Policy on Campus Space Assignments

The following describes the procedures for reallocating building space on campus and specifies the delegation of authority for the review of requests for space reassignment.

SACI has been designated by the Chancellor to review space requests and make decisions on most space reassignments. If substantial amounts of space are involved, or other special circumstances apply, SACI may make a recommendation for a final decision by the Chancellor.  All space reassignments between units must be reported through the official campus inventory system for record-keeping and for a determination whether further review is needed.

Student space requests should be directed to the ASUC.  All other requests for space should be made through the appropriate cognizant Dean or Vice Chancellor.

Each dean is delegated authority to reallocate space among departments or programs within his or her school or college.  Deans in the College of Letters and Science historically have relied on the Space Assignments and Capital Improvements Committee (SACI) to review interdepartmental space issues.

Proposed reallocations involving multiple deans, research units, administrative and support units, etc. are normally reviewed by SACI.

Administrative units under the same reporting authority may initiate space reallocations within those units, but in principle, these are also subject to review and approval by SACI.

Temporary space loans between academic and/or administrative units under different reporting authorities are permissible but should be reviewed by SACI.

Under no circumstances may any academic unit or administrative unit charge another campus unit (rent) for space or space-related occupancy.  (This policy excludes one-time use for events.)

Any provision of campus space to non-campus entities (either with or without rent) must be reviewed and approved in advance of the rental or lease agreement by the Vice Provost for Academic and Space Planning (excluding one-time use for events).

Assignment of space is a resource allocation process. Adverse impacts on units and any need to compensate for the loss of space are expected to be considered as part of the normal deliberative process carried out by the decision making authority. Compensation is not required by campus policy.

If a unit under a dean or administrative head objects to a space reassignment, it may appeal to SACI and, ultimately, the Chancellor, who is the final decision-making authority for the campus.

It is expected that individual faculty members will be informed of planned changes in space specifically allocated to them or their program and will have the opportunity to comment on and influence such decisions. As a matter of procedure, faculty members have the option to appeal to a higher level (dean, SACI, and ultimately, the Chancellor) and to take a complaint to the Committee on Privilege and Tenure. The determination of space assignments is not based entirely on the application of quantitative criteria but also includes measures of value. The fundamental criterion for determining space assignments to individual faculty is expected to be the provision of adequate space to enable a faculty member to carry out his or her teaching and research responsibilities. Beyond the expectation of a private office for active, full-time tenure-track faculty, allocation of space resources to faculty is not specified on a campus-wide basis.