Spouse/Partner Relations Within the Department of History

Domestic partner and spouse are defined according to University of Utah Policy Rule 5-200A, IID and IIM.

 Spouses/partners are expected to act as independent members of the department at all times.

 Spouses/partners will not attend meetings as proxies for each other.

 Spouses/partners will not serve as proxy votes for each other.

 Spouses/partners will not evaluate one another’s teaching for any formal purposes.

 Spouses/partners must leave the room when their partner is discussed. All subsequent discussions are confidential to both members of the couple.

 If one spouse/partner is at a different rank than the other, the spouse will leave the room during RPT discussions and recuse themselves from any vote. The higher-ranked spouse/partner will not review the RPT minutes of any meeting where their spouse/partner was discussed.

 If the Department Chair has a spouse/partner within the Department, that individual’s salary consideration will be adjudicated by the College of Humanities Dean’s Office.

 If the Department Chair has a spouse/partner within the Department, and the spouse has research funds that the Chair would normally approve, that approval will be adjudicated by the College of Humanities Associate Dean.

 If the Department Chair has a spouse/partner within the Department, the Associate Dean for the College of Humanities will write any necessary letters of recommendation for the spouse/partner, duly noting the circumstances.

 If the Department Chair has a spouse/partner within the Department of a different rank, the Chair will recuse themselves from the RPT process and vote (leaving the room when necessary). The spouse/partner’s external reviewers and evaluative letter (normally written by the Chair) will be overseen and written by the Associate chair, duly noting the circumstances.

 If a student challenges the grade given by a spouse/partner of the Chair, any adjudication of the challenge will be handled by the Associate Chair (typically convener of the Undergraduate Committee) or passed to the Associate Dean of the College of Humanities.

 If the Department Chair has a spouse/partner within the Department, the spouse/partner will be ineligible to hold the office of Director of Graduate Studies, Associate Chair, or be elected to the Executive Committee.

 If a couple within the same academic department divorce or otherwise separate, they will follow the above guidelines for a period of three academic years.

 If colleagues have concerns about spouse/partners in the department, they should first address the Chair, but if he/she is a member of the spouse/partner couple, concerns should be taken to the Associate Dean of the College of Humanities.

 Suggested: spouse/partners will take measures to protect information confidential to their respective roles in the Department. (separate computers, separate workspaces, etc.)