Each fall semester, typically at the time of the APPR, an annual retention review of tenure-track faculty is conducted by the department head in consultation with the tenured faculty. The annual retention review process is designed to ensure that a tenure-track faculty member receives clear and timely feedback from the tenured faculty and the department head about their progress towards tenure.
Section 3.11.4.5 of the UTK Faculty Handbook provides more detail about the retention review process, including the expectation that all tenure-track faculty members have a formal mentor. See also Guidelines for Annual Retention Reviews for additional information.