3.0 Faculty Appointments, Rank, and Tenure

3.1 Initial Appointment to the Ordinary Faculty: Hiring Policy

In its appointment of Ordinary Faculty, Providence College is committed to the maintenance of the highest standards in instruction, scholarship, and service to the College and its professional and social communities. Mindful of its heritage, the College, in all of its searches for full-time faculty, seeks men and women qualified in their academic disciplines, normally holding the terminal degree, who have demonstrated excellence, or who have the potential for excellence, in teaching and scholarship, and who support and foster the College’s Mission and character as a Catholic and Dominican institution. To preserve that character and further its Mission, the College appoints to the Ordinary Faculty, without formal searches, Dominican Friars qualified in their academic disciplines. In recognition of their proven achievement at Providence College in teaching, scholarship, and service, under extraordinary circumstances, visiting faculty may also be appointed to the Ordinary Faculty without formal searches. (Appendix A  describes the process governing the authorization and advertising of a position, the constitution of a search committee, the conduct of a search, the submission of recommendations, and the selection and appointment of an Ordinary Faculty member.)

3.2 Contract Policy

3.2.1

All Ordinary and Term Faculty appointments are made by formal written contract and are valid only when they have been signed by the president or the Provost and the faculty member. Three copies of all such contracts are executed: one for the faculty member, one for the provost, and one for the associate vice president, human resources. All contracts and commitments, together with the conditions thereof, must be in writing, signed, and in the possession of both the College and the faculty member before an appointment is considered to be completed. No contract term or commitment or condition that is not reduced to writing and signed by the president and the faculty member shall be authorized or valid.

Full-time members of the faculty shall not engage in work for compensation outside the College during the academic year without the specific written permission of the provost. All such work, if authorized, shall be of a professional character and shall not interfere with the faculty member’s responsibilities at Providence College.

3.2.2

The contract is bilateral, and obliges both the faculty member and the College. Changes in the terms of a faculty contract before its expiration must be by mutual agreement of the parties and in writing. A new contract stating the changed terms must be written and signed by the president and the faculty member before such changes become effective.

3.2.3

All contracts of non-tenured Ordinary Faculty and of Term Faculty are bilateral and cannot be terminated prior to the expiration date by either party except by mutual consent or, on the part of the College, for adequate cause as defined in Appendix C . The terms of all faculty contracts are to be according to the official standards in effect governing salary and status at the time the contract is drawn, except in those instances in which unusual circumstances, such as the special need for a faculty member with particularly rare qualifications, may prevail.

3.2.4

Acceptance of a faculty contract includes acceptance by the faculty member of the Mission Statement , the Statement of Objectives of the College , and the Professional Responsibilities  as set forth in this Handbook.

3.2.5

Except for those members of the Ordinary Faculty who are in their first year of probationary appointment, the provost will notify probationary faculty of a decision not to renew their contract not later than January 31 prior to the date when the renewal should be effective. Members of the Ordinary Faculty who are in their first year of probationary appointment whose contract will not be renewed shall be notified not later than March 1 of their first academic year.

3.2.6

Members of the Ordinary Faculty who do not plan to renew their contracts are required to notify the provost and the department chair of their intention not to renew no later than March 1 of their final academic year.

3.3 The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure

All new appointments, reappointments, promotions, decisions not to reappoint, the granting of tenure, and dismissals are made by the president, acting for the Board of Trustees and in accord with the norms and standards set forth in this Faculty Handbook. In carrying out this aspect of his responsibility, the president is guided, but not bound, by the recommendations of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure. Faculty status and related matters are the primary responsibility of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure as it functions in conjunction with the departments and programs.

Normally the president shall, on questions of faculty status, as in other areas where the faculty has primary responsibility, concur with the committee’s recommendations, except for compelling reasons.

3.3.1 Membership and Officers of the Committee

The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure is composed of the provost, ex officio, who serves as the chair, and fifteen (15) voting members.  The chair is empowered to vote only in the case of a tie.

The provost is the normal channel through which the committee receives the matters which it is to consider, and communicates the committee’s actions to the president and other appropriate individuals. He/ she shall have the authority to convene all regular meetings, but he/she shall be required to convene the committee at the request of any three voting members. He/she shall have the authority to appoint a voting member of the committee to serve in his/her place whenever he/she is unable to attend to his/her duties as chair. In the event of the absence of such an appointee, the senior voting member in terms of service at the College shall act as chair. The voting members of the committee shall elect a scribe from among the membership for an annual term, which may be renewed. No member shall be required to serve in this office more than one year.

The scribe is responsible for preparing the minutes of the meetings of the committee and the deliberation report. On occasion the committee may decide that professional secretarial service is required, e.g., when such service is specifically mandated in this Handbook.

3.3.2 Selection of the Voting Members

1. Eligibility. All voting members of the committee must hold the rank of professor or associate professor, must be tenured, and must possess the earned doctorate or other terminally qualifying degree or title. Only members of the committee who hold the rank of professor are eligible to vote on any motion pertaining to a promotion to the rank of professor.

    b. Method of Selection.  The Senate Elections Committee shall oversee all elections. Of the fifteen (15) voting members of the committee:

           Two (2) members of CART from the School of Business shall be elected by the eligible faculty of the School of Business, including at least one (1) holding the rank of professor.

