Promotion, Tenure and Evaluation Standards and Indicators
(Adopted by College Faculty, 1/18/94; with editorial revisions by Vice President Craig Schnell, 10/95; changes voted on and approved by College Faculty, 11/97; editorial changes 9/02 and 7/03; changes voted on and approved by College PTE committee 10/05; changes voted on and approved by College Faculty, 12/05; changes voted on and approved by College Faculty, 8/08)
Introduction and Definitions
All faculty in the College are expected to participate in teaching, research, and service. Their participation should contribute to progress toward unit, college, and university mission and goals. Quality is expected and is considered much more important than quantity. Professional colleagues are considered to be appropriate judges of quality (those within and outside the University).
Standards for promotion, tenure, and evaluation in the College of Human Development and Education are the means by which the quality of faculty performance is determined. Standards, which serve as general guidelines, are established at the College and University level and represent the minimum expectation for advancement in rank and tenure. Each faculty presented for promotion and tenure is expected to meet the standards at a level judged acceptable. Because each unit is unique, specific standards will be set at the unit level, and expectations for faculty will be based on their job description. This, therefore, includes all three areas of teaching, research, and service.
Indicators accompanying each standard for promotion, tenure, and evaluation should clarify and illuminate the individual standards. Indicators are established at the unit level and are expected to exceed the minimum standards established by the College. Whereas standards for promotion and tenure are the rules or patterns of performance given to faculty for guidance in attaining appropriate quality levels in their work, indicators are not standards in and of themselves. Rather, these indicators help evaluators judge the quality of faculty accomplishment. In determining whether a standard is met, data related to these indicators will be considered as well as job description and other appropriate information. Other data not directly related to indicators but germane to the standard may be provided. It is theoretically possible for a standard to be met without addressing each indicator.
Guidelines
Standards for promotion and tenure have been established for advancement to each rank in each of three areas: teaching, research, and service. Professional growth and increasing responsibility for participation at all levels of the university are included. Although tenure decisions are separate from rank, standards for tenure apply to promotion decisions. Each unit will establish indicators for each standard listed. In presenting a candidate for promotion and tenure, it is the responsibility of the unit head, working with the faculty member, to present data and information that illustrate how the indicators for each standard have been met. In response to University policy, each unit will have written procedures in place that detail how its faculty are evaluated annually. Procedures for review at the department and college level are described in the University policy manual. In response to University policy, the college and each unit will have written policies and procedures in place that detail how its faculty are evaluated. The policy/procedures should be written in accordance with the University policy/procedures and approved by the college faculty and administration.
Standards/Indicators for Promotion and Tenure
Tenure decisions will be made according to guidelines in place at the time of appointment to position (NDSU Policy 352, 3.3). These guidelines need to be provided to the candidate at time of appointment with a copy placed in the candidate's personnel file.
Promotion to Associate Professor (and Tenure)
1. Standard -- Teaching:
Faculty will demonstrate competence in educational activities as defined by their unit and job description. Faculty will provide a summary of participant evaluations for educational activities.
2. Standard -- Research:
Faculty will develop original scholarly and/or creative activities to establish a research/scholarly program that is judged satisfactorily by their peers. Refereed/reviewed original publications and/or works are expected. It is also important to seek outside funding for research/scholarly activities, as clarified by departmental requirements.
3. Standard -- Service:
Faculty will provide service to the University and participate in professional disciplines and societies.
Promotion to Professor - requires a demonstration of maturity and leadership in the following areas: Tenured candidates for promotion to professor shall be evaluated by criteira in effect at the time of application (NDSU Policy 352, 3.3).
1. Standard -- Teaching:
Faculty will demonstrate competence in educational activities as defined by their unit and job description. Faculty will provide a summary of participant evaluations for educational activities.
2. Standard -- Research:
Faculty will show a record of continuous scholarly activity that contributes to their professional field and moves it forward through the portfolio they submit. Definitions and examples of scholarly activity will be provided by individual academic units. Obtaining funding for research/scholarship is a critical part of continuing an on-going research program.
3. Standard -- Service:
Faculty will:
a. provide significant service to and participate in the governance of the unit, college, or university;
b. participate in professional disciplines and societies; and
c. provide information related to the professional discipline and/or represent the unit to the public.
Policies Related to Promotion and Tenure
(adopted by HDE faculty-May 1998; revisions adopted-May 1999; revisions approved by College PTE committee 10/05; changes voted on and approved by College Faculty, 12/05 )
Policy on Nonrenewals of Probationary Faculty Prior to the Sixth Year
In accordance with NDSU Policy 350.3(1)(b), nonrenewal recommendations of probationary faculty prior to the final probationary year shall be made by the department chair (head of the academic unit) and the College Dean. This is forwarded to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs for recommendation to the President.
