VCOM Faculty Handbook

1. Prior to convening the APT Committee, each portfolio for consideration of promotion in rank will be reviewed by a secondary reviewer, who is a member of the APT Committee. 2. The secondary reviewer will complete an Academic Rank Promotion Matrix (currently only for academic and research track faculty) for each promotion candidate and will submit the completed matrix to the APT Coordinator to include with the candidate’s portfolio packet. 3. The secondary reviewer will formally document their recommendation concerning promotion in rank on the provided spreadsheet within the timeline provided for completion of secondary reviews prior to the APT Committee meeting. 4. Once the APT Committee convenes, the faculty member’s portfolio will be carefully reviewed and discussed. 5. The APT Committee may recommend approval of the faculty member for promotion in rank or tenure, denial of the faculty member for promotion in rank or tenure, or delay in making a decision for promotion in rank or tenure due to the need of further documentation. • In addition to years of appointment at a particular rank at VCOM, years of appointment of that same rank from a previous or current academic higher education institution will also be accepted toward promotion in rank at VCOM. For example, a faculty member who held the rank of Assistant Professor at a previous institution for 2 years will be granted 2 years of service toward promotion in rank at VCOM. This faculty member would be eligible to apply for promotion in rank to Associate Professor after completing two years of academic teaching, research and service experience at the Assistant Professor level at VCOM (meeting VCOM’s criteria of 4 years of appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in order to be eligible to request promotion in rank to Associate Professor). • All votes regarding the award of tenure will be taken by closed ballot and tallied by the Chair of the APT Committee. 6. A letter from the APT Committee as to the recommended approval of promotion in rank or tenure, denial of promotion in rank or tenure, or delay in a decision for promotion in rank or tenure will be provided to the Campus Dean, who will approve, deny, or delay the promotion in rank or tenure, and to the faculty member. • A letter of recommendation for promotion in rank or tenure by the APT Committee must outline the reasons upon which the recommendation was based and specify both the track and rank recommended. • A letter of denial of promotion in rank or tenure by the APT Committee must detail the reason(s) for denial and any recommendations to improve the application. • A letter of delay in making a decision regarding promotion in rank or tenure by the APT Committee must detail the reason(s) for their inability to make a decision and must include any recommendations to improve the application, as well as identifying a mentor who will offer assistance to improve the application. 7. The Campus Dean will consider the recommendation of the APT Committee, investigate as needed, and will approve or disapprove the promotion in rank or tenure. The Campus Dean may also return the portfolio to the APT Committee for further documentation prior to approving or denying the promotion in rank or tenure. 8. A letter from the Campus Dean as to the approval of promotion in rank or tenure, denial of promotion in rank or tenure, or delay in a decision for promotion in rank or tenure will be provided to the faculty member. • A letter of approval of promotion in rank or tenure by the Campus Dean must outline the reasons upon which the recommendation was based and specify both the track and rank recommended.

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