Memorandum: Guidelines on the Timeline for Tenure Consideration

To: Academic Deans, Directors, and Department Heads
From: Susan Martin
Re: Guidelines on the Timeline for Tenure Consideration
Date: February 14, 2007

This memo outlines a new approach to the timeline for tenure consideration for faculty appointments. These guidelines have been discussed by the Council of Deans and reviewed by the deans prior to distribution to this list. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about these guidelines or their application.

Faculty hired on the tenure track as assistant professors will be granted the full probationary period of seven years with tenure consideration in the sixth year. (The wording in the offer letter states that we will consider the person “no later than year X” with X = 6th year.) Faculty hired on the tenure track at other ranks who have not previously earned tenure will receive the same probationary period.

In cases of extraordinary accomplishment, individuals will be able to present themselves for tenure consideration prior to the sixth year with the approval of the department head and after the head’s consultation with the tenured faculty of the unit and with the dean. Only faculty demonstrating outstanding achievement in expectations for rank will be recommended for early consideration.

Those candidates not receiving favorable consideration during an early tenure review will have the opportunity to present themselves again for tenure within the terms of the offer letter (i.e., the last opportunity will be in the T&P cycle of year six, see above).