Tenure and promotion Standards: That was Then; This is Now

Abstract

Dr. Bill Merrill and Dr. Laura Penley, both assistant professors at Regency State University, were conversing at lunch about the Faculty Personnel Committee’s expected changes in the College’s tenure and promotion policies. With the University’s aspiration of becoming a major research institution, it was expected that the Personnel Committee would be raising the requirements for faculty to achieve tenure and promotion, especially in the area of research and publication. As untenured faculty who would soon be seeking tenure and promotion to associate professor, they were concerned since this change could significantly affect their future.

A few weeks later, the Personnel Committee released its recommendations which, indeed, did increase the requirements for tenure and promotion. The proposed changes were reviewed by the Dean and subsequently approved by a vote of the faculty. However, a critical issue with major implications for the junior faculty was how and when the new standards would take effect: immediately, next year, or at some later time? With this sensitive issue yet to be resolved, the Personnel Committee was reconvened and charged with recommending a plan for implementation of the new policy