VCOM Faculty Handbook

period of three years.

Faculty members seeking both promotion and tenure must formally request consideration of both elements individually. Tenure is a matter for separate consideration and is made apart from promotion in rank.

The Process of Applying for Promotion in Rank or Tenure Faculty members seeking both promotion and tenure must formally request consideration of both elements individually. Tenure is a matter for separate consideration and is made apart from promotion in rank. Initiation for promotion in academic rank for a faculty member may be by: • The faculty member, who may submit a written request seeking a letter of recommendation for promotion to their immediate supervisor. • The Division Chair, Associate Dean and/or higher, who may recommend a faculty member apply. Should a faculty member initiate the promotion process by seeking a recommendation for promotion to their immediate supervisor and be unable to solicit the support of his/her immediate supervisor to initiate the promotion process, the supervisor must explicitly detail, in writing, the reasons and deficiencies upon which the decision is based, and must detail the progress the faculty member must achieve before the supervisor’s support can be attained. A faculty member denied promotion support by their supervisor may appeal the decision. In the event of an appeal based upon a supervisor’s denial of support, the written report from the supervisor will be reviewed by the Associate Dean or the Campus Dean (whichever is appropriate to appeal to). The Associate Dean or the Campus Dean may then choose to support or deny support of the promotion. • Upon receiving written notification of denial of support for promotion from the faculty member’s supervisor, the faculty member, within seven calendar days, may appeal, in writing, the supervisor’s denial of support to the Associate Dean or the Campus Dean (whichever is appropriate to appeal to). • After careful consideration of the facts and reasons and deficiencies outlined by the supervisor, the Associate Dean or the Campus Dean will notify the faculty member, in writing, of the decision regarding their support for the faculty member’s promotion within 14 calendar days from the time the appeal from the faculty member was received. The Associate Dean or the Campus Dean may choose to support the promotion or deny support for the promotion.  A letter of approval of support for the promotion by the Associate Dean or the Campus Dean must outline the reasons upon which support was granted.  A letter of denial of support for promotion by the Associate Dean or the Campus Dean must detail the reason(s) for denial and the progress the faculty member must achieve before the supervisor’s support can be obtained. Initiation for tenure for a faculty member begins with a recommendation for tenure by the Associate Dean (if an Associate Dean is applying for tenure, the process begins with the Dean). Faculty Portfolio A faculty member seeking a promotion in academic rank or tenure assumes the responsibility for preparing a detailed portfolio summarizing and documenting professional credentials and accomplishments in teaching, research, scholarly activity, service, and leadership (if in an administrative leadership role). 1. Cover letter formally requesting consideration for promotion or tenure that specifies the rank sought (Assistant Instructor, Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor);

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