Appointments, Promotions and Tenure

Tenure Decision Year

The designation of the Tenure Decision Year shall be made prior to the fourth month of the initial appointment on the Tenure Track. This shall be done by written agreement of the faculty member, Department Chair, Dean and Chancellor’s designee for Academic Affairs. At the time of initial appointment to the Tenure Track, the number of years of credit toward the probationary period shall be determined for faculty members who, subsequent to the attainment of the terminal degree, have had an academic appointment at other academic institution or who have had equivalent professional experience, or who have transferred from the non-Tenure Track.

Extensions of the Tenure Decision Year

The Tenure Decision Year may be altered, upon written agreement of the faculty member, Department Chair, the Dean and the Chancellor’s designee for Academic Affairs, in the following circumstances:

i. When a Tenure-Track faculty member is named to either a full‑time or part‑time (i.e., greater than or equal to one half‑time) administrative position which would restrict opportunity for scholarly and professional activity, the duration of the administrative appointment shall not be included in the probationary period.

ii. Faculty who have been assigned substantial clinical duties during their tenure probationary period or who have been absent for extended period(s) on approved personal leave, the total tenure probationary period may be extended to a maximum of twelve (12) years. Faculty requests for such extensions require concurrence of the department chair and the Chancellor or his/her designee for Academic Affairs. Faculty requests for such extensions shall not be unreasonably refused and shall not adversely affect the outcome of the final tenure decision.

iii. When a Tenure-Track faculty member is granted a leave without pay (see Article 13), the time spent on leave will not be included in the probationary period (except in unusual circumstances agreed to in writing at the time the leave is approved), and shall not be credited towards eligibility for sabbatical leave. (See Article 12).

iv. When a Tenure-Track faculty member, with the approval of the Department Chair (in schools with departments), the Dean and the Chancellor's designee for Academic Affairs temporarily transfers from full‑time to two‑thirds status or less, an adjustment of the tenure decision year may be negotiated.

v. In other compelling circumstances involving a request by the faculty member, and agreed upon by the Department Chair (in schools with departments), the Dean and the Chancellor's designee for Academic Affairs, the total tenure probationary period may be extended to a maximum of twelve (12) years.

If approved, the re-designated tenure decision year shall be set forth in a written agreement among the individual faculty member, the Department Chair, (in schools with departments), the Dean, and the Chancellor's designee for Academic Affairs.

Tenure review shall normally occur during the faculty member's tenure decision year, although in exceptional circumstances, an award of tenure may be considered prior thereto, as agreed upon by the faculty member and Department Chair (in schools with departments), and approved by the Dean and the Chancellor's designee for Academic Affairs.