C. Tenure Policy and Procedure
1. Purpose: “Tenure is a means to certain ends; specifically: (1) freedom of teaching and research and of extramural activities, and (2) a sufficient degree of economic security to make the profession attractive to men and women of ability. Freedom and economic security, hence, tenure, are indispensable to the success of an institution in fulfilling its obligations to its students and to society.” (From the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, AAUP.)
2. Eligibility: Credit Toward Tenure:
At the time of initial appointment in a tenure-track position, a person may be accorded, upon agreement of the Provost and the Division Chair, credit toward the six-year probationary period for appropriate professional experience. This credit must be noted in the original appointment letter, which will indicate when the Faculty member is eligible for tenure consideration. See Reducing the Probationary period above.
a. An individual will be considered for tenure who has the appropriate terminal degree and the equivalent of six years of full-time teaching in a college or university, of which the equivalent of four years must be at the rank of Assistant Professor OR Master’s Degree and the equivalent of eight years of full-time teaching in a college or university, of which the equivalent of five years must be at the rank of Assistant Professor.
b. Special Considerations: A person is usually considered for tenure in the last year of the prescribed probationary period. When special circumstances exist, candidates may request permission of the Division Chair and Provost to waive part of their probationary period and apply for tenure before the beginning of the sixth year. The Candidate must provide a written rationale with supporting evidence. The PSC may play a consultative role upon request of the Faculty member, Division Chair, or Provost. The Provost will notify the candidate of the decision in writing.
3. Criteria:
a. Performance in all categories must show steady improvement during the years between first appointment and tenure evaluation.
b. At the time of tenure evaluation, the cumulative assessment of teaching and one other category should be rated at least Excellent and the remaining category must be rated at least Effective.
4. Procedure:
a. All procedures for compiling an evaluation folder for consideration of tenure are described previously (Section VI, Part A, Evaluation) and must include:
1) A self-evaluation. (See Form 5, Directions for Self-Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure, in the PSC portal.)
2) The names of at least three colleagues submitting letters, preferably selecting people familiar with the Faculty member’s responsibilities as outlined in the Guidelines for Faculty Performance document so that all three evaluation categories are covered.
a) Each colleague will write a narrative evaluation based on the responsibilities and send it to the Office of Academic Affairs for inclusion in the evaluation file.
b) Letters of reference will be considered confidential if the Faculty member under review signs a waiver to that effect when she/he submits the names of colleagues who will provide them, except as noted above in Access to Faculty Personnel Files (Section V).
c) The candidate will inform each colleague of the deadline when these letters of reference must be completed and submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.
3) An updated resume/curriculum vitae.
b. All deadlines and procedures for the evaluation of materials are those described previously (Section VII, Part A, Evaluation).