTP process. AA data may be used for market salary analysis to benchmark BUFMs against others in the discipline to support a positive result, reflecting the interest of both parties to bring faculty salaries to market. 
5. The University administration, including the Provost, Deans, and Chairs/Directors, shall not use AA data to initiate Extraordinary Review of faculty members, for discipline, or for fitness of duty evaluations. 
6. The University administration, including the Provost, Deans, and Chairs/Directors, shall use AA data consistent with “Best Practices” described in AA’s 2018 document, “Implementing Academic Analytics Data: Principles and Best Practices, with Special Reference to the Leiden Manifesto” and the American Association of University Professors’ March 22, 2016 “Statement on ‘Academic Analytics’ and Research Metrics” which are attached to this MOU. 
7. Consistent with those Best Practices, AA data on an individual BUFM will be made available to that BUFM upon request and AA data will not be used as a punitive tool to assess BUFMs or deprive BUFMs or units of resources. 
8. Requests for AA data as relevant to collective bargaining shall be directed to the Office of the Provost.  

BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY
By:

Joe B. Whitehead, Jr.
Provost and Senior Vice President

BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY ASSOCIATION- AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS

By:

David J. Jackson
BGSU-FA President