Tenured Faculty Review Committee

Guidelines

April 11, 2007

The Procedures for Evaluation of Tenured Faculty Members at Union County College are found in Article XIII, Section D, E, and F of the Agreement between the Board of Trustees of Union County College and the Union County Chapter of the American Association of University Professors for September 1, 2006 – August 31, 2009.

These guidelines are intended to explain and simplify the contractual language. They do not in any way modify or supersede the contract.

Who Is Subject to Post Tenure Review?

1. Tenured faculty members are to be reviewed “once every five years.” (XIII,D,1,a)
2. “A faculty member may not undergo post-tenure evaluation in the same year as evaluation for purposes of promotion.” (XIII,D.1b)
3. “. . . [I]n no event shall a faculty member undergo post-tenure evaluation within less than five years since her/his last evaluation for any purpose.” (XIII,F,1)
4. “A list of faculty to undergo post tenure evaluation during any academic year shall be generated by the office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs.” (XIII,F,1)

The Post-Tenure Record File

The “Post Tenure Review File (PTRF) and the Faculty Record File” are separate files. “[I]f material is appropriate for both, it should be duplicated by the faculty member at the time of placement.” (XIII,E) The Post Tenure Review File is distinct from your reappointment and promotion file, which is called the Faculty Record File. You need to create a new file.

Contract Requirements Tenured Faculty Review

1. Create a new Post Tenure Review File (PTRF). Make an appointment with the secretary to the Vice President of Academic Affairs to secure a Blue binder. [Black, red, and green binders are used by the Peer Evaluation Committee for tenure and promotions.] This blue binder has the following section dividers.

a. Teaching Effectiveness

i. Student Evaluation Summaries for at least three different class sections per academic year for at least two academic years prior to the evaluation. (A minimum of six classroom evaluations by students for the two years prior to your evaluation)

ii. Evidence that the faculty member has advised students on academic matters as fully as possible

iii. Peer evaluations are not required.

b. Professional Development – documentation of scholarly, academic, or professional attainments or activities appropriate to the faculty member’s academic or professional area

c. Contributions to the College or Department

i. Committee Work

ii. Other appropriate evidence

d. Curriculum or instruction improvement, development, or revision

i. Documentation Of completion of or progress in curriculum or instruction improvement, development, or revision

ii. Other appropriate evidence

e. Community Service

i. Documentation of community service, including a description of the individual faculty member’s individual contribution

ii. Other appropriate evidence

2. Place material relevant to each of the sections in your Blue binder
3. Create an Index or Item Listing—preferably at the beginning and in each section divider.
4. Have your listing countersigned by your department chair.
5. By September 30, make an appointment to bring your completed and countersigned PTRF to the secretary for the Vice President of Academic Affairs. It is confusing if you leave your PTRF with someone else and your PTRF may be lost!

Practical Hints on How to Organize Your PTRF

1. Post Tenure Review occurs at five-year intervals. The Tenured Faculty Review Committee recommends strongly that you only place NEW material in your file. At most, go back five years. You only need the two most recent years. Do not clog up your file. Several volume files are neither necessary nor appreciated.

2. You need an Index or Item Listing. You place the items in your file and have it countersigned. “All material shall be logged in by the faculty member and the designee of the appropriate academic officer in the same manner as is used in preparing the Faculty Record File.” (XIII,F,4) In general, this is your department chair. Your chairperson should advise you if he sees areas of weakness. Often people forget to put relevant materials in their files.

3. Consider including a second listing of the materials in your file, where the items are grouped in the categories of evaluation. For example, what items are under category “Contributions to College or Department?” This is very useful in reviewing your file.

4. A current curriculum vita is very useful. This is not contractually required. However, it is here that you can list your achievements prior to the current evaluation cycle. How long have you been at UCC? When did you get your current rank? What degrees do you have? What are your major achievements?

5. Your Department’s Annual Report usually has a section where the activities of the individual faculty member’s achievements for the year are summarized. This may help you in preparing a list of your accomplishments.

6. Remember that what is important is the total picture. If you are light in one area, it can be offset through other achievements. Remember further that you already have tenure. Post tenure review is there to assist tenured faculty in maintaining excellence in teaching and appropriate other contributions to the College.

Evaluation Process

1. You must have your file completed by September 30 of the year in which you are reviewed.

2. Your Department review has to be completed by December 15 of the year in which you are reviewed and you must have been notified of the result.

3. The Tenured Faculty Review Committee must have completed its review by March 15 of the year in which you are reviewed and you must have been notified of the result.

4. “By April 30, the appropriate academic officer will forward his/her evaluation to the faculty member and to the appropriate department chairperson.” (XIII,F,9)

5. After you have successfully completed the post tenure review, make an appointment with the secretary to the Vice President of Academic Affairs to retrieve your PTRF.