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Promotion and Tenure

UD Faculty Affairs Website

College Policy on Promotion and Tenure, College of Arts and Sciences

Approved by Arts and Science Faculty Senate 

FEBRUARY 24,1998

REVISED NOVEMBER 17, 2003

This statement of policy on promotions and tenure is to be regarded as a supplement to the current University policy. It focuses upon the specific and unique aspects of the process in the College of Arts and Science.

Department Criteria

The Dean of the College and the College of Arts and Science Faculty Senate Committee on Promotions and Tenure maintain a continuing check on departmental criteria for Promotions and tenure and notify departments when criteria for Promotions and tenure are too vague or do not conform with College and University policies. The Committee will publish its policies and practices and distribute the document to each department of the College.

Schedule

The time schedule for the promotion process is:

30 April
Candidate notifies chair of intention to apply for promotion in writing. Departmental Promotions and Tenure Committee begins the process of soliciting peer evaluations.

1 September   
Dossier to Department Committee and Chairperson.

1 October Department’s recommendation to the Chairperson.

15 OctoberChairperson’s recommendation to the College Committee and Dean.

1 DecemberCollege Committee’s recommendation to the Dean.

2 January Dean’s recommendation to the University Promotions and Tenure Committee.

15 February University Promotions and Tenure Committee recommendations to Provost.

15 MarchProvost’s recommendations.

Appeals are possible at every level. An intention to appeal must be given to the appropriate body within five working days of notification of the decision. Appeals must be handled within two weeks, except under extenuating circumstances. The University Faculty Senate Committee on Promotions and Tenure will hear no appeals beyond March 1, and the Provost’s Office will hear no appeals beyond April 15. Any appeals not heard by these dates must be carried over to the following academic year. Whenever possible, these dates should be anticipated and dossiers forwarded (with recommendations) at an earlier date. (Note, candidates can be required to submit dossiers before September 1 only if specified by department policy.)

College of Arts and Science Faculty Senate Committee on Promotions and Tenure

Selection

The Committee and the Chair of the Committee are appointed by the President of the Senate with the approval of the Senate Steering Committee and ratification of the College Senate. The Committee should be composed of a group of seven knowledgeable faculty who roughly represent the three major areas of Arts and Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Natural Sciences and Mathematics in the College. It must include members from both sexes.

The Committee on Promotions and Tenure, as a Senate standing committee, shall deal with the questions of policy and procedure within its respective area. The Committee shall be free to take up matters within its jurisdiction on its own initiative.

The normal term of office on the Committee is two years with no more than a bare majority appointed each year. A Committee member who is unable to continue to serve shall be replaced by the President of the Senate with the approval of the Senate Steering Committee with an individual who will complete the term.

The Committee shall function from the date of confirmation by the Senate through October 15 of the following year, or until confirmation of new Committee membership, whichever comes earlier. 

Charge to the College Committee (from the College Bylaws and Senate documents)

 The Committee will conduct an independent review of the merits of the dossiers forwarded to it with the department’s decision concerning a candidate being an important component of that review. The committee is charged with representing the entire faculty of the College in studying recommendations for compliance with departmental criteria. As such, it must take a broader perspective of the criteria and how they are satisfied.

 The Committee on Promotions and Tenure’s jurisdiction shall include the following and related matters:

  • Maintaining a continuing check on departmental criteria for Promotions and . tenure and notifying departments when criteria are vague or insufficient;
  • Representing the faculty of the College of Arts and Science in reviewing dossiers with regard to Promotions and tenure, forwarded for its attention by departments. or candidates, for compliance with stated departmental criteria;
  • In carrying out its duties, the Committee will, upon reaching each decision, communicate that decision to the Dean in writing, with copies of the communication to the Dean sent to the candidate and department. In the communication to the Dean the Committee will state the reasons for the decision and indicate the numerical vote.
  • In those instances in which the Dean believes the Committee’s recommendation is unclear, or the case is especially complex, or in which the Dean has reached a decision in opposition to that reached by a majority of the committee, the Dean shall meet with the committee for consultation before the Dean’s recommendation is made known. 

Appeal

Candidates who wish to appeal five working days following receipt of the Committee’s decision. The Committee will schedule hearings within two weeks which will be conducted by the Chair of the Committee. Evidence in support of the appeal must be submitted to the Committee prior to the hearing, and the Committee will cast a second vote after the hearing.

The Dean of the College

The Dean of the College is responsible for seeing to it that the goals of the College are defined and met. As a corollary to this, the Dean is responsible for the standards set for the faculty of the College. The decisions made on promotions must be consistent with these standards and goals. The methods used to make the decisions must be ones which are fair and open and thus enhance the morale and development of the faculty as a whole.

The Dean’s review of Promotions and tenure dossiers includes not only a judgment of the degree to which the candidate has met the criteria of the department. The Dean will render an opinion equally just to the candidate and to the College and University whose standards it is the Dean’s responsibility to interpret.

The Dean will review the dossiers concurrent with the College Committee. The Dean should consult, as appropriate, with the Associate Deans) of the College.

Upon reaching a decision the Dean will communicate the decision in writing, giving reasons for the decision, to the University Committee on Promotions and Tenure and to the Provost, with copies of the communication to the candidate, the department, and the College committee.

In those instances in which the Dean believes the committee’s recommendation is unclear, or the case is especially complex, or in which the Dean has reached a decision in opposition to that reached by a majority of the committee, the Dean shall meet with the committee for consultation before the Dean’s recommendation is made known.

Appeal

Candidates who wish to appeal the decision of the Dean must notify the Dean in writing no later than five working days following receipt of the Dean’s decision. The Dean will schedule a hearing within two weeks with the candidate and, if appropriate, others involved in the appeal. Evidence in support of the appeal must be submitted to the Dean prior to the hearing, and, after the hearing the Dean will determine whether or not to change the recommendation.

November 17, 2003 – Change approved by the faculty senate and added to the College of Arts and Sciences ByLaws to increase the number of members on the Promotion and Tenure Committee from 5 to 7 to ensure a balance of expertise.