School/College Statement on Promotion and Tenure
The Faculty Reward System

Considerations

1. Mission and priority statement: rationale and how the school/college mission relates to institutional mission.
   1. Procedures and timelines: who is responsible for what?
   2. Are there procedures for early tenure decisions?
   3. What is the review process (e.g., third year, etc.)?
   4. Can the tenure clock be stopped and under what conditions?
   5. Are promotion and tenure decisions separate or are they combined?
   6. Is collegiality a factor? If so, how is it defined and documented?
   7. Are external reviews to be done and under what conditions? Is funding available to pay external reviewers?
2. Questions for the school/college promotion and tenure committee to consider:
   1. How will disciplinary differences be protected?
   2. How will differences in individual assignments be considered?
   3. How will individual strengths and interests be considered?
3. Features the committee should be looking for (e.g., scholarly, professional, and creative work): what is the range of activities that, if documented, would meet these criteria?
4. Documenting scholarship: what will show evidence that work is scholarly, professional, and creative?
5. Documenting teaching: how will teaching be assessed? what types of methods will be employed (e.g., review of course documents, class observations, student ratings, student performance assessment)?
6. When there are different recommendations at different levels, how will they be resolved? what is the appeal process?

Other considerations

1. How do the recruitment, interviewing, and appointment processes for new faculty members communicate the priorities of the school or college?
2. Is there a formal or informal mentoring plan for new faculty members? If yes, how are assignments made?
3. Is there a formal orientation program for new faculty members?
4. Is there a formal orientation plan for faculty members serving on promotion and tenure committees?

— Robert M. Diamond Ph.D.

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