Policy

 I. Purpose

II. Scope

This policy applies to all full-time tenured, tenure-track, and TCPL faculty at Miami University. Full-time faculty refers to those with an appointment of .80 FTE or greater.

III. Definitions

1. Retrenchment, as defined in section 3345.454 of the Revised Code, means a process by which a state institution of higher education reduces programs or services, thus resulting in a temporary suspension or permanent separation of one or more institution faculty, to account for a reduction in student population or overall funding, a change to institutional missions or programs, or other fiscal pressures or emergencies facing the institutions. 
2. Financial Exigency, defined as fiscal emergencies that have two characteristics:
   1. They are long-term in nature, promising to persist, by all reasonable projections, into the foreseeable future; and
   2. They thereby threaten the fulfillment of the institution’s academic mission and, eventually, its very survival. As such, financial exigency is to be distinguished from temporary fiscal fluctuations on the one hand, and insolvency on the other.

IV. Grounds for retrenchment:

1. The University may dismiss tenured bargaining unit faculty members during the term of their appointments due to the following:
   1. program, department or division elimination; or,
   2. financial exigency in accordance with the university’s Termination Under Financial Exigency of a Tenured Appointment policy.
2. The University may dismiss or non-renew tenure-track and TCPL bargaining unit faculty members during the term of their appointments, at its discretion, for the following reasons:
   1. Financial exigency;
   2. Restructuring, reorganization or discontinuance of academic programs; or,
   3. Upon recommendation of the Dean with approval from the Provost: position elimination due to insufficiency of enrollment, curriculum change, lack of work, or lack of funding or financial resources.

V. Authority:

1. Miami University’s Board of Trustees shall update this policy every five years and has final authority on retrenchment decisions made under this policy.
2. Nothing in this policy prevents faculty members from accepting any separation incentive that may otherwise be offered by Miami University, regardless of whether the incentive is contained in a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
3. Miami University remains committed to academic freedom and non-discrimination. Retrenchment shall not be used as a means of endangering academic freedom or engaging in discrimination.

 

Related Form(s)

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Additional Resources and Procedures

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FAQ

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Policy Administration

Next Review Date

July 2030

Responsible Officer 

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Legal Reference

ORC 3345.454

Compliance Policy

 

Recent Revision History Effective

Effective: December 12, 2025