Procedure
Each year the DEO or a departmental committee reviews every non-tenured, tenure-track faculty member in the department. The review provides the faculty member with an assessment of their performance in teaching, scholarly or creative work, and professional service. The review ensures that the faculty member receives the guidance necessary for meeting promotion and tenure standards, but it does not in any way prejudge the review for promotion and tenure.
These procedures apply to the probationary tenure-track annual review in years one, two, four, and five of the faculty's appointment. Refer to separate procedures for third-year reappointment reviews of probationary tenure-track faculty.
Procedure
First-year review
The faculty member receives an abbreviated review in the spring semester, including an evaluation of teaching.
Second-year review
The faculty member receives a review based on their record in teaching and scholarly or creative work since the appointment began. The primary purpose of the review is to advise the faculty member on how well they are progressing toward meeting departmental and collegiate expectations of a tenurable record. The review report should outline substantive suggestions and specific expectations for teaching, research, and service.
In rare cases, it may be clear during the second-year review that the department is extremely unlikely to make a positive recommendation for contract renewal in the third-year review. If the Office of the Dean and the Office of the Provost approve a departmental recommendation that the third year be the final year of appointment, the faculty member receives a notice of termination from the Dean.
Third-year reappointment review
Fourth-year review
The faculty member receives a review that concentrates on the previous year's activities, assessing progress made since the third-year review and progress still to be made for the tenure review.
Fifth-year review
The fifth-year review advises the faculty member on progress still to be made for the tenure review.
Review period
Period since the last review (typically one calendar year)
Classroom observation required?
Yes
Reviewer(s)
DEO or a committee of at least two tenured faculty
Form(s)
Committee writes report assessing faculty member's teaching, research, and service
Responsibilities of faculty member under review
Submit updated CV (in CLAS Standard CV format) and SPOT teaching evaluations from the review period to department prior to review (Note: teaching, research, and service statements are optional but encouraged)
Participate in classroom observation
Read and respond (if applicable) to review
Acknowledge review in workflow
Responsibilities of the reviewer(s)
Write a report which assesses faculty member's teaching, research, and service, utilizing:
- Updated CV
- Student evaluations of teaching (SPOT evaluations) from review period
- Observation and report on at least one class session
- Other relevant materials from the review period provided by faculty member
Responsibilities of the DEO
- Inform the faculty member under review of the timeline of the review and the materials they must submit
- Form review committee, if applicable
- Oversee faculty review process and ensure review results in substantive assessment and recommendations
- Ensure department meets the deadline for review submission
Joint appointment handling (if applicable)
Faculty member’s MOU should define review procedures
In the absence of an MOU:
For faculty member holding joint appointments, the primary and secondary units should collaborate to produce a single review.
For reviews of faculty jointly appointed in another college, the two units should collaborate in a joint review that assesses the faculty member’s entire contribution to the University’s mission. The review report(s) should be forwarded to the deans of both colleges.
Materials required to be submitted to the Dean’s Office
- Updated CV
- Review report, including classroom observation
- The response (if any) of the faculty member to the review
Deadline
Submission deadlines are posted on the Faculty Review Schedule.
Key contact
If you have questions, please contact Rachel Spengler.