Post-Tenure Review Process April/15

Post-Tenure Review Process April/15

Post-tenure review and evaluation of a person’s performance in the areas of professional activity commensurate with his/her academic rank (effectiveness as a teacher, advising, scholarly and professional attainment, and university and/or community service) shall be made at least every five years. The primary purpose of post-tenure review is to benefit the faculty member. The post-tenure review process should encourage development of professional goals, connect faculty to resources, and strengthen relationships with peers and administration. The post tenure review may be completed in two ways: a full review by the promotion and tenure committee for the purposes of being considered for promotion or by the process described below. A full-review by the promotion and tenure committee will “re-set” the clock for the post tenure review. Significant issues identified as part of this post tenure process, or separately from this process may result in additional reviews with the dean, programs of improvement, or other actions.

The outlined post tenure review process begins during the 5th year after tenure or last full review. The Vice President f Academic Affair’s office will notify the dean by September 15 of the review year. The review must be completed by May 15.

Steps of the Post Tenure Review Process:

1. Faculty Self-Assessment:

Annual reports are collected for all years since last promotion or post-tenure review. A short narrative is prepared that includes a reflection of goals from last peer review and a summary of accomplishments and future goals (5 years) in teaching, service and scholarship (Post-Tenure Self-Assessment Form). The scholarship section may align with one or more areas of Boyer’s model of scholarship.

1. Reviewby Committee of Peers:

A committee of three faculty members is constructed consisting of:

• Committee Leader. The committee leader may be the faculty member’sDepartment Chair, Assistant Dean, Program Director or another person in a closely-related discipline appointed by the Dean. The committee leader is selected by the Dean in consultation with the faculty member.
• A peer selected by the faculty member fromtheir department or a closely-related discipline. May be tenured or non-tenured.
• A peer approved by the Committee Leader. Must be tenured.

The faculty member will make the self-assessment available to all members of the Committee of Peers. The committee of peers will meet with the faculty member to review the self-assessment. TheCommittee Leader will prepare a Committee Report (Post Tenure Review Report) summarizing the meeting between the faculty member and the committee of peers.

Focus of the Committee Review:

1. The review process should be formative, not summative, with useful feedback toward professional development being the main goal.

2. A Committee of peers was preferred to a university-wide committee because it provides an opportunity to work closely with a faculty member’s colleagues. An intimate knowledge of a faculty member’s professional development plan is required for useful feedback and to allow the process to be more aligned with department goals.

3. The committee report and discussions are private and will not be shared with individuals who are not formally part of the review process.

1. Dean Review/Consultation:

The Committee Report will be sent to the faculty member’s Dean and the faculty member being reviewed. The Dean will then meet with the faculty member to discuss the submitted materials, the summary report prepared by the committee, teaching evaluations and other information pertinent to the professional activity of the individual. The dean will then submit a summary of the conversation along with the committee report to the faculty member.

1. Faculty Response:

The faculty member may attach a response to the report within 15 business days to the dean.

The dean will send the Committee Report, the Deans summary, and the faculty member’s response (if submitted)to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the faculty member by May 15 of the academic year of the review.