PPM8-11, III, C Tenure Review Process

December 6, 2012 Revision

III. TENURE REVIEW

1. A. Definitions and Eligibility

The University shall extend tenure to approved members of the teaching faculty who are holders of tenure track appointments and to certain others as hereafter defined. Tenure track appointments shall be given only to those faculty who, at the time of such appointment, meet the minimum degree requirements specified below in this policy.

Appointment to a tenured position is considered permanent and not subject to termination or substantial reduction in status without cause, provided that in all cases the services of an individual in that position continue to be needed and that funds are available to pay them.

Granting tenure implies a commitment by the University. Likewise, the faculty member who is granted tenure makes an equally strong commitment to serve students, colleagues, their discipline and the University in a manner befitting an academic person. It also raises a strong presumption that those granted tenure are competent in their disciplines and are capable of scholarly contributions. It is, therefore, imperative that a responsible screening process be followed before such commitments are made to insure selection of the most competent candidates.

Any faculty member or administrator may petition the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the Faculty Senate to consider changes in tenure policy. Petitioners for tenure policy changes in a particular college must invite comments from faculty, the department chair and the dean of that college.

A tenured instructor specialist may move to another tenure bearing rank. However, this constitutes a move to a new position. Tenure is neither retained in the old position nor automatically transferred to the new position. Years of service may be negotiated at the time of the move.

B. Minimum Degree Requirements

The following minimum degree requirements have been established for each department. Although higher standards may be desirable, no departmental criteria will be approved which fall below these minimums.

1. For the colleges of Education, Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Attainment of the earned doctorate in the discipline of primary responsibility. In the event a doctorate is not the general recognized terminal degree in a candidate’s discipline, a doctorate in a closely related discipline (as approved in writing by the provost in consultation with the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee and the appropriate dean) shall be required.

2. For the school of Business and Economics and the college of Arts and Humanities, the requirement specified in (1) shall be required with the following exceptions (which represent equivalency):

Business Administration - An earned Juris Doctorate accompanied by a master’s degree in a related business field will be considered equivalent to the earned doctorate for those whose primary responsibility is in the area of business law.

Accounting - An earned Juris Doctorate accompanied by (1) a master’s in accounting or (2) a B.S. in accounting and an M.B.A. will be considered equivalent to the earned doctorate for those whose primary responsibility is in the area of taxation and/or accounting law.

Information Systems & Technologies - An earned doctorate in the field (e.g., Systems Management Information Systems, Computer Information Systems, Information Systems) or equivalent, the latter to be satisfied by either (1) an earned doctorate in a related field of business or (2) an earned doctorate in a field outside the traditional areas of business with a graduate business degree; plus, in either case,

a. relevant, practical experience in Computer Information Systems, or

b. additional educational training sufficient to demonstrate competency and currency in the field.

Logistics - An earned doctorate in logistics or in a related field with evidence of completed graduate course work in logistics. A Juris Doctorate with relevant experience for those whose primary teaching responsibility is in contracting and procurement.

Visual Arts - The recognized and accepted terminal degree is the M.F.A. for studio areas including: ceramics, drawing, jewelry and metals, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, weaving and textiles, and graphic design.

Performing Arts - The recognized and accepted terminal degree is the M.F.A. in the following disciplines: costume design, scene design, lighting design, technical directing, dance, acting, and directing.

English - A recognized and accepted terminal degree is the M.F.A. for the area of creative writing.

3. For the Dr. Ezekiel R. Dumke College of Health Professions:

Attainment of the earned doctorate in Health Professions or master’s degree in the field or related discipline, plus current professional certification or license within the candidate’s primary area of responsibility.

4. For the College of Applied Science & Technology:

For Computer Science and Telecommunications/Business Education, attainment of the earned doctorate plus two years of experience or a master’s degree plus five years of experience and appropriate certification; for Automotive Technology, Construction Management Technology, the Engineering Technologies, and Sales and Service Technology, attainment of the earned doctorate plus two years of experience or a master’s degree plus five years of experience. All degrees and experience must be in approved fields/competencies and at appropriate levels, as outlined in the college promotion and tenure policy.

5. For the Stewart Library:

Attainment of the master's of Library Science or its equivalent from a program accredited by the American Library Association.

C. Tenure Review Process

Weber State University shall maintain review procedures to evaluate and record the progress of probationary faculty members toward tenure. Full evaluations shall be made during the third and sixth probationary years. In exceptional cases, the tenure review process may be temporarily suspended (one may leave and re-enter at the same point), upon recommendation by the department chair and the dean, in consultation with the provost. If and when such a request is granted, the conditions of the extension shall be explained in writing by the dean with a copy to the provost. A faculty member, their department chair, the dean or the provost may also request an additional review in other probationary years. A progress report, including written evaluations of a non-tenured faculty member, shall be placed in the file of the faculty member recording the findings of the review and shall be transmitted to the faculty member. The faculty member shall be given appropriate opportunity to discuss strengths, weaknesses, goals, etc. at each review level.

