Regarding Disruptions in Productivity in Scholarly Activities and Service Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

Memorandum of Understanding

WHEREAS, the Collective Bargaining Agreement (the “CBA”) between Bowling Green State University (the “University”) and the Bowling Green State University Faculty Association – AAUP (the “Faculty Association”) (collectively, the “Parties”), effective through June 30, 2022, in Article 14, Sections 5.1, requires each academic unit to have written policies regarding performance reviews, reappointment, promotion, and tenure;

WHEREAS, such policies are developed based on a certain allocation of faculty effort among research, teaching, and service; and

WHEREAS, the COVID-19 pandemic has substantially disrupted the ability of bargaining unit faculty members (BUFM) to conduct scholarly and creative activity, present the results of their scholarly and creative activity, and perform their service obligations (particularly those service obligations that require work with groups off campus);

NOW THEREFORE, the Parties agree as follows:

1.  Academic units, colleges, and the University shall account for these disruptions in their evaluation of all BUFM by appropriately tempering expectations in terms of scholarly/creative activity and service.
2. At the first stage of the merit, promotion, reappointment, and tenure processes for the 20-21 review year, chairs/directors will advise each BUFM that reasonable accommodations will be made in their evaluation due to the COVID-19 pandemic and that each BUFM should also specify in writing to their merit committee and chair/director what reasonable accommodations they believe are fair given their specific circumstances. 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Memorandum of Understanding to be made effective this 12 day of August, 2020.

BOWLING GREEN STATE UNIVERSITY

By:     

Joe B. Whitehead
Provost and Senior Vice President

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

By:     

David J. Jackson
BGSU-FA President