           Two (2) members of CART from the School of Education and Social Work shall be elected by the eligible faculty of the School of Education and Social Work.  Library faculty members, who normally are not affiliated with any of the schools,
           shall be eligible to hold the seats allocated to the School of Education and Social Work, and shall be eligible electors for these seats.

           Two (2) members of CART from the School of Nursing and Health Sciences shall be elected by the eligible faculty of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences, including at least one (1) holding the rank of professor. 

           Six (6) members of CART shall be elected by the eligible faculty of the School of Arts & Sciences as follows:
                Three (3) from the Humanities, including at least one (1) holding the rank of professor.
                One (1) from Natural Science and Math, who must hold the rank of professor.
                One (1) from the Social Sciences, who must hold the rank of professor.
                One (1) from either Natural Science and Math or the Social Sciences.

           Three (3) members of CART shall be chosen by the College President, including at least one (1) holding the rank or professor.

3.3.3 Terms of Voting Members

Length of Terms. The voting members of the committee shall be elected to staggered terms as follows for the first year, i.e., the elections to be held in the spring of 2018.  Subsequent elections shall be for three-year terms. Members may be elected or appointed for a second full or partial term. They may not, however, serve more than two terms, full or partial, in succession. Members who have served two consecutive terms, full or partial, must have a break in service of at least twenty-four (24) months from the date of expiration of the term or the date of resignation from the term, whichever is earlier. Members seeking promotion during an academic year must resign the remainder of their term prior to July 1 of the academic year in which their case will come to CART. Members who are unable to serve shall resign their seats for the remainder of their term.

   a.  Method of selection:  Each school shall conduct its election using the approval voting method:  Every eligible faculty member may vote for as many candidates as he or she chooses.  All Ordinary Faculty members are eligible voters. The election shall
        result in staggered terms.

        The School of Business shall elect two (2) CART members, including at least one (1) holding the rank of
        professor.

            The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a three-year term.
            The candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall be elected to a two-year term.

        The School of Education and Social Work, including Library faculty, shall elect two (2) CART members:

            The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a three-year term.
            The candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall be elected to a two-year term.

        The School of Nursing and Health Sciences, shall elect two (2) CART members. 

             The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a three-year term. 
              The candidate receiving the second highest number of votes shall be elected to a a two-year term. 

        The School of Arts & Sciences shall elect six (6) CART members:

            Humanities:  Three (3) members to be elected, including at least one (1) holding the rank of professor.
                 The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a three-year term.
                 The two (2) candidates receiving the second and third highest number of votes shall be elected to
                 two-year terms.

            Natural Science and Math:  One (1) member to be elected, who must hold the rank of professor.

            Social Sciences:  One (1) member to be elected, who must hold the rank of professor.

            Either Natural Science and Math or the Social Sciences:  One (1) member to be elected. 

            For Natural Science and Math and the Social Sciences:
                 The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to a three-year term.
                 The two (2) candidates receiving the second and third highest number of votes shall be elected to
                 two-year terms.

        College President appointees:

            Three (3) members to be appointed by the college president, including at least one (1) holding the rank of
            professor.  All presidential appointees shall be appointed to three-year terms.          
         

   b.  Unexpired Terms. The president appoints voting members to complete unexpired terms of members he originally appointed. The schools elect voting members to complete unexpired terms of members the schools originally elected.

3.3.3.1  Membership and Participation 

   a.  In meetings of CART, members of CART must recuse themselves from voting on cases from their own department.

   b. In meetings of CART, members of CART must recuse themselves from deliberation and voting on cases involving family or household members as defined by the Providence College Nepotism Policy (see Appendix N  of the Faculty Handbook).

3.3.4 Powers of the Committee

Except when it delegates its authority to the provost, the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall recommend to the president a new appointment to the Ordinary Faculty if a candidate meets the requirements for the recommended rank. The committee has the power to make recommendations to the president regarding appointments to the faculty, decisions not to reappoint, promotions, the granting of tenure and dismissals. Its recommendations provide guidance to the president.

In the exercise of its powers, the committee is guided by the norms and standards set forth in this Faculty Handbook. These norms and standards may be reviewed and revisions of them may be proposed by the committee and/or the Faculty Senate, but all such revisions are subject to the approval of the president before they may take effect.

3.3.5 Department Evaluations of Qualifications for Tenure and Promotion

It shall be the responsibility of each academic department to devise procedures for the tenure and promotion of its faculty members and the appropriate techniques for the evaluation of each faculty member’s achievements in teaching, scholarship, and service. These procedures shall include procedures for a formal third-year review of probationary faculty members. Departmental procedures must be filed by each department with the Provost, who presents them to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure for review. Following this review, the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure will either approve the procedures or request revisions through the provost.

