Post on 21-Dec-2015
A Primer for Tenure and
Recontracting2009-2010
(Updated Aug 17, 2009)
Dr. Marlena Herman
Chair, All-University Senate T&R Committee
herman@rowan.edu
Tenure Myths• I can “teach” my way to tenure,
without much scholarship / creative activity, because Rowan Univ is primarily a teaching institution.
• I will certainly achieve tenure if my dept recommends me for tenure.
• If I adhere to dept guidelines, I am guaranteed tenure.
• The additional levels of review beyond my dept are simply a formality.
• Rowan Univ does not deny anyone tenure.
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 2
T&R Review Cycles(for Faculty & Librarians)
CandidateYear
Recontracting Request for…
Candidate Reviewed By…
Year 1 (Spring)
2nd year DepartmentDean
Year 2 (Fall)
3rd & 4th years Department Senate DeanProvost/President
Year 3 (Spring)
5th year Department Senate Dean
Year 4 n/a n/a
Year 5 (Fall)
Tenure DepartmentSenateDeanProvost/President
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 3
Note on Full-Time Temporaries (FTT’s)
• If a person previously employed as a FTT enters a tenure-track position, the time employed as a temporary counts toward the tenure clock if there is no break in service (between temp and tenure-track positions)
• This is a state law that cannot be subverted
• FTT’s should be made aware of this and (if they have any interest in ultimately obtaining a tenure-track position) should treat the job as if it were tenure-track and be reviewed
• FTT’s are reviewed by Dept Cmte and Dean
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 4
The Process – Department
• Departmental T&R criteria approved by early October
• Dept T&R Cmte elected (no one can serve on Senate T&R Cmte)
• Candidate submits application folder to Dept T&R Cmte
• Dept Cmte meets, votes, and writes a summary including numerical vote (with majority, dissenting, and abstaining written reports, if necessary)
• All members and Candidate sign summary
• Signed summary becomes part of folder/packet delivered to Senate
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 5
Tips for Departments• Provide thorough, honest, direct
review to Candidate and provide guidance in early years to help support Candidate’s development
• Give Candidate things to think about, reflect upon, and grow from (things Candidate can write about)
• Do not be afraid to make suggestions for improvement or give constructive criticism
• When writing peer obs, use dept criteria to write evaluative comments (not just 1-pg summary)
• Use Senate Review Form2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 6
Sample Criteria for Peer Obs• Good organization of subject
matter, including appropriate pacing and adherence to departmental syllabi and policies
• Effective communication
• Knowledge and enthusiasm for subject matter and teaching
• Positive attitudes toward students
• Fairness in examinations and grading
• Flexibility in approaches to teaching
• Appropriate student learning outcomes2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 7
The Process – Senate • Senate T&R Chair voted in and
Cmte selected by Senate
• Candidate submits 12 folders to Senate (1 Original, 11 copies)
• Candidate’s folder gets assigned to one “primary reader” and one “secondary reader” outside dept
• Readers review folder very carefully and report to whole Senate T&R Cmte using Senate Review Form
• Senate T&R Cmte meets to discuss each Candidate’s folder in detail (this takes at least a week or two, meeting all day long)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 8
The Process – Senate (cont.)
• Senate T&R Cmte performs own substantive review and evaluation (Senate does not “rubber stamp” Dept evaluation)
• If there is a “no” vote from Dept Cmte or a possible “no” vote from Senate Cmte, the Candidate is entitled to a hearing with Union representation
• If needed, hearings are scheduled as soon as possible (Senate T&R Cmte meets with Candidate and with Candidate’s department, each entitled to Union rep)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 9
The Process – Senate (cont.)
