IV.B. Employment Relationship

IV.B.2. Contractual Employees

IV.B.2.01 General

Contractual employees are the only employees who are not at will. A contract of employment with the System creates a property interest in the position for the period of time stated in the contract. Such a contract creates no property interest of any kind beyond the period of time stated in the contract.

All term employment contracts shall be in writing in a form approved by the Board that sets forth the length of the contract and any specific terms and conditions of employment. In most circumstances, contracts shall not be for specific assignments, but shall indicate employment as an administrator, faculty member, or other general employment category. No employment contract shall be issued or considered to be valid or binding on the Board until ratified by Board action.

Employment contracts are reviewed and acted upon annually by the Board of Trustees upon the recommendation of the Chancellor. The Board shall generally consider the renewal of contracts for faculty at the April Board meeting and for administrators and LEO's at the May Board meeting.  All contracts are subject to non-renewal and/or change of status should:

1. Faculty and/or administrators fail to sign and return initial or renewal employment contracts to the System Human Resources Office within required time periods, and/or
2. The interests of the System/College will be served in accordance with Section, "Change in Contract Status," Capter IV. Human Resources, Board Policy Manual.

IV.B.2.02 Faculty Contract Authority

Faculty appointments shall be recommended by the College President, approved by the Chancellor, and ratified by the Board. Contracts may be for a one or a two-year term.

Within the first three (3) years of employment, and any time annually thereafter should college needs dictate, the College President shall recommend, that full-time faculty receive annual one year contract(s) with terms that end either:

1. At the end of the regular academic year (9 month contract);
2. At the end of a given summer session term in which the faculty member has agreed to teach (10.5 month contract); or,
3. At the end of the fiscal year (12 month contract).

IV.B.2.03 Multi-Year Contracts (Revised & approved by the Board 9.04.2008)

"Tenure" is defined as a multi-year contract that is reviewed and acted upon each year.

A faculty member who has rendered satisfactory service, as rated by the appropriate supervisor, for a period of not less than three years may be eligible to receive a two-year contract.

All faculty with multi-year contracts shall annually be approved by the Chancellor and ratified by the Board for a one-year extension of their contract.

Awarding the continuation of a multi-year status to faculty whose time and employment with the System and performance would merit continuation may be withheld if:

1. the faculty member's department or program is unable to make a full load for the faculty member because of declining enrollment; or
2. the specific program to which he or she has been assigned is scheduled to be eliminated; or
3. any other Reduction in Force condition would indicate a potential reduction in staff.

IV.B.2.04 Administrators

LEOs receive a multi-year contract and all other administrators receive a one-year contract.

The Chancellor's contract is subject to the requirements contained in Section I. Board of Trustees, Board Policy Manual.

LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on October 6, 2011
Section revisions as noted

IV.B.3. Non-Contractual Employees

IV.B.3.01 Non-Contractual Employment

Non-contractual personnel shall serve at will, are not employed for any specified length of time, and have no property right in their employment. Nothing in this Policy Manual shall change the employment at will status of non-contractual personnel or shall create any rights to continued employment. The System shall not be bound by any oral representations or agreements related to employment that are inconsistent with these policies or that purport to bind the System to rights not granted by these policies.

The Chancellor or designated representatives shall be responsible for hiring non-contractual employees with appropriate skills and qualifications to fill positions with the System.

IV.B.3.02 Limited Appointments

All persons who serve as adjunct instructors, continuing education instructors, or grant funded employees, or as post-retirement employees, serve under a limited appointment.

A limited appointment is an at-will position. The person's employment is contingent upon a specified event, such as sufficient enrollment to support a class assignment or the receipt of funding from outside sources. An employee with a limited appointment does not have any right to or expectation of continued employment with the System, has no right of notice of non-continuation of employment, and is not covered by the personnel policies contained in this Section of the Board Policy Manual, unless the policy specifically states that it applies to limited appointment positions.

IV.B.3.03 Post-Retirement Employees

Under certain circumstances and upon the approval of the Board of Trustees a person may be employed after full retirement on an annual basis, preferably with a reduced load.

Such employment will be recommended by the LEO and the Chancellor to the Board of Trustees if:

1. A position has been budgeted for the fiscal year in question and will continue for one semester (for faculty) or more than six months (for non-faculty) employees;
2. The employee is requested to continue in his/her current position before retiring; and
3. The full-time employment of the retiree is in the best interest of the College or the System.

A person who was previously employed as a full-time faculty member, administrator, professional, or staff employee may return to employment following his or her full retirement, subject to the following conditions:

1. Regardless of the position, the retiree is not eligible to receive a contract and does not retain any of the rights of contractual employees;
2. The employment begins and ends in the same fiscal year, with no right of reappointment; and
3. The retiree is not benefits-eligible. except for those benefits that are provided to retirees or those which the System is legally obligated to provide to all employees, such as family medical leave and workers' compensation.

The returning retiree will be paid for his or her work under the System compensation plan then in effect, but shall not be considered to be a new hire for purposes of placement, and shall not receive promotional or across the board pay increases (including educational increases provided to full-time faculty).

LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on August 7, 2008

IV.B.4. Volunteers and Interns

IV.B.4.01 Volunteers

Persons who wish to volunteer time at the System may do so with the approval of the Location Executive Officer and the manager of the office to which he or she will be assigned as a volunteer.

1. A volunteer is subject to the same review of references, criminal background checks and other reviews as an employee;
2. A volunteer must follow the directives of the manager under whose direction the volunteer falls;
3. Volunteers are not eligible for any benefits, payments or other remuneration, including tuition remissions;
4. A volunteer may not execute any agreements or represent himself or herself as an agent of the System;
5. Each volunteer must complete a waiver and release form prepared by the Department of Risk Management releasing the System, its Board, officers, directors and others from any and all liability for injuries incurred by a volunteer.
6. No person under the age of 15 will be allowed to serve as a volunteer for any service or function on property or buildings of the System.

IV.B.4.02 Interns

Persons who are enrolled for credit in an undergraduate or graduate program or who are seeking experience and/or training in a specialized field may be appointed to serve as interns. In most instances, interns will be volunteers; interns who are paid for their services are at-will and will be paid at a rate that is consistent across the System.

LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on August 7, 2008

IV.B.5. Emeritus

IV.B.5.01 Emeritus Designation

Upon the Chancellor's recommendation, the Board of Trustees may confer the title of emeritus upon retiring faculty or administrators in recognition of significant contributions to the System through long and distinguished service in administration, teaching, and/or service. Award of the emeritus title does not confer any employment status or rights. Privileges shall include presentation of an appropriate commemorative, a listing in the annual catalog for the life of the honoree, an invitation to the annual May commencement with special seating privileges and introduction and recognition during the commencement program, an invitation to System activities and special events; and use of LSCS Learning Resource Center materials.

The Chancellor shall develop procedures for the nomination and recommendation of qualified individuals for the Board to consider the award of emeritus status.

 LSCS Policy Manual Section adopted by the Board of Trustees on August 7, 2008