3.3.5.1 Department Evaluations of Qualifications for Tenure and Promotion for Joint Appointments

At the time that an offer of a joint appointment is made, the chairs and/or directors will collaboratively develop a memorandum of agreement that must indicate which standards of promotion and tenure will be utilized for the evaluation of the jointly-appointed faculty. In cases for which the primary unit’s procedures are not selected, the primary and secondary academic units will then devise modified procedures for evaluation of the jointly-appointed faculty member’s achievements in teaching, scholarship, and service. These modified procedures should represent both academic units with consideration of the proportion of appointment between the primary and second units. These modified procedures must not require a greater workload in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service than that which is expected from a traditional faculty appointment. The draft memorandum of agreement will then be submitted to the Dean(s) for her/his input, after which it will be filed with the Provost, who presents it to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure for review. Following this review, the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure will either approve the procedures or request revisions through the Provost. The memorandum of agreement for joint appointments will also include that, as part of the probationary faculty member’s third-year review, the faculty member will meet with his/her dean to provide an opportunity for discussion about how the joint appointment is being managed by the primary and secondary units.

3.3.5.2 Department Evaluations of Qualifications for Promotion of Renewable Contingent Faculty. 

It shall be the responsibility of each academic department to devise procedures guidelines for the promotion of its renewable contingent faculty members and the appropriate techniques for the evaluation of each faculty member’s achievements in teaching and service. These procedures shall include procedures for a formal third-year review of renewable contingent faculty members. Departmental procedures must be filed by each department with the Provost, who presents them to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure for review. Following this review, the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure will either approve the procedures or request revisions through the provost. 

3.4 The Ranks of the Ordinary Faculty

3.4.1. Requirements of the Ranks for Ordinary Faculty 

1. Instructor:
   1.  Possession of at least the Master’s degree or its equivalent in the academic discipline in which the rank is held.
   2. Potential for development in teaching, scholarship, and service as described below in Section 3.4.2.
   3. Evidence of those qualities of character and personality generally recognized in the academic profession as appropriate to a teacher, advisor, and director of students.
2. Assistant Professor:
   1. All that is required for the rank of instructor.
   2. Possession of the earned doctorate. This requirement may, however, be waived for faculty members whose professional competence is shown to be in an area in which the normal terminally qualifying credentials or degree is not the doctorate. Such faculty members must demonstrate that they do possess whatever credentials or degree is normally regarded and generally recognized as certifying terminal faculty appointments, professional qualification in their areas of academic instruction.
   3. Preliminary evidence of scholarship as described below in Section 3.4.2.
3. Associate Professor:
   1. All that is required for the lower ranks.
   2. A minimum of four (4) years’ experience in the rank of assistant professor at the College or one of equivalent standing.
   3. Evidence of achievement in teaching, scholarship, and service as described below in Section 3.4.2.
4. Professor:
   1. All that is required for the lower ranks.
   2. A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the rank of associate professor at the College or one of equivalent standing.
   3. Evidence of distinguished achievement in teaching, scholarship, and service as described below in Section 3.4.2. 

​3.4.1. Requirements of the Ranks for Renewable Contingent Faculty 

1. Assistant Professor (Practice, Clinical, Instruction): 
   1. Possession of at least the Master’s degree or its equivalent in the academic discipline in which the rank is held.
   2. Potential for development in teaching and service as described below in Section 3.4.2.1
   3. Evidence of those qualities of character and personality generally recognized in the academic profession as appropriate to a teacher, advisor, and director of students. 

     2. Senior Professor (Practice, Clinical, Instruction): 

              1. All that is required for the lower ranks. 
              2. A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the ranks of assistant professor at the College or one of equivalent standing. 
              3. Evidence of achievement in teaching and service as described below in Section 3.4.2.1

     3. Principle Professor (Practice, Clinical, Instruction):

              1. All that is required for the lower ranks.
              2. A minimum of five (5) years’ experience in the rank of senior professor at the College or one of equivalent standing.
              3. Evidence of distinguished achievement in teaching, and service as described below in Section 3.4.2.1.

3.4.2 Qualifications for Ordinary Faculty 

All evaluations involving rank are conducted relative to the following qualifications:

1. Teaching. Evidence of continuing effective performance of teaching responsibilities in and out of the classroom. This achievement may be documented in one or more ways depending on the norms of a candidate’s particular discipline. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, peer evaluation, student evaluations, and teaching portfolios. Evidence of effective advising and mentoring is also considered evidence of good teaching. For non-teaching members of the Ordinary Faculty, consistent demonstration of outstanding performance of professional responsibilities must be documented.
    
2. Scholarship. Evidence of continuing scholarly development and performance of scholarly responsibilities. Scholarship may be reflected in a range of professional and intellectual activities depending on the faculty member’s discipline as described in the applicable department tenure and promotion guidelines; it may also be reflected in scholarly work completed with undergraduate students. These activities must include tangible scholarly products.
   
