Departmental Promotion and Tenure Committees

Policy Statement

Each department should constitute a Promotion and Tenure Committee of at least three senior faculty members for the purpose of:

• reviewing all faculty members not of professorial rank on non-tenure tracks every three years with respect to academic promotion. The outcome of this review must be provided to the faculty member and departmental chairman and included in the faculty member's Annual Assessment for the year in which it took place.
• conducting formal mid-course reviews of all tenure-track faculty members during the third year of the probationary period. This review must provide the faculty member and departmental chairman with a written assessment of progress towards obtaining tenure and the outcome of this review must be included in the faculty member's Annual Assessment for that year. A copy must be forwarded to the Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs.
• conducting formal reviews of tenure-track faculty members during the fifth year of the probationary period. This review must provide a written assessment and be included as part of the application for tenure in the Fall of the sixth year of the probationary period.
• preparing a formal annual report concerning promotion and tenure issues for inclusion in the departmental annual report.
• the departmental promotion and tenure committee also must review all new appointments at the Associate Professor level or higher. That recommendation must be forwarded to the School of Medicine Promotion and Tenure committee with the candidate's packet.

Membership

The department chair should ensure the Committee consists of at least three senior faculty members with appropriate expertise and experience. Smaller departments should contact Dr. Robert Klein for assistance in developing their departmental committee. Members are required to hold associate or professorial rank and must have been members of the department for at least five years. Qualified faculty members on all tracks and emeritus professors are eligible to serve on departmental promotion and tenure committees. Departmental chairs are not eligible to serve on departmental promotion and tenure committees. Professorial rank is required for review of faculty members seeking promotion to the rank of professor.

Provision for Assistance to Departments

All faculty members must be provided with review and assistance in promotion and tenure, regardless of the size or the faculty composition of their department of primary appointment. Departments unable to fulfill the above membership requirements will be assisted by development of a schoolwide group of experienced senior faculty members who are willing to serve on departmental committees. The Associate Dean for Professional Development and Faculty Affairs will assist department chairs in soliciting this service.

Conduct of Reviews

The School of Medicine does not mandate the format of reviews but it is recommended that the documentation and process closely follow that of the institution for academic promotion and award of tenure in order to familiarize and prepare faculty members for this process. Confidentiality and professionalism are required in the conduct of all business by departmental or school promotion and tenure committees.

7/31/2007