APS #1020

Active

Review of the Tenure Process

Brief Description

Provides measures to verify the integrity, transparency, and periodic review of the tenure process.

Reason for Policy

Provides measures to verify the integrity, transparency, and periodic review of the tenure process.

Policy Profile

APS Policy Title: 
Review of the Tenure Process
APS Number: 
1020
Effective Date: 
May 1, 2023
Approved By: 
President Todd Saliman
Responsible University Officer: 
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Responsible Office: 
Office of Academic Affairs
Policy Contact: 
Office of Academic Affairs, 303-860-5623
Supersedes: 
Tenure Accountability, January 17, 2013
Last Reviewed/Updated date: 
May 1, 2023
Applies to: 
All campuses

I. Introduction

This policy calls for transparency of the tenure process and a periodic review of the process to ensure it continues to meet requirements and expectations set forth in regent law and policy. The integrity of the tenure process depends upon the university's adherence to its tenure policies and procedures.

II. Policy Statement

  1. Transparency of Tenure Policies

    The university's laws, policies, and procedures for tenure should be easily accessible. Therefore, the university shall post and maintain systemwide policies and procedures for tenure on the system website; campuses shall post and maintain campus policies and procedures for tenure on the individual campus websites, including primary unit procedures and criteria for tenure.
     
  2. Periodic Review of Tenure Related Policies and Procedures

    The regents have tasked the administration with ongoing review and updating of all regent laws and policies, associated Administrative Policy Statements (APSs), and campus policies.  Tenure and tenure processes and procedures are a component of this review.

    The periodic review (at least every ten years) of tenure policies shall follow the usual regent law and policy review process, which seeks input from regents, system and campus administration, shared governance, campus faculty, staff, students, and the public.  This input is used to generate proposed updates to these policies.  For tenure policies, this process is led by the vice president for academic affairs.

    Following any adoption of changes in regent laws and policies, system-level APSs about tenure shall be brought into compliance with regent law and policy and may be considered for further changes based on input gathered in the policy review process.  Similarly, any associated campus, school/college, and/or department policies and procedures shall be updated accordingly.
     
  3. Data Collection

    The provost office at each campus shall maintain record of:
    1. The number of faculty members who apply for tenure each year.
    2. Among those who applied for tenure, the number that were awarded and the number denied.
    3. The number of grievances filed by those denied tenure.
      1. The number of grievances that led to reconsideration due to procedural errors.
      2. The number of these cases where the original decision was reaffirmed.
  4. Review of Tenure Grievances

    Based on regent law and policy, grievances challenging a tenure decision can only be based on failure to follow published policy and procedures. When a tenure grievance has been evaluated and process issues have been identified, either during the third level appeal or through the Faculty Senate Grievance Committee process, the vice president for academic affairs shall maintain a record of process issues with two purposes. First, to identify potential lack of clarity in processes and procedures that can be corrected at a local level. Second, to maintain a list of concerns to be addressed in the next review of regent laws and policies.

III. Related Policies and Procedures

IV. History

  • Adopted:  October 1, 2006.  This policy was developed from recommendations made by the Advisory Committee on Tenure Related Processes in 2005-06.
  • Revised:  January 17, 2013; August 31, 2016, web links updated; May 1, 2023.
  • Last Reviewed:  May 1, 2023.