   Tangible scholarly products that constitute evidence of scholarship:
   1. demonstrate a high level of discipline-related expertise;
   2. have been shared with the relevant scholarly community; and
   3. have undergone positive objective peer review, evidenced by juried evaluation of creative work, and/or refereed evaluation of publications and presentation

        Scholarship includes, but is not limited to:

           1.  Creative contributions to the stock of human knowledge;
           2.  Critical analysis or artistic expression centering on the interpretation and/or integration of existing knowledge or the application of
                expertise in one or more disciplines;
           3.  Critical analysis centering on significant innovations in courses, curriculum and/or the pedagogical arts.
​

    c.  Service. Evidence of continuing performance of service responsibilities to their department and in one or more of the following:

           1.  Service to the College;
           2.  Service to an academic discipline/industry;
           3.  Service to the community;
           4.  Effective advising and mentoring.

3.4.2.1 Qualifications for Promotion of Renewable Contingent Faculty 

All evaluations involving rank are conducted relative to the following qualifications:

1. Teaching. Evidence of continuing effective performance of teaching responsibilities in and out of the classroom. This achievement may be documented in one or more ways depending on the norms of a candidate’s particular discipline. This documentation may include, but is not limited to, peer evaluation, student evaluations, and teaching portfolios. Evidence of effective advising and mentoring is also considered evidence of good teaching. For non-teaching members of the Ordinary Faculty, consistent demonstration of outstanding performance of professional responsibilities must be documented. 

2. Service. Evidence of continuing performance of service responsibilities to their department and in one or more of the following:

              1.  Service to the College;
              2.  Service to/continued involvement in an academic discipline or industry;
              3.  Service to the community;
              4.  Effective advising and mentoring.

3.4.3 Exceptions to the Requirements and Qualifications for Promotion

Campus Emergency Exception

Emergency exceptions to the requirements and qualifications for tenure and promotion will be considered upon the declaration by legislation of a campus emergency by the Faculty Senate.  Legislation declaring the start of an emergency must be passed by the Senate by a simple majority of senators and approved by the College President.  An emergency is defined as a local or national event which hinders or significantly alters the ability of faculty to perform their work in one or more area of teaching, scholarship or service.  The intent of this exception is not to lower our academic standards for tenure and promotion but instead to recognize that the  focus of faculty efforts may have to temporarily shift to meet imminent demands and that other planned work may need to be postponed as it may not be safe or feasible to complete during the emergency.   

When an emergency is declared as detailed above, the emergency exception procedures will be applied to all probationary faculty at the time of declaration and will be in effect up to the time of each individual faculty member’s final decision on his/her tenure & promotion application.  The Faculty Senate may renew the emergency exception to include faculty hired since the initial declaration. 

Once declared, a campus emergency results in the following changes to the tenure and promotion procedures: 

1.    Tenure and promotion dossiers for all candidates must contain a “Campus Emergency Impact Statement,” which details how the emergency has impacted the candidate in areas of teaching, scholarship and service.  If the emergency is in effect during any part of the candidate’s probationary period, it is the responsibility of the candidate to make the case for the impact of the emergency in his/her impact statement. The impact statement must be addressed in the candidate’s review at each level of the tenure and promotion process.  Evidence of consideration of the impact statement, including but not limited to how the emergency circumstances may have altered faculty workloads, how faculty responded to the emergency conditions, and what their teaching, scholarship, and service may have been had there not been a serious disruption must be demonstrated via:  a) the deliberation reports from the candidate’s home department and the Committee on Rank and Tenure b) the letters of both the Departmental Chairperson and School Dean, which are submitted to CART.

2.    All ballots for decisions of tenure & promotion provided by the Office of Academic Affairs must indicate that the Campus Emergency Exemption has been activated and that eligible deliberators must consider the candidate’s Campus Emergency Impact Statement in evaluating the candidate’s accomplishments in teaching, scholarship and service.

Exceptions to the requirements and qualifications for the ranks may be considered upon request for promotion by the faculty member. Such exceptions shall be considered only for members of the Ordinary Faculty who lack the appropriate terminal degree, or whose responsibilities to the College, the profession, or the community have limited their achievements in scholarship. Promotion in such cases shall be granted only when the faculty member’s contributions in teaching and service to the College, the profession, or the community are determined to be of extraordinarily high quality and value, and enhance the academic reputation of Providence College.

For promotion to the rank of assistant or associate professor, the faculty member shall have a minimum of five years’ experience in the rank of instructor, or a minimum of ten years’ experience in the rank of assistant professor, and must, in addition to evidence of accomplishment in teaching and service, demonstrate continuing professional development and sustained scholarship in his/her field or related interdisciplinary area.

For promotion to the rank of professor, the faculty member shall have a minimum of ten years’ experience in the rank of associate professor, and shall demonstrate professional growth and scholarship in his/her field or related interdisciplinary area, and shall be recognized as a master in his/her area of expertise.

