Southern Polytechnic State University
Policy and Procedure Manual
P&P Number:  803.0904

Original Date: January, 1997
Previous Revision: Sept. 27, 1999
Approved: March 10, 2006

 

 

Pre-Tenure Review

 


Contents

This P&P includes the following main sections:

  • Background
  • Schedule for Review
  • Criteria
  • Peer Committee Review
  • Comments

 


Background

A formal review of the progress made toward promotion and tenure will be made during the third year (typically the midpoint toward tenure consideration) so that untenured tenure-track faculty members have a clear idea of how well they are progressing toward successfully achieving tenure. This review will be conducted by the departmental peer committee in March. The documents created will be used in the annual department review for that year.

This process is intended to counsel untenured tenure-track faculty before they come up for tenure.  It may also be used for advising candidates for promotion to Associate Professor.

 


Schedule for Review

The following schedule should be followed for pre-tenure review depending on the amount of probationary credit granted at the time of initial appointment to a tenure-track position.

a.  For persons granted three years of credit, there shall be no formal pre-tenure review.

b.  Those with two years of credit will be evaluated in their first year.

c.  Those with one year of credit will be evaluated in their second year.

d.  Those with no credit will be evaluated in their third year.

e. A leave-of-absence is not counted in the schedule described above.

 


Criteria

The criteria established for promotion and tenure serve as the basis for pre-tenure reviews. The pre-tenure review package shall consist of the following:

1. Pre-tenure review cover sheet.

2. Resume of the faculty member including a list of courses taught at Southern Polytechnic.

3. A narrative statement describing the faculty member's activities, accomplishments, and plans for the future in the context of the criteria for the tenure.

4. Results of student evaluations for each year the faculty member has been teaching at Southern Polytechnic. Additional documentation of teaching effectiveness may also be submitted.

5. Assessment by the department peer committee addressing the appropriate criteria for tenure.

6. Assessment by the Department Chair addressing the appropriate criteria for tenure.

 

 


Peer Committee Review

After the department peer committee reviews the assembled package, the committee will write a pre-tenure review report that provides a sound assessment of the faculty member’s progress to date and specific suggestions for continued progress. The committee report along with the pre-tenure review package is sent to the appropriate Department Chair for comments.  The Department Chair adds comments and forwards the packet to the appropriate Dean for comments  The Dean then transmits the packet and all comments to the Vice President for Academic Affairs. After the VPAA has added comments, the Vice President shall send the reports and comments to the faculty member with copies to the appropriate Dean and Department Chair.  A copy of the faculty member’s pre-tenure review package will also be retained in the Office of Academic Affairs.  At this point, the faculty member may respond in writing to the reports and comments, if desired.

 

 


Comments

A favorable review is not a guarantee that tenure will be awarded when the required years in rank are served. Where progress has not been satisfactory at the time of the pre-tenure review, the Department Chair and faculty member will develop an action plan to address noted deficiencies. If the Department Chair and faculty member cannot agree on an action plan, the Dean will serve as the arbitrator and finalize an action plan. Completion of the action plan is not a guarantee of tenure.