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Article 6 -
Appointment, Reappointment and Non-Reappointment

A. Appointment
Persons appointed to positions which under the University of Maine Labor Relations Act would result in bargaining unit status shall be given an appointment which includes a probationary period.

B. Probationary Period
1. Each new employee shall be required to serve an initial probationary period. The length of such probationary period shall be determined by the University but shall not exceed twelve (12) months of active employment, exclusive of any periods not in the unit member's work year, or any periods of layoff or leave without pay and shall be made known in writing at the time of the initial appointment. The University may extend the probationary period by an additional six (6) months of active employment by so informing the unit member in writing. The University shall send the Association a copy of the probationary extension notification solely for informational purposes. The lack of notice to the Association shall not constitute any grounds to diminish the University's right to extend the probationary period. The University may grant a continuing appointment prior to the end of the probationary period, which was established at the time of appointment. The probationary period for a unit member with a soft-money appointment shall be in accordance with Article 10. The probationary period for a unit member with a non-renewable fixed length term shall be in accordance with Article 31.

2. During the probationary period, the person shall be evaluated in writing prior to the completion of the initial six (6) month period of the appointment and at least every six months thereafter. A decision to terminate a unit member for unsatisfactory job performance any time between the completion of the initial six month period of appointment and the end of the probationary period shall be supported by an unsatisfactory written evaluation.

3. A unit member shall be given at least one (1) month written notice or pay and benefits in lieu of notice that his/her employment will be discontinued within the probationary period, or that he/she will not be reappointed beyond the probationary period. If a unit member's probationary period is extended beyond twelve (12) months, he/she shall be given at least one (1) months written notice or pay in lieu of notice that his/her employment will be discontinued within the probationary period or that he/she will not be reappointed beyond the probationary period. Such notice shall not be required in the event of the termination of a unit member for just cause during the probationary period, the expiration of non-renewable fixed length appointment, or the cessation of funding in the case of a unit member with a soft money appointment. In the event that a unit member is provided with pay and benefits in lieu of notice, the unit member must also continue to contribute his/her proportionate share.

C. Reappointment
Except for unit members with soft money or non-renewable fixed length appointments, unit members who are reappointed beyond the probationary period shall receive a continuing appointment. Unit members with soft money or non-renewable fixed length appointments shall not be eligible for continuing appointment status.

D. Information to be provided to unit members
A unit member shall receive a legible copy of his/her Personnel Action Form (P-10) or its equivalent, showing the current terms of appointment contained in the payroll-personnel system at the time of appointment, and within ten (10) days as changes occur therein. The unit member shall also be supplied with current information regarding:

1. the existing evaluation system applicable to the unit member;
2. the unit member's job description;
3. a copy of this Agreement;
4. the unit member's work schedule; and
5. fringe benefits.

E. Appointment Status
1. "Probationary appointment" shall mean an appointment which is without continuing appointment status and which is neither a soft money nor non-renewable fixed length appointment. Probationary appointees may be removed subject to the provisions of this Article; Article 7, Job Openings and Promotions; Article 8, Termination; or they may leave employment by resignation or retirement.

2. "Continuing appointment" shall mean the right of a unit member to continued employment without removal except as provided for in Article 8, Termination, or Article 9, Layoff and Recall, or by resignation or retirement.

3. "Soft money appointment" shall be in accordance with the terms of Article 10.

4. "Non-renewable fixed length appointment" shall be in accordance with the terms of Article 31.