3.4.4 The Promotion Process for Tenured Faculty

1. The Evaluations by the Chair and the Department
   1. The provost shall inform tenured assistant and associate professors when they become eligible for promotion. These faculty shall be informed prior to May 1 that they will be eligible to apply for promotion to associate or full professor beginning in the ensuing fall semester:
      1. Tenured assistant professors are eligible for promotion in rank.
      2. Faculty members who have served four (4) full years as an associate professor at the College shall be informed of their eligibility to apply for promotion in rank following the provisions of Section 3.4.1.
   2. Prior to September 15, eligible faculty members may present their requests and all materials relevant to their promotion to the respective department chair and CART who shall submit such requests and materials to the appropriate members of the department.
   3. Prior to October 15, the promotion evaluations by the chair and the eligible members of the department shall be completed utilizing the evaluation scheme outlined in Appendix E .
      1. Faculty requesting promotion to the rank of professor shall be evaluated by members of the department having at least two full years of service at Providence College and holding the rank of professor. Absentee ballots are precluded.
      2. Tenured faculty requesting promotion to the rank of associate professor shall be evaluated by members of the department having at least two full years of service at Providence College and holding the rank of associate professor and professor. Absentee ballots are precluded.
      3. At a deliberation meeting called by the chair of the department, eligible members of the department shall discuss the merits of the promotion application in light of the department’s promotion guidelines and complete recommendation ballots as outlined in Appendix E .
      4. The department chair shall complete the chair’s responsibilities as outlined in Section 2.4.2.c  and Appendix E . In completing these responsibilities, the chair shall leave enough time to secure departmental approval of the deliberation report. Within 5 days of the deliberation meeting, the department chair shall inform the candidate as to whether the departmental recommendation was favorable or unfavorable in each area. The exact vote tabulation shall not be revealed to the candidate except as provided in Appendix E.2.f .
2. Evaluation by the School Dean
   For all tenure and promotion cases, each applicable school dean must complete a personal recommendation after receiving the materials from the chair. The dean reviews the materials to ensure that the department has followed its own procedures and qualifications in evaluating the candidate. The dean will contact the department if 1) he or she finds information submitted by the chair/department to be lacking, and/or if 2) he or she has determined that the department has not fully followed its procedures. In either case, the dean shall request additional information from the eligible members of the department, including the chair, and/or a revision of the deliberation report and/or chair’s recommendation, to ensure that adequate information or explanation has been provided to guide both the dean and CART in their own deliberations. The dean shall contact the department if he or she anticipates writing a personal recommendation that is in disagreement with the recommendations of the department chair and/or the majority of the department.  The dean need not contact the department if none of the above conditions apply. The dean then finalizes his or her opinion on the case and submits his or her own personal recommendation along with the materials supplied by the chair to the provost.
    
3. The Recommendation by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure
   1. The provost shall present the results of the promotion evaluations by the academic dean, the chair and the eligible members of the department, the submissions, if any, of the faculty member, and all pertinent information and credentials available in the faculty member’s personnel file, maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs, to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure. At the discretion of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure, any materials submitted after January 25 may be considered. The faculty member shall have the option of appearing before the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure to comment in support of his/ her promotion consideration. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall prepare its promotion evaluations as outlined in Appendix E .
   2. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall recommend to the president that a candidate be promoted if a candidate meets each of the following minimum standards of achievement:
      1. A majority of Yes votes by the eligible voting members of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of teaching;
      2. A majority of Yes votes by the eligible voting members of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of scholarship;
      3. A majority of Yes votes by the eligible voting members of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of service.
   3. Members of CART ineligible to vote as a matter of rank, absence, or recusal, are not included in the determination of the number of Yes votes required to reach majority.
   4. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall recommend to the president the denial of promotion if a candidate fails to meet any of the preceding minimum standards of achievement.
4. The Promotion Decision
   The president’s decision on the request for promotion shall be communicated to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure and to the faculty member not later than January 15 prior to the effective date of the promotion.

3.4.4.1 The Promotion Process for Tenured Faculty in Cases of Joint Appointment

a. The Evaluations by the Chair and the Department 1. The provost shall inform tenured assistant and associate professors when they become eligible for promotion. These faculty shall be informed prior to May 1 that they will be eligible to apply for promotion to associate or full professor beginning in the ensuing fall semester:

a. Tenured assistant professors are eligible for promotion in rank.

b.Faculty members who have served four (4) full years as an associate professor at the College shall be informed of their eligibility to apply for promotion in rank following the provisions of Section 3.4.1. 2.

Prior to September 15, eligible faculty members may present their requests and all materials relevant to their promotion to the respective department chair/director of their primary and secondary units, and CART who shall submit such requests and materials to the appropriate members of the department.

