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Policy on Conversion of a Non-Tenure Eligible Position to a Tenure-Eligible Position
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to establish a uniform procedure, including criteria, for the colleges and
departments/schools to follow when addressing the issue of the conversion of current faculty from non-tenure
eligible to tenure-eligible positions and appointment to the academic rank of assistant, associate or full
professor. The intent of the policy is to provide guidance for these actions that is consistent with the policy
on Academic Rank and Criteria for Ranks. Conversion from a non-tenure eligible to a tenure-eligible position
cannot be used to support recommendation for promotion or salary adjustment.
Criteria
If a faculty member who is appointed in a non-tenure eligible position meets the criteria listed below, he/she
may be considered for conversion to a tenure-eligible position and appointment to the rank of assistant,
associate or full professor. Must have been appointed to current position after a national search. Must have been appointed as a full-time faculty member for at least one academic year in a non-tenure
eligible position.
Must have a terminal degree in the field or its clear equivalent from an accredited institution of
higher education that supports the individual's role as a teaching and research faculty member.
Must provide evidence of demonstrated success in current teaching and research performance and positive
evaluation of future potential necessary to meet the criteria for tenure and promotion at Old Dominion
University, as evaluated by the department/school and college.
A current faculty member in a non-tenure eligible position can request conversion to a tenure-eligible
position that is below, at the same or higher rank than their current rank. For example, a research
associate professor can seek conversion to a tenure-track assistant, associate or full professor.
Selection of the post-conversion rank should be discussed with the department chair and dean and the
vice president for research (if applicable).
- Application, Review, Recommendation, and Approval Procedures
Faculty who are appointed in non-tenure eligible positions who meet the criteria for conversion to a
tenure-eligible assistant, associate, or professor position should discuss the matter with their
department/school chair and dean. In the case of research faculty with an appointment in a research center, this
process should also be discussed with the center director and needs approval from the relevant chair and dean as
well as the vice president for research for faculty in research centers that do not reside in an academic
college. Base funding for the converted position must be identified and committed before an application is
considered.
Prior to moving an application for conversion forward, the dean will confirm that the
candidate meets all the qualifications for the requested position and provide the following information in
his/her recommendation: (i) demonstrated need for a tenure-eligible faculty in the department/school, (ii)
justification for conversion instead of conducting a national search for the position, (iii) impact of the
conversion on teaching workload and/or research productivity in the department/school and college, (iv)
availability of funds in the department/school/college to support the position, (v) a statement that all
conversion eligible faculty in the department/school with pertinent background and expertise were given the
opportunity to apply, (vi) a statement that the applicant has been informed that if his/her application is
successful he/she must remain in rank for at least four years before being considered for tenure and/or
promotion, and (vii) an acknowledgment that approval of the conversion request does not mean that the
department/school or college will receive an additional non-tenure track position as a replacement for the
converted position.
The guidance and procedure outlined below should be followed in the preparation and
submission of the application for conversion.
The application for conversion to a tenure-eligible position and appointment as an assistant, associate,
or full professor must include the following materials: a current vita, a personal statement, a teaching
portfolio that includes courses taught and student course evaluation data, and copies of scholarly work
completed within the past five years.
Faculty whose terminal degree is not awarded in their teaching discipline must present documentation, as
part of their application, that demonstrates that the degree and program of study is the clear
equivalent of a terminal degree in the field/discipline.
Faculty undergoing review for conversion do not need to submit annual evaluation materials during that
academic year.
With one exception, the normal procedures, as outlined in the Teaching and Research Faculty Handbook
policy on Academic Rank and Criteria for Ranks, are followed for consideration of appointment to
assistant, associate or full professor, which are tenure-eligible academic ranks. The exception is the
addition of external reviews of current research and research potential.
Three external individuals identified by the department/school chair selected from a list of six (three
provided by the department/school promotion and tenure committee and three provided by the candidate)
shall be invited to provide recommendations on the applicant's record of current research/creative
work and future potential. The candidate must identify any conflicts of interest with potential
reviewers. These reviews shall be submitted by the reviewers to the department/school chair.
- The review and approval process for the application to convert a faculty position from a tenure
ineligible to tenure eligible position shall be as follows. Approval is required at each level for the
review process to continue.
The department/school promotion and tenure committee reviews the application, including the
external reviews, for conversion to tenure-eligible status and submits its recommendation to the
department/school chair.
The department/school chair reviews the complete set of application
materials and the department/school promotion and tenure committee
recommendation and submits a recommendation along with the application
materials to the college promotion and tenure committee.
The college promotion and tenure committee reviews the application materials and prior
recommendations and submits the application and its recommendation to the college dean.
The college dean reviews the application materials and all prior recommendations and submits
them with a recommendation to the provost and vice president for academic affairs.
The provost and vice president for academic affairs reviews the application materials and all
previous recommendations and makes a final decision on the conversion to tenure-eligible status,
informing the candidate, department/school chair, college dean, and the president.
If approved, the conversion shall be effective with the beginning of the next academic year.
Faculty members whose conversion was denied will remain in their current position.
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