a primer for tenure and recontracting 2009-2010 (updated aug 17, 2009) dr. marlena herman chair,...

A Primer for Tenure and

Recontracting2009-2010

(Updated Aug 17, 2009)

Dr. Marlena Herman

Chair, All-University Senate T&R Committee

[email protected]

Tenure Myths• I can “teach” my way to tenure,

without much scholarship / creative activity, because Rowan Univ is primarily a teaching institution.

• I will certainly achieve tenure if my dept recommends me for tenure.

• If I adhere to dept guidelines, I am guaranteed tenure.

• The additional levels of review beyond my dept are simply a formality.

• Rowan Univ does not deny anyone tenure.

2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 2

T&R Review Cycles(for Faculty & Librarians)

CandidateYear

Recontracting Request for…

Candidate Reviewed By…

Year 1 (Spring)

2nd year DepartmentDean

Year 2 (Fall)

3rd & 4th years Department Senate DeanProvost/President

Year 3 (Spring)

5th year Department Senate Dean

Year 4 n/a n/a

Year 5 (Fall)

Tenure DepartmentSenateDeanProvost/President


Note on Full-Time Temporaries (FTT’s)

• If a person previously employed as a FTT enters a tenure-track position, the time employed as a temporary counts toward the tenure clock if there is no break in service (between temp and tenure-track positions)

• This is a state law that cannot be subverted

• FTT’s should be made aware of this and (if they have any interest in ultimately obtaining a tenure-track position) should treat the job as if it were tenure-track and be reviewed

• FTT’s are reviewed by Dept Cmte and Dean


The Process – Department

• Departmental T&R criteria approved by early October

• Dept T&R Cmte elected (no one can serve on Senate T&R Cmte)

• Candidate submits application folder to Dept T&R Cmte

• Dept Cmte meets, votes, and writes a summary including numerical vote (with majority, dissenting, and abstaining written reports, if necessary)

• All members and Candidate sign summary

• Signed summary becomes part of folder/packet delivered to Senate


Tips for Departments• Provide thorough, honest, direct

review to Candidate and provide guidance in early years to help support Candidate’s development

• Give Candidate things to think about, reflect upon, and grow from (things Candidate can write about)

• Do not be afraid to make suggestions for improvement or give constructive criticism

• When writing peer obs, use dept criteria to write evaluative comments (not just 1-pg summary)

• Use Senate Review Form2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 6

Sample Criteria for Peer Obs• Good organization of subject

matter, including appropriate pacing and adherence to departmental syllabi and policies

• Effective communication

• Knowledge and enthusiasm for subject matter and teaching

• Positive attitudes toward students

• Fairness in examinations and grading

• Flexibility in approaches to teaching

• Appropriate student learning outcomes2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 7

The Process – Senate • Senate T&R Chair voted in and

Cmte selected by Senate

• Candidate submits 12 folders to Senate (1 Original, 11 copies)

• Candidate’s folder gets assigned to one “primary reader” and one “secondary reader” outside dept

• Readers review folder very carefully and report to whole Senate T&R Cmte using Senate Review Form

• Senate T&R Cmte meets to discuss each Candidate’s folder in detail (this takes at least a week or two, meeting all day long)


The Process – Senate (cont.)

• Senate T&R Cmte performs own substantive review and evaluation (Senate does not “rubber stamp” Dept evaluation)

• If there is a “no” vote from Dept Cmte or a possible “no” vote from Senate Cmte, the Candidate is entitled to a hearing with Union representation

• If needed, hearings are scheduled as soon as possible (Senate T&R Cmte meets with Candidate and with Candidate’s department, each entitled to Union rep)


The Process – Senate (cont.)