• Senate Cmte meets, votes, and writes a summary letter including numerical vote (with majority, dissenting, and abstaining written reports, if necessary)
• Senate Cmte Chair and Candidate sign summary evaluation letter
• Signed summary evaluation letter becomes part of packet forwarded to Provost / President with Candidate’s Original Folder
• Candidate collects 11 copies
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 10
The Process – Administration
• Dean reviews Candidate’s folder and issues a recommendation to the Provost / President (Candidate gets copy of Dean’s letter)
• Provost / President reviews Candidate’s folder and all forwarded recommendations; then notifies Senate Cmte and Candidate
• Tenure is conferred at December Board of Trustees meeting and begins in September of Year 6 of service
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 11
Criteria for T&R• University-wide Criteria: Defined
by the collective bargaining agreement and summarized at both the Provost’s and Senate’s websites (see T&R Memorandum of Agreement available for download)
www.rowan.edu/president/senate/
committees/index.cfm?id=28
• Departmental Criteria: Each Department approves T&R criteria, interpreting common university criteria in own department
• Due dates: See T&R MOA2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 12
Contents of a Folder (see T&R Mem of Agreement)
• Completed Checklist with page numbers
• Departmental info (terminal degree, T&R criteria, role of Dept Chair, specific criteria for peer obs)
• Personnel resume (basic vita)• Candidate’s self-assessment in four
areas• Student evaluations and peer
observations, and Candidate’s responses
• Departmental evaluation• Copies of all previous evaluations• Optional supplemental material
(one Supplemental Folder)2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 13
Frequent Concerns• General sloppiness, lack of
organization, missing page numbers (should show pride in work)
• Lack of reflection from Candidate and/or missing responses to student evaluations and peer observations (should provide thorough self-reflection and explanations)
• Missing signatures and/or dates throughout folder (argh!)
• Missing copies of evaluations from previous review cycles (should include most recent review at back of current folder and others in Supplemental Folder)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 14
Spring of Year 1• Note: Bd of Trustees reappoints
Year 2 in February before review
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Submit T&R folder to Department Cmte and College Dean
• Highlight teaching effectiveness (Faculty) or professional performance (Librarians / Professional Staff)
Requirement for Faculty• Include 2 sets of student
evaluations and 1 peer observation (from Fall of Year 1)
15
Spring of Year 1 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Provide self-appraisal (include teaching philosophy) and discuss plans for growth and development in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to University Community (Department, College, and University service) * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community
16
Spring of Year 1 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Save copies of Year 1 evaluations from Dept Cmte and Dean to include in future folders
• Save copies of student evals and peer obs to include in future folders
17
Fall of Year 2• Submit T&R folder to Dept Cmte,
Senate Cmte, Dean, and Provost / President
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Request recontracting for Years 3 and 4 of service
• Provide self-appraisal of Year 1 accomplishments in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community
18
Fall of Year 2 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Highlight teaching effectiveness (Faculty) or professional performance (Librarians / Professional Staff)
Requirements for Faculty• Include 2 new sets of student
evaluations and 1 new peer observation (usually from Spring of Year 1)
• Remember to include written reflective responses to student evaluations and peer observation(s) in folder
19
Fall of Year 2 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Reflect on strengths and/or areas of improvement noted by Dept Cmte and Dean in Year 1 review
• Discuss plans for growth and development in each area, along with means of evaluating success in reaching each goal
* Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance
* Scholarly and/or Creative Activity(state Research Agenda)
* Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and
Professional Community
20
Fall of Year 2 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Include Year 1 (Spring) evaluative materials at back of folder, including
* evaluations from Dept Cmte and Dean
* first sets of student evaluations and peer observation (from Fall of Year 1)
* not copy of entire Year 1 folder
• Optional Supplemental Folder can include supporting documentation
21
Fall of Year 2 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
DOUBLE CHECK FOLDER:
• MOA checklist initialed by Dept T&R Chairperson
• Consecutive page numbers
• Self-appraisal signed and dated by Candidate
• Student evals signed and dated by Administrator or Dept T&R Chair
• Peer obs signed and dated by Observer and Candidate
• Dept Eval signed and dated by all Dept T&R Cmte members and Candidate
22
Fall of Year 2 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Receive notification in mid- to late-December (check Bd of Trustees meeting minutes)
• Save copies of Year 2 evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, Provost / President to include in future folders
• Save copies of student evals and peer obs to include in future folders
23
Spring of Year 3• Submit T&R folder to Dept Cmte,
Senate Cmte, and Dean
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Request recontracting for Year 5 of service (this is last review before tenure application)• Provide self-appraisal of growth since Year 1 with accomplishments during Year 2 and Fall of Year 3 in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community
24
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
Recommendations
• Consult Dept criteria; discuss how criteria is met by Candidate
• Reflect on past goals; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to prior plans for growth
• Reflect on previous evaluations (from Years 1 and 2) from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, Provost / President; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to any previously noted concerns
• Discuss growth2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 25
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
Reflection on Teaching
• teaching techniques and/or practices that have worked well
• things Candidate is working on adjusting and how adjustments are turning out
• possible reasons why things have worked or not worked
• ways Candidate is addressing student feedback (explain any low scores) and issues/suggestions from peers
• evidence of growth 2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 26
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
Reflection on Scholarship
• list of work accomplished with clearly indicated dates (especially since last review)
• stage at which work is completed (submitted, accepted, etc.)
