External Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

  • I’m going through contract reappointment for a 3-year contract – will I go through external review?
  • No. Only faculty members being evaluated for a 5-year or 10-year contract go through external review.
  • I’m currently going through a mid ten-year review. Do I need to go through external review?
  • No. External review is only for faculty members going through an evaluation for a new 5-year or 10-year contract or applying for rank promotion
  • I’m employed under the salary scale system. Do I need to go through external review?
  • No.
  • How many external reviewers do I need?
  • Each faculty member is required to have 3 external reviews. One external reviewer is selected by the faculty member, one is selected by the Dean, and one is negotiated between the two. While the external review guideline document requires each faculty member to prepare a list of 5 potential external reviewers for his/her dean, this year that requirement will not be enacted. Deans are asked to work with the faculty to identify at least 3 external reviewers.
  • What if I know or have worked with the external reviewer?
  • Yes. Reviewers may be individuals who know the candidate through professional interactions. External reviewers may not be members of the UNCSA faculty or a current UNCSA employee or student, and should be selected so as to minimize the possibility of conflicts of interest; actual, potential, or apparent. Outside reviewers should not be selected from among those with whom the candidate has had familial or close personal relationships. Former UNCSA employees may be considered, so long as there is no familial or close personal relationship between the individual and the faculty member.
  • What type of biographical information on my external reviewers do I need to prepare for my Dean?
  • Candidates will use the External Reviewer Nomination Form for Rank Promotion to provide biographical information sufficient to provide an overview of the individual and why you believe they would be a good external reviewer. Information can be drawn from public sources such as websites, LinkedIn, etc. Recommendations should be accompanied by brief statements supporting the choices and stating any current or previous relationship. The statements should include brief bios of the proposed reviewers including their professional/artistic credentials, most recent professional accomplishments, and a summary of their creative activities and scholarly work.If a member of the faculty needs assistance with this process they can contact their Dean, Faculty Council, the Faculty Rank Committee, or the Office of Faculty Affairs. In the future, the Teaching and Learning Center will assist with this process.
  • Will I be able to see what my external reviewer writes about me?
  • Yes, the external reviews will be an open component of your portfolio/dossier. The external reviewer will be aware that this is an open process at the time that he/she writes your review.
  • What types of activities can external reviewers comment on?
  • External reviewers can be asked to evaluate any component of the faculty member’s professional activities, under the categories of service, teaching, and creative activity/research. An external reviewer must evaluate at least one of those categories, but may evaluate additional categories depending on their background.
  • Do external reviewers have to work at a college or university?
  • No. Given UNCSA’s mission, external reviewers could be employed by any number of agencies in a variety of sectors. Reviewers should be highly regarded and recognized professionals in the candidate's field and able to evaluate the quality, productivity, and significance of his/her professional activity.

External Reviews FAQ

Revised 4.13.16

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