3. Prior to October 15, the promotion evaluations by the chair and the eligible members of the department shall be completed utilizing the evaluation scheme outlined in Appendix E.

a. Faculty requesting promotion to the rank of professor shall be evaluated by members of the department having at least two full years of service at Providence College and holding the rank of professor. Absentee ballots are precluded.

b.Tenured faculty requesting promotion to the rank of associate professor shall be evaluated by members deemed eligible in the memorandum of agreement establishing joint appointment. Eligible deliberators may be made up of members of the primary or secondary unit having at least two full years of service at Providence College and holding the rank of associate professor and professor. Absentee ballots are precluded.

c. At a deliberation meeting called by the chair of the primary academic unit, eligible deliberators from each academic unit as established by the memorandum of agreement, shall discuss the merits of the promotion application in light of the promotion procedures indicated in the memorandum of agreement and complete recommendation ballots as outlined in Appendix E.

d.The chairs/directors of the primary and secondary units shall complete the chair’s responsibilities as outlined in Section 2.4.2.c and Appendix E. In completing these responsibilities, the chairs/directors shall leave enough time to secure departmental approval of the deliberation report. Within 5 days of the deliberation meeting, the department chair of the primary academic unit shall inform the candidate as to whether the departmental recommendation was favorable or unfavorable in each area. The exact vote tabulation shall not be revealed to the candidate except as provided in Appendix E.2.f.

3.5 Academic Tenure

Providence College endorses the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure of the American Association of University Professors and the Association of American Colleges. (See Policy and Informational Documents for the Faculty of Providence College.)

3.5.1 Tenured Status

1. All members of the Ordinary Faculty who have completed a probationary period of six years and who successfully complete the tenure process (3.5.4) are given permanent or tenured status with the College unless notice is given prior to the conclusion of the fifth year that the sixth year constitutes a final appointment. Their services may not be terminated by the College except:
   1. for dismissal for adequate cause as defined in Appendix C ;
   2. under extraordinary circumstances because of financial exigency;
   3. for discontinuance of a major, minor, program or a department not mandated by financial exigency.
2. Beginning with appointment to the Ordinary Faculty, the probationary period may not exceed six years. Credit toward tenure shall be specified at the time of the initial appointment as specified in Appendix A . Time spent on leave of absence may count as probationary period service, except in those cases when the leave is of such a nature that the individual’s development as a faculty member cannot be judged, or when the leave is for other than scholarly purposes. Mutual agreement as to whether or not the leave will count as probationary period service shall be in writing at the time the leave is granted. Notice shall be given at least one year prior to the expiration of the probationary period if the faculty member is not to be continued in service at the College after the expiration of probationary period.
3. During the probationary period a faculty member has the same academic freedom that all the other members of the faculty have.
4. The termination for adequate cause of a tenured member of the Ordinary Faculty, or the dismissal for adequate cause as defined in Appendix C , of a member of the Ordinary Faculty previous to expiration of the probationary period, shall be according to the Grievance Procedures in Appendix G .
5. Tenured faculty who are dismissed for reasons not involving grave moral delinquency or financial exigency should receive their salaries for at least a year from the date of notification of dismissal, whether or not they are continued in their duties at the College.
6. The conferral of tenured status is accompanied by a promotion in rank to associate professor, unless the faculty member was appointed to the College as an Associate or Full Professor. This promotion is an automatic consequence of receiving tenure, and therefore it involves no separate application or decision.

3.5.2 Decisions Not to Reappoint During the Probationary Period

1. A recommendation not to reappoint, including a recommendation based on adequate cause, as defined in Appendix C , may be initiated by any one or more of the following: the president, the provost, the dean of undergraduate and graduate studies, the academic dean of the school, the department chair in which the faculty member teaches. Any such recommendation shall be forwarded to the Office of Academic Affairs in writing and shall include, if applicable, the adequate cause(s) for the recommendation.
2. A recommendation not to reappoint shall be discussed informally by the provost with the faculty member not later than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the dates of notice of non-reappointment specified in the schedule in Section 3.5.2.c. The provost shall discuss the recommendation informally with the department chair and any other concerned parties deemed appropriate by the provost.
   1. If the recommendation is contested by the faculty member, he/she shall be given the opportunity to submit material which he/she believes will be helpful to the adequate consideration of his/her circumstances. These submissions shall be made to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure through the provost not later than fourteen (14) calendar days after the date of the informal discussion referred to above. These submissions and all other pertinent information bearing on the action shall be reviewed by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure not later than ten (10) calendar days after the receipt of these submissions by the provost. The committee shall arrive at its recommendation by a majority vote and it shall inform the president of its findings and recommendations, together with the recorded vote, not later than seventy-two (72) hours after being convened by the chair of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure. In the event that the president is not available or able to act on the recommendation of the committee, the executive vice president shall receive the committee’s findings and recommendations and act in the president’s stead.
   2. If the recommendation is not contested in writing by the faculty member to the provost within fourteen (14) calendar days following this informal discussion, the recommendation not to reappoint shall be forwarded to the president by the provost.
3. The decision of the president shall be stated in writing to the faculty member, and in the event of a decision not to reappoint, notice of non-reappointment shall be given according to the following schedule:
   1. Not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service, if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or, if the appointment is for less than the full academic year, at least ninety (90) calendar days in advance of its termination.
   2. Not later than January 31 of subsequent academic years of service if the appointment expires at the end of that year.
   3. If the College fails to provide sufficient notice as prescribed by the schedule in 1. to 2. above, the faculty member shall be paid an amount equivalent to the salary the faculty member would have been entitled to receive for a period of time equivalent to the period of deficiency, based upon the academic year base salary. If the period of deficiency exceeds ninety (90) calendar days, the faculty member shall be paid an amount equivalent to one academic year’s base salary based on the faculty member’s current contract. This provision for terminal notice or pay need not apply in the event that the president determines that non-reappointment is justified on the basis of conduct involving grave moral delinquency.
4. In the event of a decision of the president not to reappoint, the faculty member, if he/she so requests, shall be advised orally by the provost of the reasons that contributed to the decision.
5. If the faculty member expresses a desire to petition for a review, or the faculty member makes the request for any other reason satisfactory to himself/herself alone, he/she shall have the reasons given in explanation of the non-reappointment confirmed in writing by the provost. However, the faculty member should consider whether it is to his/her advantage to be so informed of the reasons for non-reappointment, particularly in writing. In being so informed, the faculty member may be placed under obligation to divulge the reasons to the appointing body of another institution if it inquired. Similarly, a written record may become the basis for continuing responses by the College to prospective appointing bodies.
6. If the faculty member considers that non-reappointment involves a violation of academic freedom, or inadequate consideration by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure, then the faculty member may petition for a review according to the Grievance Procedures in Appendix G .

