Procedure for Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure

*See Reappointment, Promotion, & Tenure Decisions Timeline with important deadlines below.

On or before May 15, a reminder email should be sent to faculty by the office of the VPAA to those who are due to submit portfolios for review in the fall. After receipt of faculty materials to review, the Promotion and Tenure Committee will meet to prepare its recommendations for the VPAA. In considering questions of reappointment, promotion, and tenure, the P&T Committee will first review the Faculty Data Form and Portfolio, the recommendations of the Peer Review Committee, recommendations of the Dean/Library Director, and the faculty member’s response to those recommendations, if any.
The P&T Committee may solicit additional information upon which to base its recommendations to the VPAA. This additional information may include summaries of student evaluations and the comments of other faculty, students, and administrative staff who are familiar with the faculty member’s contributions to the College. When information not contained on the Faculty Data Form is solicited or utilized by the P&T Committee, the faculty member concerned shall be notified and presented with an opportunity to respond, orally, or in writing, to that additional information.
After the Promotion and Tenure Committee has completed its review, the Chairperson sends its recommendations concerning reappointment, promotion, and tenure to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, along with a rationale for each decision. The Chairperson of the P&T Committee will then meet with the VPAA to discuss the recommendations, including any discrepancies. The VPAA may request to meet with the entire P&T Committee.
The VPAA contacts the faculty members under review to provide them the decision of the P&T Committee and the VPAA’s recommendation.
Faculty who wish to appeal the recommendations of the P&T Committee and/or the VPAA may appeal to the Professional Standards Committee. The faculty member may institute an appeal by submitting a request for a Professional Standards Committee hearing, in writing, to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. The request for a hearing must be submitted within three weeks after receipt of the Vice President for Academic Affairs’ decision described in the preceding paragraph.
Upon receipt of a request for a Professional Standards Committee hearing, the Vice President for Academic Affairs shall formally convene the Professional Standards Committee.
The Professional Standards Committee convenes as outlined in the Grievance and Due Process section and sends its recommendation to the faculty member, Chair of the P&T Committee and the VPAA according to the timeline given.
The VPAA, after reviewing the materials submitted by the Promotion and Tenure Committee and the Professional Standards Committee (if necessary), makes a decision about the recommendation for reappointment, tenure and/or promotion of the faculty under consideration and communicates that decision to the President and the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees in writing.
The P&T Committee recommendation, as well as any decision of the Professional Standards Committee (if present), are included with the VPAA’s written recommendation to the President and Board of Trustees.
The Board of Trustees makes a decision about each candidate in the spring semester.
The Vice President for Academic Affairs shall then notify each faculty member, by letter, of the decision regarding reappointment, promotion, and/or tenure. Where the decision is negative or contrary to the recommendation of the PRC on the Faculty Data Form, the Vice President for Academic Affairs’ letter shall also include the rationale for the decision, as submitted by the Promotion and Tenure Committee, the VPAA, or the Board of Trustees.

Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Decisions Timeline

REAPPOINTMENT TIMELINES
DEADLINE	FOR FACULTY IN THEIR FIRST YEAR
January 25	After consultation with the Dean/Chair, VPAA makes recommendation for appointment or non-reappointment by this date. VPAA sends letters to the faculty who are recommended for non-reappointment with a written rationale.
February 15	Deadline for faculty member to submit a written appeal to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
March 30	VPAA makes recommendation on faculty appointment or non-reappointment to the Board of Trustees prior to the March meeting. The Board’s decision is communicated to the faculty member by this date.
DEADLINE	FOR NON-TENURED FACULTY BEYOND THE FIRST YEAR
December 1	The Promotion and Tenure Committee submits their recommendation for non-reappointment to the VPAA.
December 8	The VPAA either confirms or rejects this recommendation. If the VPAA rejects the recommendation, they return the recommendation to the Committee with a written rationale.
December 15	Letters of termination of appointment are sent to the faculty member by the Vice President for Academic Affairs, including a rationale. The faculty member has until January 5th to request an appeal. The faculty member’s written request for an appeal is sent to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
January 5	Requests for an appeal hearing must be submitted by this date.
February 15	The Professional Standards Committee recommendation is due to the VPAA, Promotion and Tenure Committee and the faculty member.
February 28	Deadline for P&T Committee’s final recommendation to the VPAA following the Professional Standard Committee’s review. The VPAA makes recommendation on faculty appointment or non-reappointment to the Board of Trustees prior to the March meeting.
March 30	The Board’s decisions are communicated to faculty members under review by this date.

Promotion and/or Tenure Timeline

DEADLINE	ACTION
February 1	The Promotion and Tenure Committee submits their recommendations to the VPAA.
February 8	The VPAA contacts the faculty members under review to provide them the decision of the P&T Committee and the VPAA’s recommendation.
March 1	The faculty member may institute an appeal by submitting a request for a Professional Standards Committee hearing, in writing, to the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
March 11	The Professional Standards Committee recommendation to the VPAA, P&T Committee and faculty member is due.
March 18	Deadline for P&T Committee’s final recommendation to the VPAA following the Professional Standard Committee’s review. The VPAA makes recommendation on faculty appointment or non-reappointment to the Board of Trustees prior to the March meeting.
March 30	The Board’s decision is communicated to the faculty member by this date.