• Senate Cmte meets, votes, and writes a summary letter including numerical vote (with majority, dissenting, and abstaining written reports, if necessary)

• Senate Cmte Chair and Candidate sign summary evaluation letter

• Signed summary evaluation letter becomes part of packet forwarded to Provost / President with Candidate’s Original Folder

• Candidate collects 11 copies


The Process – Administration

• Dean reviews Candidate’s folder and issues a recommendation to the Provost / President (Candidate gets copy of Dean’s letter)

• Provost / President reviews Candidate’s folder and all forwarded recommendations; then notifies Senate Cmte and Candidate

• Tenure is conferred at December Board of Trustees meeting and begins in September of Year 6 of service


Criteria for T&R• University-wide Criteria: Defined

by the collective bargaining agreement and summarized at both the Provost’s and Senate’s websites (see T&R Memorandum of Agreement available for download)

www.rowan.edu/president/senate/

committees/index.cfm?id=28

• Departmental Criteria: Each Department approves T&R criteria, interpreting common university criteria in own department

• Due dates: See T&R MOA2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 12

Contents of a Folder (see T&R Mem of Agreement)

• Completed Checklist with page numbers

• Departmental info (terminal degree, T&R criteria, role of Dept Chair, specific criteria for peer obs)

• Personnel resume (basic vita)• Candidate’s self-assessment in four

areas• Student evaluations and peer

observations, and Candidate’s responses

• Departmental evaluation• Copies of all previous evaluations• Optional supplemental material

(one Supplemental Folder)2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 13

Frequent Concerns• General sloppiness, lack of

organization, missing page numbers (should show pride in work)

• Lack of reflection from Candidate and/or missing responses to student evaluations and peer observations (should provide thorough self-reflection and explanations)

• Missing signatures and/or dates throughout folder (argh!)

• Missing copies of evaluations from previous review cycles (should include most recent review at back of current folder and others in Supplemental Folder)


Spring of Year 1• Note: Bd of Trustees reappoints

Year 2 in February before review

2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt

• Submit T&R folder to Department Cmte and College Dean

• Highlight teaching effectiveness (Faculty) or professional performance (Librarians / Professional Staff)

Requirement for Faculty• Include 2 sets of student

evaluations and 1 peer observation (from Fall of Year 1)

15

Spring of Year 1 (cont.)


• Provide self-appraisal (include teaching philosophy) and discuss plans for growth and development in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to University Community (Department, College, and University service) * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community

16



• Save copies of Year 1 evaluations from Dept Cmte and Dean to include in future folders

• Save copies of student evals and peer obs to include in future folders

17

Fall of Year 2• Submit T&R folder to Dept Cmte,

Senate Cmte, Dean, and Provost / President


• Request recontracting for Years 3 and 4 of service

• Provide self-appraisal of Year 1 accomplishments in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community

18

Fall of Year 2 (cont.)


• Highlight teaching effectiveness (Faculty) or professional performance (Librarians / Professional Staff)

Requirements for Faculty• Include 2 new sets of student

evaluations and 1 new peer observation (usually from Spring of Year 1)

• Remember to include written reflective responses to student evaluations and peer observation(s) in folder

19



• Reflect on strengths and/or areas of improvement noted by Dept Cmte and Dean in Year 1 review

• Discuss plans for growth and development in each area, along with means of evaluating success in reaching each goal

* Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance

* Scholarly and/or Creative Activity(state Research Agenda)

* Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and

Professional Community

20



• Include Year 1 (Spring) evaluative materials at back of folder, including

* evaluations from Dept Cmte and Dean

* first sets of student evaluations and peer observation (from Fall of Year 1)

* not copy of entire Year 1 folder

• Optional Supplemental Folder can include supporting documentation

21



DOUBLE CHECK FOLDER:

• MOA checklist initialed by Dept T&R Chairperson

• Consecutive page numbers

• Self-appraisal signed and dated by Candidate

• Student evals signed and dated by Administrator or Dept T&R Chair

• Peer obs signed and dated by Observer and Candidate

• Dept Eval signed and dated by all Dept T&R Cmte members and Candidate

22



• Receive notification in mid- to late-December (check Bd of Trustees meeting minutes)

