Appointments, Promotions and Tenure

The Award of Tenure

The award of tenure can be made only by the President with the concurrence of the Board of Trustees. Except in unusual circumstances, consideration of a candidate for tenure shall be based on the following:

a. Convincing evidence of, and potential for continuing excellence in research, creative or scholarly activity and at least one of the following two areas: (1) education and (2) professional/academic service, with a minimum of strength in the third area, such as to demonstrate the possession of qualities appropriate to a member of the faculty occupying a permanent position; and

b. Compelling assurance of continuing development and achievement leading to considerable further contributions to the school, the campus and the University.

The Award of Tenure for Department Chairs and Deans

For Department Chairs or Deans who are recommended for appointment with tenure, the Chancellor shall consult with the Tenure Committee as to the credentials of the candidate for tenure, recognizing that the credentials of a prospective department chair or dean may differ from those of other tenure candidates who have been intensively involved in research. In such cases the Tenure Committee may consider the overall suitability of the candidate for tenure, including evidence of excellence in two of the three missions (e.g. research/scholarly activity, education and service/administration) and strength in the third mission. If, upon appropriate tenure review, a prospective Department Chair or Dean recommended for appointment with tenure is not awarded tenure, s/he may elect to either receive a terminal one year contract, or transfer from the Tenure Track to the Non‑Tenure Track.

Initial Appointments with Tenure

The criteria for an initial appointment with tenure shall be those established for the rank involved and those for the award of tenure as outlined above. Normally the award of tenure at the time of initial appointment shall be limited to those who already hold tenure at another institution. For faculty who are recommended for tenure at the time of their initial appointment, the Tenure Committee shall be convened at the time an offer is made and two of the tenured members of the Search Committee shall be selected by the Tenure Committee to serve as internal ad hoc members of Committee; the requirement for an external ad hoc Tenure Committee member may then be waived. If, upon appropriate tenure review, a faculty member recommended for initial appointment with tenure is not awarded tenure, s/he may elect to either receive a terminal one year contract, or transfer from the Tenure Track to the Non‑Tenure Track.