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Reappointment/Annual Review or Nonreappointment of Faculty - Board of Visitors Policy
- Nature of Appointment
Unless tenure has been awarded by the university, all appointments of full-time faculty are on
an annual, temporary, or probationary basis, renewable one year at a time at the discretion of
the university.
In some cases, appointments for a period of less than one academic year may be made, for example
initial appointments at mid-year or emergency one-semester appointments.
- Guidelines
- Consideration of reappointment or nonreappointment will be according to a timetable distributed by the
Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.[1]
Consideration takes place early in the second semester for faculty members in their first year of
service and early in the first semester for faculty members in the second or subsequent year of service.
For instructors, assistant professors, lecturers, clinical assistant professors, research assistant
professors, and untenured associate professors and professors, the initial consideration will be by the
departmental tenure and promotion committee unless they are in their first year and have been appointed
mid-year. For senior lecturers, master lecturers, research associate professors, research professors,
clinical associate professors, and clinical professors, initial consideration will be by the department
chair, except for those years when the faculty member is undergoing their sixth year review (see III.B.
below).
In the case of financial constraints or demonstrable overstaffing of departments, the dean or the
provost and vice president for academic affairs may require that the number of probationary tenurable
and nontenurable faculty members in the department be reduced.
Faculty members who were appointed as instructors with the expectation that the terminal degrees would
be completed may not be reappointed before the award of the degree unless prior approval has been
obtained from the provost and vice president for academic affairs. (See the Board of Visitors Policy on
Academic Rank and Criteria for Ranks.)
If the critical requirements of the position of a probationary tenurable faculty member are changed so
as to affect the primary duties expected of the faculty member, and hence his or her consideration for
tenure, the faculty member shall be fully and promptly informed of the changes in writing at least one
semester before the changes are implemented.
- Procedures
- Reappointment or Nonreappointment of Probationary Tenure-Track Faculty[1]
The departmental promotion and tenure committee and all subsequent persons considering the case
will take into consideration the formal evaluations of the faculty member's performance by
the chair (unless the faculty member evaluated is the chair) and the dean, faculty information
sheets, and any other relevant data, as well as the needs of the department.
These procedures will be suitably adapted for faculty members who hold interdisciplinary,
interdepartmental or joint appointments or who hold appointments in a department with two or
fewer tenured faculty members. The adapted procedures should be recommended by the promotion and
tenure committee of the college or colleges involved and approved by the dean or deans concerned
and the provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Each department conducts an annual review of the probationary tenure-track faculty in that
department (including the chair if untenured). This review is based on the performance of the
individual faculty member and the needs of the department and is initially conducted by a
committee consisting of tenured members of the department.
- The departmental promotion and tenure committee recommends to the chair (or the dean in case the
faculty member being evaluated is the chair) one of the following actions:
That the faculty member be considered for tenure through normal channels, if a
sufficient probationary period has elapsed. (In this case, the faculty member is
considered for tenure through the normal tenure procedures, and the remainder of this
section does not apply.)
That the faculty member be offered an additional annual contract without tenure. That the faculty member not be reappointed, that is, not be offered an additional
contract if in the first or second year of service or offered a terminal contract for
the succeeding year if in the third or subsequent year of service.
A copy of the committee's recommendation shall be supplied to the faculty member
with reasons for the recommendation for appointment or nonreappointment.
Considering the written recommendation of this committee, the performance of the faculty member
and the needs of the department, the chair (unless she or he is the faculty member being
evaluated) makes a recommendation to the dean concerning reappointment or nonreappointment of
each individual probationary tenure-track faculty member and provides the faculty member with a
copy of the recommendation.
- Considering the recommendation of the departmental promotion and tenure committee and of the
chair (unless she or he is the faculty member being evaluated) as well as the needs of the
college, the dean makes a decision concerning reappointment or nonreappointment of each
individual probationary tenure-track faculty member, notifies that faculty member in writing of
this decision, and provides the faculty member and the provost and vice president for academic
affairs with a copy of the decision letter.
If the dean decides not to reappoint a faculty member, the faculty member may request a
review by the provost and vice president for academic affairs. The decision of the
provost and vice president for academic affairs is final.
- Notice of the dean's decision concerning reappointment or nonreappointment of
probationary tenure-track faculty members shall be according to the following schedule:
Not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service. Not later than December 15 of the second academic year of service. Terminating appointment of one year, with notice by December 15, after two or
more academic years of service.
- Reappointment or Nonreappointment of Nontenure-track Faculty
- Each department conducts an annual review of all nontenure-track faculty members in that
department. This review is based on the performance of the individual faculty member and the
needs of the department.
For lecturers and clinical assistant professors, this review is conducted by a committee
consisting of tenured members of the department and master lecturers and clinical
professors followed by the department chair and dean.
For senior lecturers and master lecturers, the annual review is conducted by the chair
followed by the dean. In lieu of this annual review, and if not applying for promotion,
every six years senior lecturers and master lecturers will instead undergo an in-depth
evaluation that is initially conducted by a committee consisting of tenured members of
the department followed by the chair and dean.
For clinical associate professors and clinical professors, the annual review is
conducted by the chair followed by the dean. In lieu of this annual review, and if not
applying for promotion, every six years clinical associate professors and clinical
professors will instead undergo an in-depth evaluation that is initially conducted by a
committee consisting of tenured members of the department followed by the chair and
dean.
For faculty of practice (any rank) the annual review is conducted by a committee
consisting of tenured members of the department followed by the department chair and
dean.
- For lecturers, faculty of practice, and clinical assistant professors and for all
nontenure-track faculty undergoing an in-depth sixth-year evaluation, the departmental committee
recommends to the chair one of the following actions:
That the faculty member be offered an additional annual contract. That the faculty member not be reappointed, that is, not be offered an additional annual
contract.
A copy of the committee's recommendation shall be supplied to the faculty member with
reasons for the recommendation for appointment or nonreappointment.
Considering the written recommendation of this committee (in case section 2.b. above applies),
the performance of the faculty member, and the needs of the department, the chair makes a
recommendation to the dean concerning reappointment or nonreappointment of each individual
nontenure-track faculty member and provides the faculty member with a copy of the
recommendation.
- Considering the recommendations of the departmental committee (in case section 2.b. above
applies) and of the chair, as well as the needs of the college, the dean makes a decision
concerning reappointment or nonreappointment of each individual nontenure-track faculty member
and notifies each faculty member of this decision. If the decision is not to reappoint the
faculty member, the dean provides the faculty member and the provost and vice president for
academic affairs with a copy of the decision letter.
If the dean decides not to reappoint a faculty member, the faculty member may request a
review by the provost and vice president for academic affairs. The decision of the
provost and vice president for academic affairs is final.
- Notice of the dean's decision concerning reappointment or nonreappointment of
nontenurable faculty members shall be according to the following schedule:
Not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service. Not later than December 15 of the second or subsequent academic year of
service.
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