UNLV Faculty Senate Tenure & Promotion Forum

1. UNLV Faculty SenateTenure & Promotion Forum Oct. 2, 2012 Thanks to the Past Chairs: Dr. John Filler Dr. Ceci Maldonado Dr. Nasser Daneshvary Dr. Bryan Spangelo

2. Concept of Tenure What it IS: • Guarantee of Academic Freedom • Reward for Faculty Excellence & An Expression of Confidence in Continued Excellence • Increased Responsibilities for Mentoring & Shared Governance What it is NOT: • Academic Hazing (Fear Factor) • License to Do Whatever You Please • Protection for Non-Productive Faculty • Guarantee of Financial Security • An Entitlement

3. General Points Related to Tenure • Begins with Hiring Process; With Excellent Hires, Everybody is Potentially ‘Tenurable’ & ‘Promotable’ • At UNLV - No Quotas/Barriers • One of Most Important Faculty Governance Responsibilities • Process of Increasing Quality • Linked Decisions Tenure & Promotion

4. Role of Provost • Fiduciary Responsibility – Is Investment Justified? • Ensures That Comparable RigorHas Been Maintained throughout the Process(Shared Responsibility with the Faculty Senate Tenure & Promotion Committee)

5. Policies and Procedures • General Guidelines for Tenure and Promotion - AAUP “RED BOOK” • While Providing a Sense of T&P Process as Practiced at UNLV, it Has NO Legal Status in Nevada • Important Documents: • NSHE Code for Tenure (Title 2, Chapters 3 & 5) • UNLV Bylaws for Tenure & Promotion • College Bylaws for Tenure & Promotion • Department for Bylaws for Tenure & Promotion

6. Timing of Tenure • NSHE Code – No More than 7 Years, BUT 1 Year Terminal Contract if Denied, so Year 6 is Generally Decision Year • A Minimum of 3-4 Years Probation; Generally, No more than 1-2 Years (Max. 3) Towards Tenure Upon Hire • NSHE Code Says May Apply Any Year; Early Tenure VERY RARE

7. Timing of Promotion(Full Professor) • UNLV By-Laws: An associate professor is normally expected to be in rank for five years prior to applying for promotion to full professor • In exceptional circumstances, an application may be considered earlier (Chapter 3. Sect. 16 UNLV Bylaws)

8. Evaluation for Tenure • Categories: Teaching, Research & Service • Evaluation System: “Excellent”, “Commendable”, “Satisfactory” and “Unsatisfactory” • Need “Excellent” in Teaching and/or Research, ANDat Least “Satisfactory” in the other;AS WELL AS in Service

9. Evaluation for PromotionEssential Criteria for Associate Professors and Full Professors • Possess Terminal Degree • Demonstrated Effectiveness as Teacher • ContinuingSatisfactory Productivity in Creative or Research Activity

10. Evaluation for PromotionAdditional Criteria Associate Professor • Demonstrated Success as a Counselor of Students • Continued Evidence of Participation in Professional or Academic Organizations Full Professor • Demonstrated Success as a WISECounselor of Students • Evidence of Leadership in Professional or Academic Organizations

11. Evaluation for PromotionAdditional Criteria (Continued) Associate Professor • Record of Contributions to University Community • Collegiality • Other Accomplishments of Relevance Full Professor • SignificantRecord of Contributions to University Community • Continued Collegiality • Other Significant Accomplishments of Relevance

12. Concept of Collegiality • “the demonstrated ability to work productively with colleagues, staff and students”(UNLV Bylaws) • “ability to work with the faculty and students of the member institution in the best interests of the University of Nevada and the people that it serves, and to the extent that the job performance of the academic faculty member’s administrative unit may not be otherwise affected” (NSHE Code)

13. Concept of Collegiality(Continued) • IS NOT Congeniality • IS NOT Incompatible with Academic Freedom • Non-collegial Behavior is Hostile, Destructive, Abusive, Disruptive, and Unproductive for Others • Non-collegial Behavior Generally Must be Repeated* (and Warned Against) to be Considered in T&P Decisions

14. Tenure & Promotion ProcessGeneral • Candidate Prepares T&P Package after 5th Academic Year; Pre-tenure Review ½-way through (generally, 3rd year) • Departmental and College By-laws Outline Guidelines for the Process, BUT Not Binding on Subsequent Administrative Levels • Faculty Input is Key at Each Level that Reviews T&P Records, but Administrators Make Recommendations • UNLV By-Laws state that letters by external referees be solicited for T& P. No less than 4 are required. • Letters are solicited by the department chair or immediate supervisor • At least two letters shall come from a list of names suggested by the candidate; and at least two shall be from persons not suggested by the candidate.

15. Tenure & Promotion Process(Continued) • T&P Package to Department Personnel Committee, Faculty, then Chair • (Recommendation & Letter to Candidate) • College Personnel Committee, then Dean • (Recommendation & Letter to Candidate) • Faculty Senate Tenure & Promotion Committee, then Provost • (Recommendation & Letter to Candidate) • President Makes Decision

16. Process If Tenure Denied • After Provost’s Letter – 15 days to Request Reasons; Administrator has 15 days to Respond • May Ask for Reconsideration (New Evidence Responding to Reasons) • Reconsideration Goes through Administrative Chain • President has Final Decision

17. Process If Tenure Denied(Continued) • UNLV By-Laws Allows Appeal to Grievance Committee • Faculty Senate By-Laws Detail Process – Elected Committee Conducts Hearings • Recommendation to Provost, Who Makes Recommendation to President • President Makes Final Decision

18. Documentation of Productivity • Discipline-Specific Weight of Evidence • Teaching – Classroom, Mentoring, Advising; Measures/Documentation • Research/Creative Activity – Also Needs Documentation; Discipline-Specific Criteria; Focused Scholarship with Impact on Discipline.

19. Summary – Qualifications for Tenure/Promotion • Terminal Degree • Pay Attention to All Aspects of Teaching; Serve/Advise Students • Continuously Involved in Scholarship • Excel in Teaching or Research; Provide Satisfactory Service; Document All • Demonstrate Ability to Work with Colleagues, Staff and Students