"What's Taking So Long?"

Several faculty members have asked me this question about the forthcoming draft of the proposed Promotion and Tenure policy. Faculty, particularly ones on the tenure track, are anxious to see the new policy. Everyone is confident that the Task Force did a great job, especially given the caliber of the individuals on the task force. I have included their names in a separate thank-you post.

So "What's taking so long?"

First, a couple of reminders. For faculty up for promotion and/or tenure next year, the policy draft allows them to go forward under the old or the new guidelines. The policy draft also contains a transition plan for faculty coming up for tenure and/or promotion in subsequent years. This will ensure that the transition is fair.

The Task Force left a few areas for Senate to complete. There were also a few items that came up that the Task Force felt were beyond their charge. Senate needs to address these areas. Moreover, the policy needs to be finalized in collaboration with administration. Both faculty and administrators have contributions to make the policy. The Task Force considered written input from administration, and also met with administrators. Nevertheless, this is the first time administrators have seen the draft. Senate needs time to meet with administrators to discuss their comments in a collaborative process.

All administration's ideas have been positive and helpful, and many are very pro-faculty. For example, administration has helped up improve the family-friendly provisions we want to include so faculty with important life events (a birth, an illness) and need to take a leave will still be able to move ahead with their tenure applications.

Your Senators are working very hard to finalize the policy so that the draft that reaches you is complete, accurate, and appropriate.

Here are the meetings Senate has held since the policy draft reached us from the Task Force.

December 15 Senate discussed the draft at its regular meeting. Senators agreed to read the draft over break and meet right after break to decide how to move forward. (The draft was received too close to the meeting date to have a substansive discussion at that meeting.)

January 5 At a Special Senate meeting, Senators decided to appoint a subcommittee to add missing parts to the draft, clarify it, and ensure it was organized. Representatives from IPTC and the Task Force chair were invited to this meeting.

January 6, 7, 10 Senate subcommittee, meeting with representatives from IPTC and the Task Force chair, reviewed the policy, added some clarifications, and ensured it was organized.

January 10 and 11 Senate Chair updated the draft based on previous meetings.

January 11 Senate Chair met with Interim Provost. A meeting was scheduled to go over the draft in detail.

January 12 Three hour meeting with the interim provost to go over the draft.

January 17 Provost provides written input for review and discussion with Senate (input was not formally accepted by Senate).

January 19 Senate decides to postpone the Faculty Association meeting to allow time to reconcile administration's comments.

January 20 Senate subcommittee reviews administrative input.

January 24 Meeting with Senate subcommittee and Interim Provost to reconcile administrative input.

The revised draft will go to faculty and administrators on January 27, which allows 15 days for review prior to the February 11 Special Faculty Association Meeting. That allows plenty of time for thought and consideration of the policy, especially given the ample faculty input in the development of the policy. Senate's goal is to approve a final draft at its meeting on February 16.