Reappointment
The Chair ensures that two (2) peer evaluations of teaching are performed each year for each probationary Faculty member. A written report of the evaluation is submitted to the Chair for placement in the Faculty member’s reappointment file. After the Ad Hoc RTP Committee makes reappointment recommendations, the Chair independently assesses the accomplishments of each probationary Faculty member and forwards that recommendation, and the committee's recommendation, to the Dean. The Chair informs probationary Faculty of the committee's recommendation and provides a copy of the Chair’s recommendation to the Dean. Probationary Faculty members who are not to be reappointed must be notified according to the schedule established in the CBA. For Faculty members whose appointment is in the Regional Campuses, recommendations on reappointment from the Chair are forwarded to the Dean and the appropriate Regional Campus Dean.
For probationary Faculty, reappointment is contingent upon demonstration of adequate progress toward the criteria for tenure. Moreover, the Faculty member must have established and articulated short and long term plans for achieving these goals. For Faculty members following the traditional tenure clock for Assistant Professors, the review after completion of three (3) full years in the probationary period at 5X is particularly critical.
After completion of the third year of the probationary period, assessments of a candidate for reappointment should consider the record of achievement in the areas of Scholarship, Teaching, and University Citizenship, with reference to progress towards the levels displayed in Tables 2, 3 and 4 that are used for Promotion and Tenure. These standards and tools should be used for developmental assistance and projection of future success in achieving tenure and promotion. In weighing against such performance levels, it is to be clearly acknowledged that an early-career Faculty will not normally have had time to build up a career profile that meets all criteria for Tenure and Promotion.
Specific concerns expressed by the Ad Hoc RTP Committee and/or the Chair during this stage of the probationary period should be addressed by the candidate in subsequent reappointment reviews. Finally, the overall evaluation of a candidate for reappointment must include consideration of the Faculty member's personal integrity and professional behavior as recognized by the University community. A sound ethical approach to all aspects of teaching, research, publication, and the academic profession is expected of all who seek, and judge, reappointment in the Department. A candidate who fails to demonstrate likely success in the tenure process will be notified promptly that she/he will not be reappointed.
In the event that concerns about a candidate’s performance are raised during the reappointment process, the Ad Hoc RTP Committee and the Chair shall provide detailed, prescriptive comments to serve as constructive feedback. If such concerns arise during a review that occurs after completion of three (3) full years in the probationary period, the Chair, in consultation with the FAC, will advise and work with the candidate on a suitable, positive plan for realignment with the Department’s tenure and promotion expectations; however, the candidate is solely responsible for her/his success in implementing this plan.
From time to time, personal and/or family circumstances may arise that require an untenured Faculty member to need to request that her/his probationary period be extended. Upon request, a Faculty member may be granted an extension of the probationary period, which has been traditionally called “tolling” or “stopping the tenure clock.” The University policy and procedures governing modification of the Faculty probationary period is included in the University Policy Register (Section 3342-6-13).
For Faculty members whose appointment is in the Regional Campuses, recommendations on reappointment from the Chair are forwarded to the Dean and the appropriate Regional Campus Dean. Department criteria are used to assess Department Faculty who are assigned to the Regional Campuses; however, due to differences in the missions of the Kent and Regional Campuses and differences in the nature of Faculty appointments on the Kent and Regional Campuses, the weighting of the categories of scholarship, teaching and University citizenship for Regional Campus Faculty in the Department is established by the Regional Campus to which the Faculty members is assigned. Thus, the Kent Campus Ad Hoc RTP Committee and Chair will provide recommendations based on the Department criteria, as weighted by the Regional Campus.
To this end, Regional Campus Faculty should ensure that a copy of their particular campus handbook weighting of criteria are included with the Reappointment, Tenure, and/or Promotion materials submitted to the Department for evaluation.