3.5.3 Qualifications for Tenure

All evaluations involving tenure are conducted relative to the following qualifications.

1. Teaching. Evidence of continuing effective performance of teaching responsibilities in and out of the classroom. This achievement may be documented in one or more ways depending on the norms of a particular discipline, which may include, but is not limited to, peer evaluation, student evaluations, and teaching portfolios. Evidence of effective advising and mentoring is also considered evidence of good teaching. For nonteaching members of the Ordinary Faculty, consistent demonstration of outstanding performance of professional responsibilities must be documented.
2. Scholarship. Evidence of continuing scholarly development and performance of scholarly responsibilities. Scholarship may be reflected in a range of professional and intellectual activities depending on the faculty member’s discipline and as described in the applicable department tenure and promotion guidelines. These activities will be considered collectively to be the scholarship product. These activities may include scholarly work completed prior to employment at Providence College but must include tangible scholarship product(s) completed as a member of the Providence College faculty unless the candidate was appointed to the College with tenure and promoted rank.
   
   Tangible scholarly products that constitute evidence of scholarship:
   1. demonstrate a high level of discipline related expertise;
   2. have been shared with the relevant scholarly community; and
   3. have undergone positive objective peer review, evidenced by juried evaluation of creative work, and/or refereed evaluation of publications and presentations.
3. Service. Evidence of continuing performance of service responsibilities to the department and in one or more of the following areas:
   1. Service to the College;
   2. Service to an academic discipline;
   3. Service to the community;
   4. Effective advising and mentoring.

3.5.4 The Process for Tenure with Promotion to Associate Professor

1. The Evaluations by the Chair and the Department
   1. Prior to June 1 of each academic year, the provost shall inform in writing all those probationary faculty members who are eligible for tenure consideration during the next academic year that a recommendation regarding their probationary status at the College is to be made by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure.
   2. Prior to September 1, the provost presents the names of all those members of the faculty who are in their sixth year or who are otherwise eligible for tenure consideration to the appropriate department chairs.
   3. The faculty member shall have the opportunity to submit his or her dossier and other materials which he or she believes may be helpful to the tenure consideration. All materials shall be submitted no later than January 15 to the respective department chair and to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure through the provost.
   4. The department chair shall inform the tenured members in the department of the name of the probationary faculty member and shall distribute to them any materials submitted by the faculty member or provided to the department for its review. Between January 15 and February 1 at a deliberation meeting called by the chair, qualified members of the department shall discuss the probationary faculty member’s qualifications for tenure and complete recommendation ballots as detailed in Appendix E . Within 5 days of the deliberation meeting, the department chair shall inform the candidate as to whether the departmental recommendation was favorable or unfavorable in each area. The exact vote tabulation shall not be revealed to the candidate except as provided in Appendix E.2.f . Absentee ballots are precluded.
   5. All recommendation ballots, the deliberation report and the chair’s personal recommendation shall be forwarded to the provost, with copies to the appropriate school dean, no later than February 15.
2. Evaluation by the school dean
   The school dean will provide a recommendation in accordance with the procedures in Appendix E.2.d .
3. The Recommendation by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure
   1. The provost shall present the results of the tenure evaluations by the chair and the tenured members of the department, the submissions, if any, of the faculty member, and all pertinent information and credentials available in the faculty member’s personnel file, maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs, to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure. At the discretion of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure, any materials submitted after January 15 may be considered. The faculty member shall have the option of appearing before the Committee on academic Rank and Tenure to comment in support of his/her tenure consideration. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall prepare its tenure evaluation as outlined in Appendix E .
   2. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall recommend to the president the award of tenure if a candidate meets each of the following minimum standards of achievement:
      1. A majority of Yes votes by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of teaching;
      2. A majority of Yes votes by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of scholarship;
      3. A majority of Yes votes by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of service.
   3. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall recommend to the president the denial of tenure if a candidate fails to meet any of the preceding minimum standards of achievement.
4. The Tenure Decision
   1. If the granting of tenure to a candidate could conflict with the existing or projected needs of the College, the school, or the concerned department, the provost shall convene a special committee composed of the provost, the dean of undergraduate and graduate studies, the chair of the concerned department, the president of the Faculty Senate, the chair of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate, and the vice president for finance and business. The special committee shall advise the president on the question of need for the tenured position.
   2. If the president decides to award tenure, the president shall send a letter to the candidate no later than June 1 stating that the College intends to offer the faculty member a contract for the subsequent year conferring tenure and (if the rank has not already been achieved) promotion to associate professor upon the faculty member.
   3. If the president decides not to award tenure, the president shall send a letter to the faculty member stating that the College intends to offer the faculty member a contract for the subsequent year, which constitutes a final year of appointment. In the event that tenure is denied because of need, the president shall so inform the faculty member in writing. In the event that tenure is denied for reasons other than need, the candidate may request from the provost the reasons which led to the decision.
5. Petition for Review
   If the faculty member considers that denial of tenure involves a violation of academic freedom, or inadequate consideration by the department or the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure, then the faculty member may petition for a review according to the Grievance Procedures in Appendix G .

