Memorandum
To: Applicants for Tenure
From: University-wide Tenure Committee
Date: December 17, 2008
RE: Guidelines for Tenure Application*
Attached are a set of guidelines for tenure application. The APSCUF contract has additional details regarding Tenure in Article 15 located on pages 33-37 of the July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2011 APSCUF Agreement book. Please note that the deadline for submitting your application to your department tenure committee and the University President is December 31, 2008.
The tenure committee has attempted to follow promotion guidelines, since some of you may have applied for promotion before seeking tenure. Hence, a promotion document can provide the foundation for a tenure application, and/or your tenure application can provide the foundation for a promotion application. Please make sure, however, that you address Tenure specifically in your tenure packet.
The University-wide Tenure Committee appreciates your efforts in putting the document together and trusts the attached guidelines will prove helpful.
The narrative is limited to 15 pages. It is expected that most individuals applying for tenure will be able to summarize their 4 ½ probationary years in fewer than 15 pages.
Procedural Information
For tenure application you need TWO complete documents housed in separate 8 ½ by 11 inch binders no more than 3 inches thick. There is no need for additional copies of the narrative. There is currently no formal application page. The one page required is the form (http://users.edinboro.edu/bucell/tenure/permission.htm) giving the University-wide Tenure Committee permission to look at your personnel file. If you are unwilling to allow such access, simply do not sign the form (but you must still include it). You may wish to make a third copy of your tenure application materials for personal future use.
One copy of your application with supporting documents must be submitted to your Department Tenure Committee Chairperson or designee and one copy of your application with supporting documents to the President’s Office by December 31, 2008. The President's Office will be open 29-31 December from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM with someone in the office during lunch. They are expecting your application.
It is the responsibility of the tenure candidate to deliver these documents personally or to make sure that they are delivered by a designee. Since this is an important document we recommend that you obtain a receipt when you deliver the document to the President’s Office.
Departmental Responsibilities
It is the responsibility of the Department Chair and the Department Tenure Committee Chair to forward their written recommendations to President Brown by February 15. A copy of each recommendation must also be placed in the tenure application binder provided to the University-wide Tenure Committee.
The Department Tenure Committee will then deliver the complete application by 5:00 PM on Monday, February 16, 2008 to Dr. Ron Spiller, History & Anthropology Department, 119 Hendricks Hall (or to the Department of History & Anthropology, 146 Hendricks Hall). Applications will be accepted beginning Wednesday, February 11.
Note: The CBA states that the University-wide Tenure Committee must receive tenure applications by February 15. That date, however, falls on Sunday, so applications are due to the University-wide Tenure Committee not later than the next working day, February 16.)
After February 15, 2008
The University-wide Tenure Committee may at its discretion request that the applicant and/or others appear before the committee.
In cases where the University-Wide Tenure Committee is considering a negative recommendation for tenure, the committee will notify the applicant, and the applicant may request a hearing before the committee and may ask up to four professionally associated individuals to speak on his or her behalf. The applicant may not be represented by an attorney at this hearing. All hearings will be held in a timely fashion to meet contractual deadlines.
When the University-wide Tenure Committee has completed deliberations the applicants’ binders will be delivered to President Brown’s office (no later than April 1) along with the Committee's recommendations. Notification by the President to the applicants will be made by May 31.
Mid-year Hires
Tenure track faculty members hired in January who should be considered for tenure during the Fall 2009 semester will receive notification that they are eligible to apply for tenure from President Brown by February 1, 2009. The procedures outlined above apply to mid-year hires, except for due dates. Tenure packets for mid-year hires are due to department committees and the President’s Office by Friday, May 1, 2009. Recommendations by departmental tenure committees and chairs, along with application packets are due to the University-wide Tenure Committee by Thursday, October 1, 2009. Recommendations from the University-wide Tenure Committee to the President are due by November 1 and Presidential notification to candidates by December 31, 2009. The specific location for the delivery of tenure applications to the University-wide Tenure Committee in October will be published at the beginning of the Fall 2009 semester.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.
Dr. Ron Spiller, chair
University-wide Tenure Committee
119 Hendricks Hall
(814) 732-2966 (Office)
* The specific dates in this memorandum have been previously provided directly to candidates and department chairs via e-mail and in informational meetings.