The department chair or head of the academic unit shall first meet with the faculty member, discuss the proposed nonrenewal recommendation and provide the recommendation in writing. The faculty member will have 10 days to respond, in writing, to the proposed nonrenewal recommendation. It is recommended that this meeting be summarized by the chair in writing and then approved (with revisions, if needed) by the faculty member; a third person (neutral) may be invited to be present at the meeting.
The faculty member's written response and any additional material the faculty member wishes to include shall accompany the recommendation. The department chair or head of the academic unit may include all periodic reviews and any other materials from the faculty member's official personnel file that he or she deems relevant. The faculty member will receive copies of all materials that are added. The timelines and procedures of NDSU Policy 352(4), (5), and (6) do not apply to nonrenewals prior to the sixth year.
Policy on Granting Credit for Previous Experience
In accordance with NDUS and NDSU policy, probationary faculty are normally eligible to apply for promotion to Associate Professor and tenure during their sixth year of continued academic service at NDSU. Promotion and tenure decisions generally occur concomitantly. However, if the experienced faculty member feels he/she has the record to apply for early promotion, he/she may do so if this provision is provided in their original contract. A minimum of three years on the NDSU campus is required before an application can be made for early promotion. Refer to NDSU Policy 352, 3.5 for additional clarification.
Extension of Probationary Period:
At any time during the probationary period but prior to the sixth year (when the portfolio is due), a faculty member may request an extension of the probationary period not to exceed three years based on exceptional personal or family circumstances. The request must be in writing and will be reviewed and forwarded sequentially with recommendation by the chair/head, dean, and Provost/VPAA to the President who will approve or deny the request. Denial of an extension is appealable pursuant to Policy 350.4.
Probationary faculty will automatically be granted a one-year extension of the probationary period for birth of a child or adoption of a child (Refer to Policy 352, 3.6.1 for further clarification).
University Requirements Related to Evaluation of Teaching NDSU Policy 332:
"Student Ratings of Courses and Instruction" states the guidelines for both formative and summative assessment of courses. It is important that this policy be followed to collect information needed for promotion, tenure, and evaluation.
Additional Information: Promotion, Tenure And Evaluation
The format for preparation of the Portfolio for Promotion and Tenure is available from the Dean's Office, or the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. It is important to be certain the format that you are using is for the current year. Specific details for Promotion and Tenure are available in the information with the Portfolio Preparation Guidelines and in the University and Board of Higher Education policy manuals. The University Policy (352) is available in the NDSU Policy Manual. Additional college requirements are included in the College Faculty Handbook, and guidelines specific to the unit are available from the Unit Administrator, or the Dean's Office.
The format for annual review can be found at the following website: http://www.ndsu.edu/vpaa/info.html.
The College Promotion, Tenure, and Evaluation Committee agreed that it was important to require all tenure track faculty to prepare materials for an intensive mid-term review (during their third year toward tenure) using the Portfolio format and procedures. These materials are to be submitted in the spring semester of the third year and should follow the full tenure portfolio format established for submitting applications for promotion and/or tenure. These materials will be used in place of the annual report that year (see College Calendar).
Additional procedures which will be used:
1. Portfolio materials for the academic year (plus summer if appropriate) will be utilized in the evaluation process for faculty in tenure track positions.
2. Tenured faculty will be evaluated on a three year rotation and will be notified at the beginning of their third year of this evaluation. Materials for the past three years should be submitted as a cumulative document.
3. As stated in University Policy 352.6.6. "In the case of joint appointments the primary responsibility for the review rests with the department and the College that holds the majority or plurality of the appointments. Such department or College shall solicit input from the other units holding the remainder of the appointment as appropriate to the allocation of effort. This input from other units shall be included in the portfolio.
4. Candidates for tenure and/or promotion will be provided the opportunity to respond to committee's recommendations, formally in person or in writing, if he/she so chooses. This response must take place before seven calendar days have elapsed after the candidate receives the draft from the Human Development and Education PTE Committee. If a candidate chooses to accept the recommendation and not respond, the draft will become final seven days after the candidate has received it, and will be forwarded in the promotion, tenure and evaluation process.
5. Each unit (department/school) within the College of Human Development and Education will have a PTE Committee. Membership shall follow rules set at the university level. In a situation where a unit does not have three qualified unit faculty (NDSU Policy 352), the Committee shall consist of all qualified unit faculty available, the remainder to be qualified faculty from other units within the College. The unit faculty shall elect the outside members from all who qualify. The minimum membership for a unit PTE Committee shall be three (3).