• Save copies of Year 2 evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, Provost / President to include in future folders


23

Spring of Year 3• Submit T&R folder to Dept Cmte,

Senate Cmte, and Dean


• Request recontracting for Year 5 of service (this is last review before tenure application)• Provide self-appraisal of growth since Year 1 with accomplishments during Year 2 and Fall of Year 3 in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community

24


Recommendations

• Consult Dept criteria; discuss how criteria is met by Candidate

• Reflect on past goals; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to prior plans for growth

• Reflect on previous evaluations (from Years 1 and 2) from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, Provost / President; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to any previously noted concerns

• Discuss growth2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 25


Reflection on Teaching

• teaching techniques and/or practices that have worked well

• things Candidate is working on adjusting and how adjustments are turning out

• possible reasons why things have worked or not worked

• ways Candidate is addressing student feedback (explain any low scores) and issues/suggestions from peers

• evidence of growth 2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 26


Reflection on Scholarship

• list of work accomplished with clearly indicated dates (especially since last review)

• stage at which work is completed (submitted, accepted, etc.)

• brief description of scholarly work (research agenda)

• description of quality of work (tier/rank, acceptance rate, etc.)

• help reviewers outside department thoroughly understand



Reflection on Univ Contributions

• service provided, committee work (especially since last review)

• brief descriptions of type of service and responsibilities (for reviewers outside committees to understand)

Reflection on Wider Contributions

• list of memberships in professional organizations

• brief descriptions of level of involvement in organizations

• brief descriptions of consultancies, service to the community, etc.





* Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance

* Scholarly and/or Creative Activity (state Research Agenda)

* Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and


29


Requirements for Faculty

• Include new sets of student evaluations (generally 2 per semester from Fall of Year 2, Spring of Year 2, Fall of Year 3)

• Include new peer obs (generally 1 per semester from Fall of Year 2, Spring of Year 2, Fall of Year 3) (previously 1 new peer observation from within past 12 months)





• Include Year 2 (Fall) evaluative materials at back of folder, including

* evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, and Provost / President

* sets of student evaluations and peer observation (from Spring of Year 1)


• Include Year 1 (Spring) evaluative materials in Supplemental Folder

31










32



• Receive notification in mid- to late-June (check Bd of Trustees meeting minutes)

• Save copies of Year 3 evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean to include in future folders


33



• Note: In next review (tenure), reviewers will look for how Candidate meets personal goals and addresses issues raised in eval letters from Dept, Senate, Dean, etc

• Pay attention to strengths and areas of improvement noted in evals (work on during Year 4) !

• Make sure scholarship is up to par (“state college and university” status changing to “research university”)

34

Fall of Year 5• Submit T&R folder to Dept Cmte,

Senate Cmte, Dean, and Provost / President


• Request recontracting for Year 6 of service with tenure

• Provide self-appraisal showing evidence of effectiveness and excellence in each area: * Teaching Effectiveness or Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and Professional Community

35


Recommendations

• Consult Dept criteria; discuss how criteria have been met by Candidate

• Reflect on past goals; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to prior plans for growth

• Reflect on previous evaluations (from Year 3) from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, and Dean; discuss accomplishments in each area with respect to any previously noted concerns (do not leave any concerns unanswered)



Reflection on Teaching

• teaching techniques and/or practices that have worked well

• things Candidate has worked on adjusting and how adjustments turned out

• possible reasons why things have worked or not worked

• ways Candidate has addressed student feedback (explain any low scores) and issues/suggestions from peers

• evidence of growth 2009-2010 primer for tenure and recontracting.ppt 37


Reflection on Scholarship

• list of work accomplished with clearly indicated dates

• stage at which work is completed (submitted, accepted, etc.)

• brief description of scholarly work (research agenda and progress since last review)

• description of quality of work (tier/rank, acceptance rate, etc.)