• brief description of scholarly work (research agenda)
• description of quality of work (tier/rank, acceptance rate, etc.)
• help reviewers outside department thoroughly understand
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 27
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
Reflection on Univ Contributions
• service provided, committee work (especially since last review)
• brief descriptions of type of service and responsibilities (for reviewers outside committees to understand)
Reflection on Wider Contributions
• list of memberships in professional organizations
• brief descriptions of level of involvement in organizations
• brief descriptions of consultancies, service to the community, etc.
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 28
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Discuss plans for growth and development in each area, along with means of evaluating success in reaching each goal
* Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance
* Scholarly and/or Creative Activity (state Research Agenda)
* Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and
Professional Community
29
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
Requirements for Faculty
• Include new sets of student evaluations (generally 2 per semester from Fall of Year 2, Spring of Year 2, Fall of Year 3)
• Include new peer obs (generally 1 per semester from Fall of Year 2, Spring of Year 2, Fall of Year 3) (previously 1 new peer observation from within past 12 months)
• Remember to include written reflective responses to student evaluations and peer observation(s) in folder
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 30
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Include Year 2 (Fall) evaluative materials at back of folder, including
* evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, and Provost / President
* sets of student evaluations and peer observation (from Spring of Year 1)
* not copy of entire Year 2 folder
• Include Year 1 (Spring) evaluative materials in Supplemental Folder
31
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
DOUBLE CHECK FOLDER:
• MOA checklist initialed by Dept T&R Chairperson
• Consecutive page numbers
• Self-appraisal signed and dated by Candidate
• Student evals signed and dated by Administrator or Dept T&R Chair
• Peer obs signed and dated by Observer and Candidate
• Dept Eval signed and dated by all Dept T&R Cmte members and Candidate
32
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Receive notification in mid- to late-June (check Bd of Trustees meeting minutes)
• Save copies of Year 3 evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean to include in future folders
• Save copies of student evals and peer obs to include in future folders
33
Spring of Year 3 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Note: In next review (tenure), reviewers will look for how Candidate meets personal goals and addresses issues raised in eval letters from Dept, Senate, Dean, etc
• Pay attention to strengths and areas of improvement noted in evals (work on during Year 4) !
• Make sure scholarship is up to par (“state college and university” status changing to “research university”)
34
Fall of Year 5• Submit T&R folder to Dept Cmte,
Senate Cmte, Dean, and Provost / President
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Request recontracting for Year 6 of service with tenure
• Provide self-appraisal showing evidence of effectiveness and excellence in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community
35
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
Recommendations
• Consult Dept criteria; discuss how criteria have been met by Candidate
• Reflect on past goals; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to prior plans for growth
• Reflect on previous evaluations (from Year 3) from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, and Dean; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to any previously noted concerns (do not leave any concerns unanswered)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 36
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
Reflection on Teaching
• teaching techniques and/or practices that have worked well
• things Candidate has worked on adjusting and how adjustments turned out
• possible reasons why things have worked or not worked
• ways Candidate has addressed student feedback (explain any low scores) and issues/suggestions from peers
• evidence of growth 2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 37
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
Reflection on Scholarship
• list of work accomplished with clearly indicated dates
• stage at which work is completed (submitted, accepted, etc.)
• brief description of scholarly work (research agenda and progress since last review)
• description of quality of work (tier/rank, acceptance rate, etc.)
• help reviewers outside department thoroughly understand
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 38
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
Reflection on Univ Contributions
• service provided, committee work
• brief descriptions of type of service and responsibilities (for reviewers outside committees to understand)
Reflection on Wider Contributions
• list of memberships in professional organizations
• brief descriptions of level of involvement in organizations
• brief descriptions of consultancies, service to the community, etc.