3.5.4.1 The Process for Tenure with Promotion to Associate Professor in Cases of Joint Appointment

a. The Evaluations by the Chair and the Department

1. Prior to June 1 of each academic year, the provost shall inform in writing all those probationary faculty members who are eligible for tenure consideration during the next academic year that a recommendation regarding their probationary status at the College is to be made by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure.

2. Prior to September 1, the provost presents the names of all those members of the faculty who are in their sixth year or who are otherwise eligible for tenure consideration to the appropriate chairs/directors of the primary and secondary units.

3. The faculty member shall have the opportunity to submit his or her dossier and other materials which he or she believes may be helpful to the tenure consideration. All materials shall be submitted no later than January 15 to the respective department chair and to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure through the provost.

4. The department chair shall inform the eligible deliberators from each academic unit, as established by the memorandum of agreement, of the name of the probationary faculty member and shall distribute to them any materials submitted by the faculty member or provided for review. Between January 15 and February 1 at a deliberation meeting called by the chair of the primary unit, eligible deliberators shall discuss the probationary faculty member’s qualifications for tenure and complete recommendation ballots as detailed in Appendix E. Within 5 days of the deliberation meeting, the department chair shall inform the candidate as to whether the departmental recommendation was favorable or unfavorable in each area. The exact vote tabulation shall not be revealed to the candidate except as provided in Appendix E.2.f. Absentee ballots are precluded.

5. All recommendation ballots, the deliberation report and the personal recommendation of the chair/director of each academic unit shall be forwarded to the provost, with copies to the appropriate school dean, no later than February 15.

f. Evaluation by the school dean The school dean will provide a recommendation in accordance with the procedures in Appendix E.2.d.

g. The Recommendation by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure

1. The provost shall present the results of the tenure evaluations by the chair(s)/director and the eligible members of the department(s)/program, the submissions, if any, of the faculty member, and all pertinent information and credentials available in the faculty member’s personnel file, maintained by the Office of Academic Affairs, to the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure. At the discretion of the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure, any materials submitted after January 15 may be considered. The faculty member shall have the option of appearing before the Committee on academic Rank and Tenure to comment in support of his/her tenure consideration. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall prepare its tenure evaluation as outlined in Appendix E. 

2. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall recommend to the president the award of tenure if a candidate meets each of the following minimum standards of achievement:

a. A majority of Yes votes by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of teaching;

b. A majority of Yes votes by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of scholarship;

c. A majority of Yes votes by the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure in the area of service.

3. The Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure shall recommend to the president the denial of tenure if a candidate fails to meet any of the preceding minimum standards of achievement.

h. The Tenure Decision

1. If the granting of tenure to a candidate could conflict with the existing or projected needs of the College, the school, or the concerned department, the provost shall convene a special committee composed of the provost, the dean of undergraduate and graduate studies, the chair of the concerned department, the president of the Faculty Senate, the chair of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate, and the vice president for finance and business. The special committee shall advise the president on the question of need for the tenured position.

2. If the president decides to award tenure, the president shall send a letter to the candidate no later than June 1 stating that the College intends to offer the faculty member a contract for the subsequent year conferring tenure and (if the rank has not already been achieved) promotion to associate professor upon the faculty member.

3. If the president decides not to award tenure, the president shall send a letter to the faculty member stating that the College intends to offer the faculty member a contract for the subsequent year, which constitutes a final year of appointment. In the event that tenure is denied because of need, the president shall so inform the faculty member in writing. In the event that tenure is denied for reasons other than need, the candidate may request from the provost the reasons which led to the decision.

i. Petition for Review If the faculty member considers that denial of tenure involves a violation of academic freedom, or inadequate consideration by the department or the Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure, then the faculty member may petition for a review according to the Grievance Procedures in Appendix G.