• help reviewers outside department thoroughly understand



Reflection on Univ Contributions

• service provided, committee work

• brief descriptions of type of service and responsibilities (for reviewers outside committees to understand)

Reflection on Wider Contributions

• list of memberships in professional organizations

• brief descriptions of level of involvement in organizations

• brief descriptions of consultancies, service to the community, etc.





* Teaching Effectiveness or

Professional Performance * Scholarly and/or Creative Activity * Contribution to Univ Community * Contribution to the Wider and


40


Requirements for Faculty

• Include new sets of student evaluations (generally 2 per semester from Spring of Year 3, Fall of Year 4, Spring of Year 4)

• Include new peer obs (generally 1 per semester from Spring of Year 3, Fall of Year 4, Spring of Year 4) (previously 1 new peer observation from within past 12 months)





• Include Year 3 (Spring) evaluative materials at back of folder, including

* evaluations from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, and Dean

* sets of student evaluations and peer observation (from Fall of Year 2, Spring of Year 2, Fall of Year 3)


• Include Year 1 (Spring) and Year 2 (Fall) evaluative materials in Supplemental Folder

42










43



• Receive notification in mid- to late-December (check Bd of Trustees meeting minutes)

• Save copies of all evaluations for self

44

Tips for Candidates• Carefully read MOA and checklist

(also see Senate Review Form)

• Familiarize self with Dept guidelines

• Make a strong case for tenure; prove deserving of lifetime employment and financial commitment from university (show pride in work)

• Keep and include all evaluations and letters from Dept Cmte, Senate Cmte, Dean, Provost, and President for all years

• Keep and include all student evals and peer obs for all years


Tips for Candidates (cont.)

• Provide thorough self-reflection, explanation, and documentation of work and growth in all four areas

• If planning to use your T&R folder also for Promotion in the year you apply for tenure (Year 5), state such in your T&R folder and follow the guidelines for each of the four areas in the Promotion Memorandum of Agreement

• T&R and Promotion remain two separate processes, but you may use the same application folder (beginning AY 2009-10)



• Do not leave anything open for questioning by multiple reviewers outside Dept (respond to any and all issues raised in letters from most recent previous review cycle)

• Clearly indicate dates of accomplishments

• Consider providing a 2-5 page “executive summary” of highlights of accomplishments (esp since most recent previous review) at front of folder



• Provide a blank student evaluation form in your folder (including questions that students responded to), so student feedback can be interpreted by reviewers outside your Dept

• Explain the scoring of the student evaluations, including the range (0-4 ? 1-5?) and value (5=poor? 5=excellent?) of points

• Create a table that summarizes student evals with dates and classes by semester



• Check and double-check file organization; have proof-reader check spelling and grammar

• Paginate all pages sequentially for easy reference

• If inserting pages at the last minute, use letters with numbers (14, 14A, 15, etc)

• Use tabs to divide sections of folder

• Make sure all pages of 11 copies of Original Folder are copied (not missing pages)



• Use spiral binding rather than cumbersome 3-ring binders (see Duplicating Center for help)

• Put supporting material in Supplemental File

• Make page numbers, tabs, and a Table of Contents for Supplemental File

• Remember to include all evaluative materials from all previous review cycles at back of current folder or Supplemental File (see checklists on Senate Review Form)


Where to go for help

• Department T&R Cmte members

• Faculty Center

• Director: Cindi Hasit ([email protected])

• Location: 3rd Floor, Education Hall

• Support: mentoring, sample folders, help with folder organization, teaching tips, etc


Where to go for help (cont.)

• Senate website - T&R MOA and tips available for download

www.rowan.edu/president/senate/

committees/index.cfm?id=28

• Chair of Senate T&R Cmte: Marlena Herman ([email protected])


a primer for tenure and recontracting 2009-2010 (updated aug 17, 2009) dr. marlena herman chair,...

Documents

senate candidate

tenure myths

tenure clock

guaranteed tenure

senate tr cmte candidate

tenuretrack positions

dept tr cmte dept cmte

process senate senate