Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure

1. Assistant Professor.  Promotion to assistant professor is based on an explicit record of positive and productive performance as an instructor. Minimum criteria include the following:
   1. Earned doctorate or terminal degree in an appropriate field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Exceptions shall be made in cases where the master’s is the terminal or prevalent professional degree.
   2. Established record as an effective teacher.
   3. Evidence of promise in research/scholarly or creative activity such as art and musical performance or production, proposal writing and service to the department and the university, diverse teaching techniques to strengthen the curriculum, public service projects related to the discipline.
   4. Demonstrated adherence to the professional Code of Ethics for the faculty as delineated in the Faculty Handbook.
2. Associate Professor.  Promotion to associate professor can be with or without Permanent Tenure and is based on an exemplary record of positive and productive performance as an assistant professor. Specific criteria include the following:
   1. Earned doctorate or terminal degree in an appropriate field from a regionally accredited institution of higher education. Exceptions may be made in cases where the master’s is the terminal or prevalent professional degree.
   2. Established record as an effective teacher.
   3. Established record or continued performance in research/scholarly or creative activity such as art and musical performance or production, proposal writing and service to the department and the university, diverse teaching techniques to strengthen the curriculum, and public service projects related to the discipline.
   4. Demonstrated adherence to the professional Code of Ethics for the faculty as delineated in the Faculty Handbook.
3. Professor.  Promotion to professor is with Permanent Tenure and requires that the individual be someone recognized by students and colleagues inside and outside of the university as a capable teacher, researcher, and scholar. All candidates should have achieved the following:
   1. Earned doctorate or terminal degree in an appropriate field from a regionally accredited institution of higher. Exceptions may be made in cases where the master’s is the terminal or prevalent professional degree.
   2. Established record as an effective teacher.
   3. Established record of continued performance in research, scholarly or creative activity; proposal writing and service to the department and the university, diverse teaching techniques to strengthen the curriculum, and public service projects related to the discipline.
   4. Demonstrated adherence to the professional Code of Ethics for the faculty as delineated in the Faculty Handbook.

Departmental and College/School Promotion and Permanent Tenure Criteria

Eligible Faculty Members who apply for promotion and/or Permanent Tenure must meet additional specific criteria published by their departments and their college/schools. Each department and school/college will provide a copy of the criteria for promotion and Permanent Tenure to each departmental Faculty Member, Promotion and Tenure Committee (formerly Faculty Personnel Committee), and to the Office of the Provost at the beginning of each academic year. The criteria will address teaching, research/scholarly or creative activity, and service (department, university, community, profession) and other factors used in making promotion/Permanent Tenure decisions.

Each department and school/college will provide a copy of the criteria for promotion and Permanent Tenure to each departmental Faculty Member, Promotion and Tenure Committee (formerly Faculty Personnel Committee), and to the Office of the Provost at the beginning of each academic year. The criteria will address teaching, research/scholarly or creative activity, and service (department, university, community, profession) and other factors used in making promotion/Permanent Tenure decisions.

Candidates normally apply for promotion and/or Permanent Tenure as described below, submitting applications and supporting documentation in time to meet the deadline announced by the Office of the Provost.

In the event that simultaneous applications are filed for promotion and Permanent Tenure, a single supporting portfolio for both processes will be used as the review process will occur concurrently.

To apply for promotion and/or Permanent Tenure, the eligible Faculty Member must complete an application and file it with the department chair in September. In addition to preparing the application, the Faculty Member is required to prepare a portfolio (3 ring binder, no more than 2”) showing contributions in teaching, research, service, and an updated curriculum vitae. Supporting documentation should be included in the portfolio.  

The department chair forwards the application materials to the designated convener of the Senior Faculty for review. The Senior Faculty meets and discusses each application. The designated convener of the Senior Faculty records the vote (for, against, abstain, absent) taken by the Senior Faculty, records the justification for the vote in terms of strengths and weaknesses of each applicant, and forwards the recommendations to the department chair.

The Senior Faculty also provides notification to the Faculty Member as outlined in Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure, A.

The department chair’s recommendations and justifications for the vote in terms of strengths and weaknesses (in the areas of teaching, research/creative activity, and service) of each applicant and that of the Senior Faculty for promotion and/or Permanent Tenure shall be sent to the dean. The chair also provides notification to the Faculty Member as outlined in Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure, A.

The dean shall forward all documentation and departmental recommendations for each applicant along with his or her recommendations and written justifications to the Provost. The Provost shall forward the applications and all supporting documents to the Tenure and Promotion Committee, which is composed of tenured Senior Faculty Members elected by the faculty for four-year, overlapping terms. The dean also provides notification to the Faculty Member as outlined in Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure, A.

