Due to the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of faculty, the university announced yesterday that the existing promotion and tenure review schedule for current tenure-track faculty members has been extended by one year. This change was made in consultation with, and is endorsed by, the University Academic Senate Executive Committee, the University Committee on Faculty Promotions and Tenure, university deans, associate deans and department chairs from Marquette’s nine colleges and schools , as well as with members of the Provost’s Cabinet and the Office of Faculty Affairs.
The modification applies to all current tenure-track faculty members whose appointment began on Aug. 12, 2019 or before, including those whose timebound year is 2020-21. For planning purposes, faculty members scheduled for review in 2020-21 who wish to delay their review for a year, must communicate the desire to do so with their direct supervisor by May 10, 2020.
This one-year extension is automatically granted and is done so in addition to all previous tenure clock modifications already granted, including those in 2019-20 and 2020-21. Further, this extension will not impact a faculty member’s ability to be granted additional tenure clock modifications in the future.
In addition, faculty who are currently in their first or second year on the tenure track may delay their mandatory third-year review by one year so that their review would take place in their fourth year. For planning purposes, faculty currently in their second year must notify their supervisor by Sept. 1, 2020 if they wish to delay their third-year review. Faculty currently in their first year must notify their supervisor by Sept. 1, 2021 if they wish to delay their third-year review.
Please note:
- Faculty are not required to extend their third-year review and/or their timebound year. These options, and the flexibility they provide, are available and may be invoked at the sole discretion of the faculty member.
- This change does not impact any faculty member’s right to be considered for tenure and promotion earlier than the timebound year as originally set forth in their appointment contract.
A faculty member who applies for tenure and promotion on or before their original timebound year and is denied, may reapply up until their newly established timebound year.
Faculty in their first or second year may make independent choices with regard to delays around their third-year review and their clock extension (i.e. accepting or not accepting one will have no bearing on the availability of the other). In the coming weeks, Sally Doyle, assistant provost for budget and division operations, will send letters to all tenure-track faculty members, outlining their new timebound year and options for extending third-year reviews as applicable.
Importantly, faculty who choose to take advantage of the extension to either delay their third-year review, their timebound year or both, should not, in any way, be prejudiced in the review process by any individual or group involved in the review.
Again, the opportunity for tenure clock or third year review extensions applies only to current tenure-track faculty who started on the tenure track during fall 2019 or before. At this time, no adjustments are being made to tenure track faculty hired subsequent to Aug. 12, 2019. Marquette will continue to monitor the pandemic and consider further adjustments as determined necessary and appropriate.
With questions, contact Dr. Gary Meyer, vice provost for faculty affairs and chairperson of the University Committee on Faculty Promotions and Tenure.