In addition, in the second year of a candidate’s progress toward tenure, the department chair will do an assessment of the candidate’s progress. This assessment may be done with or without the assistance of a departmental committee at the sole discretion of the department chair. The candidate’s teaching, service and scholarship shall be evaluated and an overall written assessment of progress made. The department chair shall send a written report to the candidate and the candidate’s dean and shall submit the report for inclusion in the candidate’s professional file. There is no evaluation beyond the department level. When candidates in their second year of progress toward tenure are either to be evaluated in that year for promotion or have requested an additional review, the department chair may choose to let that promotion evaluation serve in place of the second year assessment of progress toward tenure.

During the third and sixth years of the probationary period, and other years when requested, the full review process shall include evaluation by the dean and the ranking tenure evaluation committees at the levels of the department and the college. At his/ her sole discretion, the provost may review and make separate recommendations for or against a candidate’s tenure or evaluation of a candidate’s progress towards tenure. An exception is that in the event that there is a conflict among recommendations from the dean, the college Tenure Evaluation Committee and the department Tenure Evaluation Committee, the provost must make a separate recommendation. Furthermore, after the Department Tenure Evaluation Committee, the College Tenure Evaluation Committee, and the dean have completed their respective reviews, the candidate may request an additional review by the University Tenure Evaluation Committee. The University Committee evaluates the substantive issues of teaching, scholarship, service and ethics. The University Committee shall review the files of all candidates for advancement in rank or tenure who request such a review (see 8-19A). The recommendation(s) of the University Committee will be forwarded to the provost. The provost makes the final institutional recommendation unless overturned by the president or the Faculty Board of Review, as is the dean’s recommendation when the provost makes no recommendation. All these reviews shall follow established procedures allowing for formal evaluative contributions from students, faculty peers, and supervisory administrators and shall give faculty members under review written evaluations with the right of due process review by the Faculty Board of Review (as described in PPM 9-9 through 9-17).

Faculty members who have been granted extensions of the probationary period beyond the normal six years shall annually be subject to formal review the subsequent year.  For those faculty members who have been granted reductions in the normal probationary period of six years under the policies described in PPM 8-23 and/or 8-24 herein, a determination shall be made by the dean during the first year of appointment on the tenure track with respect to the proper scheduling of the formal review process. The findings of that determination shall be placed in writing in the candidate’s professional file described in PPM 8-13.

D. Criteria for Granting Tenure

Each college has formulated a written policy statement, the college tenure document, containing the criteria to be used in tenure review. Review criteria in college tenure documents may be further specified in written department standards or department tenure documents. In that case, each department's tenure document will be considered as a part of the college tenure document. The criteria set in the department tenure documents must meet or exceed the criteria specified in the college tenure document. The approval process for new or revised department standards or department tenure documents needs to be specified in the college tenure document. Department standards or department tenure documents shall be used in conjunction with the college tenure document when reviewing and evaluating a candidate's materials at every level or review (peer review, department, college, dean, university, provost). A college tenure document must include (1) the criteria, consistent with the minimum criteria outlined below; (2) the rationale for the criteria; and (3) the method for measuring performance with respect to the criteria.

Any change in the college tenure document shall be submitted through the dean to the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee for analysis and recommendation to the Faculty Senate. Upon the approval of the Faculty Senate, the revision in the college tenure document shall be forwarded to the provost. Upon approval by the provost and Board of Trustees, the changed college tenure document will be considered adopted. The date of the final approval of the college tenure document will be affixed to the policy statement, and that date will be considered as the effective date. Thereafter, the approved and dated college tenure document will apply until any revision is channeled through the steps outlined herein and a new effective date is affixed. Copies of the approved revised college tenure document will be on file in the offices of the department chair, the dean, the Faculty Senate and the provost and will be accessible online at the provost homepage.

Minimum criteria include:

1. A rating consistent with college standards in teaching. Teaching activities may include instruction, laboratory activities, supervising projects, preparation of course materials and other types of teaching activities.

2. A rating consistent with college standards in professional activities such as research and other contributions to knowledge, leadership in professional organizations, and active pursuit of professional competence.

3. A rating consistent with college standards in service, which includes professionally related community service as well as service to the institution, i.e., service on department, college or other University committees and task forces; student advisement; and other types of service.

4. Adherence to professional ethics.

5. Possession of terminal degree as defined above.

6. A rating consistent with college standards in other criteria stated in specific college documents, such as professionally related experience.