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 39
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Discuss plans for growth and development in each area, along with means of evaluating success in reaching each goal
* Teaching Effectiveness or
Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and
Professional Community
40
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
Requirements for Faculty
• Include new sets of student evaluations (generally 2 per semester from Spring of Year 3, Fall of Year 4, Spring of Year 4)
• Include new peer obs (generally 1 per semester from Spring of Year 3, Fall of Year 4, Spring of Year 4) (previously 1 new peer observation from within past 12 months)
• Remember to include written reflective responses to student evaluations and peer observation(s) in folder
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 41
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Include Year 3 (Spring) evaluative materials at back of folder, including
* evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, and Dean
* sets of student evaluations and peer observation (from Fall of Year 2, Spring of Year 2, Fall of Year 3)
* not copy of entire Year 3 folder
• Include Year 1 (Spring) and Year 2 (Fall) evaluative materials in Supplemental Folder
42
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
DOUBLE CHECK FOLDER:
• MOA checklist initialed by Dept T&R Chairperson
• Consecutive page numbers
• Self-appraisal signed and dated by Candidate
• Student evals signed and dated by Administrator or Dept T&R Chair
• Peer obs signed and dated by Observer and Candidate
• Dept Eval signed and dated by all Dept T&R Cmte members and Candidate
43
Fall of Year 5 (cont.)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt
• Receive notification in mid- to late-December (check Bd of Trustees meeting minutes)
• Save copies of all evaluations for self
44
Tips for Candidates• Carefully read MOA and checklist
(also see Senate Review Form)
• Familiarize self with Dept guidelines
• Make a strong case for tenure; prove deserving of lifetime employment and financial commitment from university (show pride in work)
• Keep and include all evaluations and letters from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, Provost, and President for all years
• Keep and include all student evals and peer obs for all years
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 45
Tips for Candidates (cont.)
• Provide thorough self-reflection, explanation, and documentation of work and growth in all four areas
• If planning to use your T&R folder also for Promotion in the year you apply for tenure (Year 5), state such in your T&R folder and follow the guidelines for each of the four areas in the Promotion Memorandum of Agreement
• T&R and Promotion remain two separate processes, but you may use the same application folder (beginning AY 2009-10)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 46
Tips for Candidates (cont.)
• Do not leave anything open for questioning by multiple reviewers outside Dept (respond to any and all issues raised in letters from most recent previous review cycle)
• Clearly indicate dates of accomplishments
• Consider providing a 2-5 page “executive summary” of highlights of accomplishments (esp since most recent previous review) at front of folder
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 47
Tips for Candidates (cont.)
• Provide a blank student evaluation form in your folder (including questions that students responded to), so student feedback can be interpreted by reviewers outside your Dept
• Explain the scoring of the student evaluations, including the range (0-4 ? 1-5?) and value (5=poor? 5=excellent?) of points
• Create a table that summarizes student evals with dates and classes by semester
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 48
Tips for Candidates (cont.)
• Check and double-check file organization; have proof-reader check spelling and grammar
• Paginate all pages sequentially for easy reference
• If inserting pages at the last minute, use letters with numbers (14, 14A, 15, etc)
• Use tabs to divide sections of folder
• Make sure all pages of 11 copies of Original Folder are copied (not missing pages)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 49
Tips for Candidates (cont.)
• Use spiral binding rather than cumbersome 3-ring binders (see Duplicating Center for help)
• Put supporting material in Supplemental File
• Make page numbers, tabs, and a Table of Contents for Supplemental File
• Remember to include all evaluative materials from all previous review cycles at back of current folder or Supplemental File (see checklists on Senate Review Form)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 50
Where to go for help
• Department T&R Cmte members
• Faculty Center
• Director: Cindi Hasit (hasit@rowan.edu)
• Location: 3rd Floor, Education Hall
• Support: mentoring, sample folders, help with folder organization, teaching tips, etc
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 51
Where to go for help (cont.)
• Senate website - T&R MOA and tips available for download
www.rowan.edu/president/senate/
committees/index.cfm?id=28
• Chair of Senate T&R Cmte: Marlena Herman (herman@rowan.edu)
2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 52