Procedures for Faculty Promotion and Tenure

Introduction

The basic policies and procedures guiding promotion and tenure decisions within the University are established by the Michigan State University Board of Trustees. The University promotion and tenure guidelines are outlined in the Michigan State University Faculty Handbook. University policy dictates that recommendations for tenure system faculty appointments, reappointments, extensions of probationary periods, promotion and tenure originate in the primary academic units. This document establishes the Family Practice Department peer review process and procedures for reappointments, promotion and tenure. These procedures are required under Family Practice Bylaws (3.2.2.1.). This peer review process in Family Practice serves the University objective of improving academic strength and quality, taking into account the mission of Family Practice, the College and the University. Implementation of the Family Practice Procedures and Criteria for Promotion and Tenure shall be the responsibility of the Family Practice Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee.

Composition of the Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee

The Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee shall consist of four faculty members in the Department of Family Practice with tenure, one faculty member in the tenure system but without tenure, one faculty member with an appointment in the HHPFAS, one faculty member with an annual renewable appointment and three affiliated residency faculty members. The Committee shall elect one of its members as chair. One third of the committee will be elected on a yearly basis, with each member serving three years. A minimum of 3 eligible Committee members will be necessary to vote on promotion and/or tenure. Only those Committee members who hold rank equal to or higher than the rank sought by the applicant shall vote on the final recommendation. Only tenured faculty will be able to vote on faculty in the tenure system. In the case of insufficient eligible voting members, the department chair shall appoint, on a temporary basis, additional eligible faculty to serve as members for the duration of this specific review. If the committee composition does not reflect diversity through the election process, the chair is obligated to appoint additional member(s) to accomplish this.

Functions of the Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee

The general charge to the Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee will be to independently review all faculty eligible for promotion, reappointment, additional appointment or tenure at least once during the academic year, in sufficient time for consultation with the Department Chairperson. It will generate a list of individuals who must be considered for reappointment, additional appointment, promotion and/or tenure. This list will be submitted with justification to the Department Chairperson and shared with all department faculty.

General Procedures

The chairperson of the RPT Committee shall remind all faculty members by October 31 of the requirements and deadlines of review in the following academic year for promotion and/or tenure. It is the responsibility of the individual faculty member to initiate the process of review and promotion. Faculty who intend to request promotion and/or tenure shall notify in writing the Department Chairperson of such intent by December 31 of the academic year in which the request is made for review by the RPT Committee. A copy should be sent to the chair of the RPT Committee. On receipt of a request for promotion and/or tenure, all faculty will be informed with input solicited and forwarded to the Chair of the RPT Committee. Special notice will be given to faculty members whose review will be required for reappointment and to faculty members who will have completed the time in grade designated by the office of the Provost as the "usual" minimum for promotion. The materials required for review must be submitted to the Chairperson of the RPT Committee by February 28 of the academic year in which the review is to occur. Faculty members who plan to be candidates for promotion and/or tenure are encouraged to discuss the selection of materials for review with current or former members of the Promotion and Tenure Committee well before the February 28 deadline. The process of selecting and arranging materials for review has typically required a period of a month or more for completion. Following deliberations by the RPT Committee, a recommendation (the outcome of a formal vote) will be forwarded to the Department Chair.

Criteria for Faculty Promotion and Tenure

Forms for MSU Promotion and Tenure

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