Article 12 - Evaluations, Reappointment, and Promotion Procedures

In the normal course, the performance of Unit Core Faculty will be evaluated in three ways: through the annual report, the application for re-appointment, and the application for promotion. Unit Core Faculty members may also be evaluated as needed to address performance concerns.

Section 1. Annual Reports

Unit Core Faculty will submit an annual report to their supervisors and Deans between May 15 and August 30 each year. The annual report is intended be a formative assessment and should summarize and analyze student course evaluation data, teaching experiences, academic support activities, service to the University and outside the University, and scholarship achievements during the past academic year. The annual report should also summarize the Unit Core Faculty member’s plans for teaching, scholarship, and service for the upcoming academic year. Between May 15 and October 15 of each year, the supervisor will discuss the performance plans in all three areas of teaching, scholarship, and service with the Unit Core Faculty member. Either the faculty member or the supervisor may request that the Dean participate in the meeting.

Section 2. Reappointments

Unit Core Faculty members will be evaluated for reappointment within the same rank according to the schedule and standards set forth in Article 11 (Contracts and Promotions) and the following process:

1. Application. A Unit Core Faculty member applies for reappointment by submitting an application to her/his supervisor consisting of the following materials:
   1. Faculty self-assessment – no more than three pages; discusses the Unit Core Faculty member’s accomplishments, strengths, and challenges in teaching, scholarship, and service since the last appointment or reappointment evaluation.
   2. Annual faculty report – copies of the annual faculty reports for each year since the last appointment or reappointment evaluation.
   3. Most recent syllabus from each course taught since the last appointment or reappointment evaluation
   4. Student evaluations from all courses taught in the last three years and additional examples since the last appointment or reappointment evaluation.
   5. Summary of classroom observation by supervisor
   6. Optional peer review and/or summary of classroom observation by choice of Unit Core Faculty member.
   7. Optional peer review of service and/or scholarship.
   8. Updated curriculum vitae
2. Supervisor Meeting. After submission of the materials set forth above, the Unit Core Faculty member and her/his supervisor meet to review the application.
3. Supervisor Recommendation. The supervisor writes a letter recommending reappointment or non-reappointment to the Dean. The Unit Core Faculty member receives a copy of the letter at the same time. The faculty member may write a response to the supervisor’s letter.
4. Dean Meeting. The Unit Core Faculty member meets with the Dean to discuss the faculty member’s performance and the recommendation of the supervisor and any written response by the faculty member.
5. Dean Recommendation. The Dean reviews the application, the supervisor’s letter, any written response from the unit faculty member, her/his meeting with the Unit Core Faculty member, and writes a letter recommending reappointment or non-reappointment to the Provost. The Unit Core Faculty member receives a copy of the letter at the same time. The faculty member may write a response to the Dean’s letter.
6. Provost Decision. The Provost reviews the application, supervisor’s letter and the Dean’s letter, any written responses by the faculty member, and makes a decision as to reappointment or non-reappointment, which is communicated in writing to the Unit Core Faculty member. The supervisor and the Dean receive copies of this letter at the same time.

Section 3. Promotion in Rank

Unit Core Faculty members will be evaluated for promotion in rank according to the schedule and must meet the standards set forth in Article 11 (Contracts and Promotions) and the following process:

1. Application. A Unit Core Faculty member applies for promotion by submitting an application to her/his supervisor consisting of the following materials: See reference to necessary items in Faculty Handbook
2. Supervisor Meeting. After submission of the materials set forth above, the Unit Core Faculty member and her/his supervisor meet to review the application.
3. Supervisor Recommendation. The supervisor writes a letter recommending for or against promotion to the Dean. The Unit Core Faculty member receives a copy of the letter at the same time. The faculty member may write a response to the supervisor’s letter.
4. Dean Meeting. The Unit Core Faculty member meets with the Dean to discuss the faculty member’s performance and the recommendation of the supervisor and any written response by the faculty member.
5. Dean Recommendation. The Dean reviews the application, the supervisor’s letter, any written response by the faculty member, and her/his meeting with the Unit Core Faculty member, and writes a letter recommending for or against promotion to the Promotion Committee. The Unit Core Faculty member and the Provost receive a copy of the letter at the same time. The faculty member may write a response to the Dean’s letter.
6. Promotion Committee Recommendation The Promotion Committee reviews the application, the supervisor’s letter, and the Dean’s letter and any written responses by the faculty member, and writes a letter recommending for or against promotion to the President. The Unit Core Faculty member receives a copy of the letter at the same time and may file a written response. Neither the Committee nor any subset of the Committee meets directly with the faculty member during the promotion process.
7. President Decision. The President reviews the application, the supervisor’s letter, the Dean’s letter, the Promotion Committee’s letter, any written responses by the faculty member, consults with the Provost, and makes a decision, which is communicated in writing to the Unit Core Faculty member. The supervisor and the Dean and the Promotion Committee receive copies of this letter at the same time.

Section 4. Grievability

Only final decisions by the Provost denying reappointment or by the President denying promotions can be grieved by the Union or Unit Core Faculty member. The grievance of final decisions by the Provost denying reappointment will follow Section 7 of Article 11 (Contracts and Promotions). The grievance of final decisions by the President denying promotion will be limited to allegations of whether the President’s decision was made in an arbitrary or capricious manner.