Promotion & Tenure

Changes in Departmental Priorities

When departments and colleges change priorities (e.g., development of a graduate program, reorientation of the direction of departmental teaching at all levels) there are faculty members hired when their departments had one set of priorities that are now at some disadvantage because of the change. Departments have clear obligations to recognize such situations and to provide such faculty members with both the time and the resources to accommodate themselves to the new priorities. Those faculty during the probationary period prior to the granting of tenure have the right to be reviewed under the policy and procedure in force at the time of hiring, rather than under any revised policy or procedure subsequently adopted. Any candidate for tenure who wishes to be considered under the policy and procedure in force at the time of hiring must do so by informing the Department Chair of his or her desire at the time of the initial written application for promotion. (Revised by the Faculty Senate 4/7/80; Approved by the Board of Trustees 12/10/80; Revised by the Faculty Senate 4/97 and 2/98.) (Last update 9/14/98.)