1.0  Composition of the College Committee on Faculty Promotion and Tenure

The College Faculty Promotion and Tenure Committee will consist of not more than five members selected by the College Council or a committee designated by it based on nominations from each academic unit (department or school). Each spring, each unit will nominate one full professor and one other faculty member.  The College Council or its designated committee will then compose the committee from those nominated in such a way as to ensure that a majority of the committee is at the rank of full professor.  The Council Committee will also seek to ensure continuity of membership on the Promotion and Tenure Committee and diversity of representation with respect to race, gender, rank, academic unit, and programmatic emphasis. The Promotion and Tenure Committee will elect a chair from its membership. All members of the Promotion and Tenure Committee will be voting members for the purposes of election of chair.  University Faculty Senate Policy stipulates that "faculty members serving on college committees may neither participate in the discussion of, nor vote on, candidates from their own department or school at the college level."

2.0  Functions of the Faculty Promotion and Tenure Committee

The functions of the College Committee on Faculty Promotion and Tenure are:

2.1 To clarify policies and procedures.
2.1.1  Advise the faculty, dean of the College, the heads of academic units, and  and department or school promotion and tenure committees on the adequacy, comparability and equity of departmental or school procedures, standards, and criteria.

2.1.2  Provide all College faculty with a copy of the College Committee's policies and  procedures.

2.2  To receive the recommendations for promotion and/or tenure from the departmental or school committee(s) and chairperson or school director.

2.2.1  Shortly after the receipt of a promotion or tenure dossier, and after the committee's  initial meeting, the chairperson will acknowledge receipt of the dossier in a letter to the applicant, the department chairperson or school director, and the chairperson of the department or school promotion and tenure committee.

2.3  To review decisions at departmental or school levels to determine whether published policies and procedures were followed, and whether recommendations are consistent with published criteria and evidential materials.

2.3.1 Review and evaluate departmental or school recommendations for compliance with published and approved procedures and standards for the proper application of criteria.

2.4  To conduct a review and evaluation of dossier.

2.4.1 The College Faculty Committee on Promotion and Tenure shall use the approved departmental or school criteria to make its recommendation.  The Committee's evaluation of the candidate shall be based solely on how well the candidate meets the standards of his/her department's or school's promotion and tenure document.

2.4.2 Before reaching a final decision the committee may consult with the candidate or department regarding additional evidence that might clarify the promotion dossier.  The candidate must be informed of and consulted about the requests for additional information and the nature of the information prior to its solicitation by the Committee. (The candidate must be allowed access to any additional materials other than confidential materials and has the right to comment on them.)This information may be part of the Committee's final report.

2.4.3  The Committee will decide matters by majority vote.  All eligible members of the committee[see Section 1.0 for definition of eligibility] must vote either yes or no.  A Committee member may abstain only if the member believes that he/she has a conflict of interest with the candidate.

2.4.4 All discussions of the Committee in reviewing dossiers, and the vote of individual members of the Committee, shall remain confidential. p>2.4.5 The Committee's report should reflect any divisions of opinion in the Committee's evaluation of the candidate.  If there are written minority opinions, these will be included as appendices.  The report will contain a record of the vote count, including support for majority and minority opinions, and reasons for the recommendation.

2.5  To make recommendations concerning candidate's application for promotion or tenure.

2.5.1  In accordance with University policy,the College Committee's "statement of  recommendations and decisions", which should indicate the numerical vote, describe the Committee's composition, and explain the reasons for the decision, must be transmitted in writing to the candidate and to other individuals and committees reviewing the dossier. When they arise, signed minority opinions will be forwarded as appendices to the Committee's recommendations.

2.5.2  Forward a copy of the recommendation to the candidate.  Every effort should be made to maintain the confidentiality of all materials presented to the candidate.  The candidate will be given five (5) working days during which time the Committee will respond to requests from the candidate for clarification of the Committee's recommendation. Appeals will be conducted within two weeks, except under extenuating circumstances. 

2.5.3 After five days from the date of the submission of the Committee's report to the candidate, or after an appeal has been heard, the Committee will promptly determine whether any changes need to be made in its recommendation and submit its report in writing to the candidate, the department chair or school director, and the department or school promotion and tenure committee.  The Committee will also promptly submit the report to the dean along with the candidate's dossier.

3.0  Timetables

3.1  Timetables specified in University promotion and tenure policies and procedures  should be strictly adhered to at all levels of institutional review.

4.0  Compliance to University Policy

4.1  All policies and procedures of The College Committee on Faculty Promotion and  Tenure shall be in compliance with published Policies and Procedures of the University of Delaware.  As revisions in prevailing policies occur at the University level, resulting changes in the policies and procedures of The College Committee on Faculty Promotion and Tenure must be made in a manner consistent with the original ratification of this document.