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Specific award of years toward tenure not to be included in offer of employment but tenure on hire may be offered with approval of faculty and president

Policy

Offers of employment to tenure-track faculty positions at 51�ԹϺ��� shall include no specific designation of years towards tenure. Any dean recommending to the Executive Vice President and Provost (EVP & P) that 51�ԹϺ��� extend an offer of employment with tenure on hire must consult the appropriate faculty for its approval of an offer of tenure on hire and must report the result of a vote of eligible faculty as part of the dean’s recommendation.

Background

The president may, upon seeking a recommendation from the appropriate faculty, grant tenure upon hire to an academic faculty member who at the time of hire holds tenure at another institution or who has an exemplary record that indicates extraordinary achievement in the field. See Board of Regents Code, Title 2, Section 3.3.1(b2)

Early tenure review possible prior to sixth year of probationary period

Policy

A faculty member has been employed in a tenure-track position(s) at (an)other institution(s) for at least one full year prior to initial employment at 51�ԹϺ��� may elect to seek tenure and promotion at 51�ԹϺ��� prior to the sixth year.

A faculty member has not been employed in a tenure-track position(s) at (an)other institution(s) for at least one full year prior to initial employment at 51�ԹϺ��� may seek tenure review prior to the sixth year with written recommendation of the dean and EVP & P and upon the approval of the president. Such recommendations must be made and presidential approval must be granted prior to initiating any formal review of the faculty member’s tenure materials.

A faculty member may apply for and be reviewed for tenure only once, so that an unsuccessful tenure review at any point during the probationary period will result in the issuance of a terminal contract for the next academic year.

Background

Upon the request of a tenure-track faculty member and approval of the president, the faculty member may be considered for tenure at any time during the probationary period. See Board of Regents Code, Title 2, Section 3.3.2. Approval for tenure review prior to the sixth year of the probationary period will only be granted in “exceptional circumstances.” See 51�ԹϺ��� Bylaws Chapter 3, Section 16.6(b).

Probationary period may be extended beyond sixth year with approval of president

Policy

Upon written request of a tenure-track faculty member and written approval of the president, the probationary period prior to the tenure review may be extended to seven or more years. In such a circumstance, the request must be made and approved only if the pre-tenure faculty member has not already been subject to a complete tenure review at 51�ԹϺ���.

Consistent with provisions of federal law (Pregnancy Discrimination Act and Family and Medical Leave Act), a presumption will be made that a request for an extension of the probationary period (and a delay of the tenure review beyond the sixth year) by a faculty member who is pregnant will be granted by the president. This presumption applies only to the extension of the tenure review and carries with it no presumption of the extension of medical leave, paid or unpaid, in the case of pregnancy. (See also Summary of NSHE Policies and 51�ԹϺ��� Practices for Faculty parental Leave.)

A faculty member with any other qualifying reason for a family or parental medical leave, including paternity and adoption, or for any other reason, may request in writing to his or her dean an extension of the probationary period and a delay of the tenure review. Deans shall in all cases forward such requests, with recommendation, to the EVP & P for review and eventual final determination by the president.

A faculty member need not take leave, paid or unpaid, for medical or any other reason, to request an extension of the probationary period and delay of the tenure review beyond the sixth year. A request for an extension of the probationary period may be made at any time prior to the first day of instruction of the spring semester prior to the formal review of tenure materials, which occurs ordinarily in the fall of the sixth year of employment.

There is no prohibition against a faculty member seeking multiple extensions, though each request must be reviewed and approved separately by the president.

In all circumstances, any professional work completed during a medical leave and/or during an extension of the probationary period shall count towards the tenure review, but the taking of a medical leave and/or an extension of the probationary period shall not change the standards applied to the tenure review.

Upon approval by the president of an extension of the probationary period, written notification shall be made to faculty member, chair/director and dean of the new expected tenure review date.

Background

Upon written request of a tenure-track faculty member and written approval of the president, the probationary period prior to the tenure review may be extended to seven or more years. See Board of Regents Code, Title 2, Section 3.3.1(d). A faculty member with any qualifying reason for a family or parental medical leave, including pregnancy, paternity and adoption, or for any other authorized period of leave for any reason, may request to the president in writing an extension of the probationary period and a delay of the tenure review. See Board of Regents Code, Title 2, Section 3.3.1(c).

Tenure and Promotion generally considered together

Policy

Background