Postponements for Tenure-Track Faculty
Policy on Postponement of a Tenure-track Third-Year Reappointment Review or Tenure Decision Owing to the COVID-19 Disruption of Academic Years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22
Policy
At the request of the Academic Deans and the Provost, CFRR has approved extending a third-year reappointment review or tenure decision for up to two additional semesters for faculty currently holding tenure-track appointments who have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 disruption of research and teaching for multiple years. Faculty are not required to delay their tenure clock but will have the option to request an extension.
This additional two-semester extension will come on top of the four- semester limit for tenure clock extensions for FMLA leaves and the two semester postponement offered in 2020. The faculty member must notify the appropriate Dean of such a postponement by May 1 of the calendar year in which the department is scheduled to begin its deliberations (or by Nov. 1 for off- cycle faculty).Eligibility
All tenure-line faculty who started their position before the 2021-2022 academic year will be eligible to opt-in for up to a two year extension. Tenure-line faculty who started in the 2021-2022 academic year will be eligible to opt-in for a one year extension.
Process
- Pre-Reappointment — Faculty who choose to invoke the first or second extension in order to delay their third-year reappointment review should consult their chair (if they are in the School of Arts and Sciences) or associate dean (if they are in the Heller School or International Business School) and notify the dean of their decision (copying their chair or associate dean) before the reappointment process is initiated. The dean will arrange for these faculty to receive an updated contract, which reflects a one- or two-year extension. Please note: this will postpone Norman Leave eligibility (for those faculty eligible for Norman leaves) as faculty are eligible following reappointment (which would now occur in the fourth or fifth year rather than the third year).
- Post-Reappointment — Faculty who choose to invoke the extension in order to delay their tenure review should consult their chair or associate dean and notify the dean of their decision (copying their chair or associate dean) before the tenure process is initiated. The dean will arrange for these faculty to receive an updated contract, which reflects a one- or two-year extension.
Updated following approval of second extension of policy by the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities. (See Provost Fierke’s email of Dec. 9, 2021, update to November 2020 and May 2020 policy)