1. Tenure Policies Q & A Session
August 28, 2018

2. Background Faculty Senators met throughout summer
Senate’s Executive Committee participated and received weekly updates
Researched tenure policies of other schools
Proposed and debated ideas
Wrote policy drafts
Dr. Baloga worked with Dr. McCay and deans in similar process
I met with Dr. Baloga weekly to share and discuss our ideas
Annual review ratings and post-tenure review are based on Virginia Tech’s tenure policy

3. Tenure Policies This document covers: Other documents will cover:
Annual reviews
Hiring new faculty into tenure system
Pre-tenure contracts and evaluation
Tenure evaluation
Post-tenure review
Other documents will cover:
Transition of existing faculty into tenure system
Teaching track and research track policies
Tenure, research, and teaching track criteria
These will be ready in 2-3 weeks

4. Annual reviews
Annual review evaluates teaching, scholarship, and service
Rating system:
Exceeds Expectations
Satisfactory
Needs Improvement*
Unsatisfactory (does not meet minimum standards)*
* Any below-satisfactory rating leads to a developmental plan to help faculty improve performance
An overall Unsatisfactory rating can lead to post-tenure review

5. Minimum standards
Program-specific standards for teaching, scholarship, and service
Program’s faculty help prepare and vote to approve
Dean and academic unit head also approve
Minimum standards will:
Be distinct from tenure criteria
Respect academic freedom
Allow faculty to pursue new, innovative lines of research or teaching methods
Be flexible due to variations in the role of each faculty member within a program
Reflect effort and accomplishments
Consider an active research program as meeting minimum research standards
Take into account external factors, such as cuts to federal funding or types of classes taught

6. Pre-tenure timeline Similar to pre-tenure at other schools
Contracts in yr 1, yrs 2-4, and yrs 5-7
Annual evals occur each year
Pre-tenure eval occurs in yr 3
Major factor in contract renewal
Tenure eval in yr 6
Statement of Expectations (SoE) clearly lists requirements
Established when hired
Some flexibility for adjusting tenure expectations
Tenure clock delays allowed for extenuating personal circumstances

7. Pre-tenure review Conducted by college P&T committee (CPTC)
Only tenured faculty
Candidate prepares dossier
Review letters provided by:
Academic unit head
Tenured faculty in candidate’s program
College dean
Provost
Candidate can appeal negative pre-tenure review to AFTC (Senate)
Review and recommendation limited to issues of bias and following procedures

8. Tenure Review Initiated by college P&T committee (CPTC)
Candidate prepares dossier
Recommendations for/against provided by:
Academic unit head
Tenured faculty in candidate’s program
Dean
External reviewers
Documentation reviewed by UCFPT, final decision by President
Candidate can appeal negative tenure review to AFTC (Senate)
Review and recommendation limited to issues of bias and following procedures

9. Post-tenure review
Annual reviews with same ratings continue after tenure
Unsatisfactory performance is below program’s minimum standards
An overall Unsatisfactory rating leads to a Professional Development Plan (PDP)
Created by ad hoc, program-level committee
Academic unit head and two other faculty with one nominated by faculty member
Developmental plan for improving faculty member’s performance
Spans at least one year
No PTR if faculty member achieves goals of PDP
2nd overall Unsatisfactory rating triggers PTR
Annual review takes into account progress towards goals of PTR

10. Post-tenure review
PTR committee of program-level faculty performs review
PTRC can decide that faculty member:
Meets program’s minimum standards; ends PTR process
Needs more time or different PDP
Does not meet minimum standards and recommends sanctions
Reassignment of duties, loss of tenure, dismissal
Faculty member can appeal to AFTC, which can decide that faculty member:
President makes final decision for sanctions

11. Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee
AFTC is standing committee of Faculty Senate
Chair is Senator, membership is open to all tenured faculty
Each college represented by one member (COES has two members)
Members must be tenured faculty, voted on by Senate
Responsibilities:
Hear appeals of pre-tenure, tenure, and PTR
Perform annual review of tenure system; make recommendations
Communicate and coordinate with college and university administration
Participate in resolving disputes of academic freedom

12. Faculty participation and due process
AFTC hears appeal of negative pre-tenure review and tenure review
Review and recommendation limited to issues of bias and following procedures
PTR committee of program-level faculty makes PTR decision
AFTC hears appeal of negative PTR decision
A favorable PTR decision or appeal ends PTR process
Burden of proof for PTR sanctions is on administration
Decisions and appeals are documented
Faculty help prepare and vote on annual review rating criteria, including minimum standards
Faculty set the criteria that trigger PTR

13. Questions?

15. Unusual pre-tenure situations
Tenure appointments for administrators still being worked out
Faculty who have achieved tenure elsewhere can be hired with tenure
Requires approval by President
Exceptional untenured faculty can be hired with tenure
Requires review by UCFPT and President
Prior teaching or research experience can shorten tenure clock by 2 yrs
Tenure track faculty can have joint appointments
One department is lead
Tenure track faculty can transfer between colleges
Accommodations are made to ease transition into new criteria