INDEX

Introduction
Table of Contents

Policies in Process

Preliminaries

Policies

1. Legal Authority and Governance

2. University-wide

3. Presidential Area

4. Academic Affairs

5. Business Affairs

6. Student Life

7. University Advancement

8. Administrative Services

Tenure

Policy Statement

Tenure is a term designating guaranteed continuous appointment to a full-time faculty member.  It implies a mutual commitment on the part of the faculty member and the University and cannot be taken lightly.

The commitment of a faculty member who requests tenure is as deep and binding on the faculty member as it is on the University.  Just as the conferring of tenure by the University recognizes the competence of an individual faculty member, submission to the University of an application for tenure suggests a strong acceptance by that individual of the mission, goals and objectives of the University.  The request represents a commitment to work jointly with faculty, students, administrators and staff for the growth and welfare of the University.   It is a commitment to devote one's energies to continued personal development and continued high levels of achievement as a member of the Marywood academic community.  It is a definite assertion of career goals; it is expected that a faculty member will not lightly withdraw from this relationship.

The probationary period shall not exceed seven years of full-time teaching/librarianship at Marywood, with application for tenure being made in the sixth year.  Faculty members on leave during the probationary period must follow the University’s policy on leaves.  Interrupted service at Marywood University and also prior service at another regionally accredited, four-year college or university may be credited toward the fulfillment of the probationary period.

Once tenure is granted, it will be discontinued only for grave reason, which may include moral turpitude, flagrant abuse of academic freedom, or lack of professional competency as demonstrated in instruction and/or research.  In addition, as expressed in its Retrenchment of Faculty policy, the University may be required to discontinue tenure because of severe financial exigencies of the University or reorganization of the department and/or curriculum resulting in lack of need.

Tenure occurs by action of the President of the University.

Procedures for Pre-Tenure Review

A pre-tenure review system evaluates the first three years of each tenure-track faculty member’s progress toward tenure and promotion.

The chair of the applicant’s department and the dean of the appropriate college each send a letter of evaluation to the Rank and Tenure Committee.

The candidate submits a portfolio in the fall of his/her fourth year to the chair, dean, and the Rank and Tenure Committee.  All annual evaluations of the candidate written by the appropriate dean and the chair of the department must be included in the portfolio.

Procedures for Tenure Consideration

A candidate for tenure must submit a Notification of Application for Tenure form and submit relevant data and documentation in the sixth year of the probationary period, according to the deadline dates noted below. The candidate is encouraged to meet with the tenured members of the department one year before the application to identify areas of strength and weakness in meeting the tenure criteria.

In applying these procedures for promotion of faculty librarians, the Director of Library Services acts in place of both dean and department head.

1. By September 15, the faculty member initiates the process  by submitting Notification of Application for Tenure form to the Chair of the Rank and Tenure Committee.  The Chair will be responsible for informing the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, the appropriate dean, and the head of the person’s academic department.
   
   
2. By October 15, the applicant submits paper or electronic copies of the Application for Tenure form, together with an up-to-date curriculum vita and narrative including appendices not to exceed an equivalent of 100 printed pages in 10 pt. font, to the Chair of the Rank and Tenure Committee, the head of the applicant’s department and the appropriate dean.  Single copies of lengthy documents such as publications, which may be sent to the Chair of the Rank and Tenure Committee for examination by the committee, will be returned to the applicant following final action on the application.
   
   
3. By October 15, also, the applicant makes a copy available to the full time faculty members in the department.  Tenured members only will complete a  Confidential Colleague Evaluation  form and submit it to the Chair of the Rank and Tenure Committee.
   
   
4. The department head completes the Chair or Dean Application Evaluation Form and submits it to the Chair of the Rank and Tenure Committee, the appropriate dean, and the applicant.  If the applicant is a faculty librarian or serves as head of the department, this step does not apply.
   
   
5. The chair of the applicant’s department and the dean of the appropriate college each send a letter of evaluation to the Rank and Tenure Committee. The candidate submits a portfolio in the fall of his/her sixth year to the chair, dean, and the Rank and Tenure Committee.  All annual evaluations of the candidate written by the appropriate dean and the chair of the department must be included in the portfolio.
   
   
6. The appropriate dean or the Director of Library Services reviews the evaluation of the department head when applicable, completes the Chair or Dean Application Evaluation Form, and submits a recommendation to the Chair of the Rank and Tenure Committee.
   
   
7. The Rank and Tenure Committee evaluates the application and submits its recommendation, vote, and materials upon which the recommendation was based to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.
   
   
8. Having received all materials by November 20, the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs evaluates the application with its accompanying documents, and submits a recommendation with the materials on which it is based to the President of the University.  This includes the Rank and Tenure Committee’s recommendation and vote, all other recommendations, and all application and evaluative documentation.
   
   
9. Having received the documents by January 10, the President of the University reviews them and decides whether or not to approve.  She or her delegate informs the faculty member of the status of the application, including the recommendations of all others involved.  In the case of a negative decision, the criterion not met is communicated to the applicant.

Criteria

The candidate for tenure must

• have achieved at least the rank of Associate Professor or, if currently an Assistant Professor, must apply for promotion to Associate Professor and Tenure at the same time;
• have evidenced an expertise needed by one’s department or a related department and recognized as having value for achievement of the present and future goals of the department;
• have demonstrated consistently effective teaching/librarianship ability as attested to by the evaluation procedures of the University;
• have provided service to students extending beyond the teaching/librarianship function to student advisement and direction;
• have completed all formal educational requirements in one's academic field, judged necessary to meet the needs of the department and the University;
• have demonstrated a capacity to relate positively with the various constituencies of the University;
• have participated effectively in the academic, cultural, administrative, and student affairs of the University.

Additionally, the candidate for tenure must give evidence of the following:

• membership and involvement in the activities of professional societies;
• contribution to the department by developing new courses and teaching a diversity of courses as needed, or in the case of faculty librarians by developing new library services and initiatives;
• accomplishment and promise in research, scholarship,  publication, and/or creative achievement;
• participation in civic affairs and public service;
• continuing professional initiative and responsibility.

Definition

Related Policies and Committees

Policy - Faculty Definition
Policy - Faculty Status
Policy - Faculty Librarians
Policy - Administrators with Rank and Tenure
Policy - Contractural Agreements with Faculty
Policy - Retrenchment of Faculty
Policy - Interruption of Faculty Service
Committee - Rank and Tenure Committee

History of the Policy

07/01/89 - Reaffirmed with publication of Faculty Manual 2.6
04/16/99 - Sentence re degrees from various institutions moved to Policy No. 4.301.4 as recommended by the University Committee on Policy
03/22/00 - Reference to retirement age deleted at Executive Committee meeting of the University Committee on Policy
07/01/03 - Editorial changes made to reflect academic restructuring
04/20/04 - Revision approved by the President of the University as recommended by the Policy Committee of the Univesrity to include faculty librarians
12/02/05 - Revision approved by the President of the University as recommended by the Policy Committee of the University
01/19/08 - Amended to reflect that decisions on rank and tenure are made by the President of the University
05/02/08 - Revision approved by the President of the University as recommended by the Policy Committee of the University