This statutory committee reviews matters of faculty concern and makes recommendations to the provost, who reviews them with the chancellor for final decision. Concerns include promotion and tenure. This committee is comprised of nine elected, tenured, Faculty Members holding the rank of associate professor or professor, and three alternates (two professors and one associate professor). Members and alternates serve a four-year term. A committee member of the department of an applicant excludes himself or herself from a case involving his or her department. Members are elected annually by full-time Faculty Members who do not hold administrative positions at the level of department chair, dean, or higher. No administrator at the level of department chair, dean, or higher may serve on this committee.

Application materials for promotion and/or Permanent Tenure will be made available to the Tenure and Promotion Committee by the Office of the Provost. These should then be made available for review by members and should be reviewed collaboratively at a convenient location which provides access to a secure storage area.

Discussions of individuals should relate solely to the applications and any supplemental material which may be provided. The chair, at his or her discretion, may seek clarification as necessary, posing the request to the provost. In instances where a committee member and applicant are from the same department, the committee member shall disqualify himself or herself. Likewise, a member of the committee whose application is under review shall disqualify himself or herself. Further, a committee member shall disqualify himself or herself if any perceived conflict of interest exists. In all instances, alternates must be designated to replace the affected Faculty Members who have been disqualified and shall not participate in the discussion and shall leave the room during the discussion and vote.

Review of applications for either Permanent Tenure or promotion should entail a thorough analysis of qualifications for the rank change (if one is requested), along with an assessment of demonstrated professional competence and potential for future contributions as well as minimum criteria for promotion and/or Permanent Tenure found in Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure, B.1.

Following a thorough review and analysis of applications, supporting documentations, and all recommendations, the committee chair shall request a vote by secret ballot on each candidate. This vote is recorded in the form of minutes. The chairperson then signs the information sheet that summaries the vote for all candidates. The signature shall be accompanied by the committee’s written advice for or against Permanent Tenure or promotion and a justification for each vote in terms of the strengths and weakness in the area of teaching, research/creative activity, and service. The committee’s written recommendation (indicating strengths and weaknesses of each applicant) and the vote (number for, against, abstain, absent) shall be forwarded to the provost along with all other materials and recommendations. The Tenure and Promotion Committee also provides notification to the Faculty Member as outlined in Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure, A.

The provost thoroughly assesses the candidate’s application, portfolio, and reports from the departmental Senior Faculty, the department chair, college/school dean, and the University Tenure and Promotion Committee. He or she then prepares a summary report containing data on each candidate and submits his or her recommendations and supporting materials for promotion and/or Permanent Tenure to the chancellor. The provost submits only favorable recommendations to the Chancellor. The provost also provides notification to the Faculty Member as outlined in Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure, A.

The chancellor examines recommendations from the provost, the Tenure and Promotion Committee and other appropriate documents. If the chancellor makes a decision on a promotion or Permanent Tenure application that is different from the decision that was made by the Tenure and Promotion Committee (formerly Faculty Personnel Committee), the chancellor shall communicate his or her decision and the rationale for the decision in writing to the chair and the members of the Tenure and Promotion Committee. The chancellor sends all favorable recommendations for Permanent Tenure to the Personnel and Tenure Committee of the Board of Trustees for submission to the full Board of Trustees.

The chancellor also provides notification to the Faculty Member as outlined in Procedures for Review of Reappointment, Promotion, and Permanent Tenure, A.

The chancellor’s decision on promotion is final. The decision of the Board of Trustees on Permanent Tenure is final. Candidates are notified of the disposition of their Permanent Tenure applications by the provost.

Unfavorable Promotion, Tenure, and Reappointment Decisions

Promotion and reappointment decisions that are unfavorable to the Faculty Member and for which a Faculty Member contends were based on Impermissible Grounds or Material Procedural Irregularities may be appealed to the Faculty Hearing Committee on Discharge and Non-reappointment. Non-promotion decisions that do not lead to non-reappointment may be appealed to the Faculty Grievance Committee.

Appeal Process of Unfavorable Reviews

The committee reviews the letter from the Faculty Member requesting an appeal of a reappointment decision. The committee determines whether the information presented in the letter, if shown to be true, warrants a hearing.

Annual Review

The department chair’s evaluation, with input from the Senior Faculty, of the progress the Faculty Member is making toward the achievement of reappointment, promotion, or the conferral of Permanent Tenure shall be conducted annually. A summary of the evaluation from the chair and the Senior Faculty shall be provided to the Faculty Member by June 30th of each year in a letter that specifically addresses strengths and weaknesses and that provides a plan and timetable for improvement of deficiencies in performance. The letter shall indicate progress towards reappointment/promotion/Permanent Tenure. Guidelines for annual reviews are included in the Faculty Evaluation Manual.