Evaluations, Promotions, and Tenure

According to SBHE policy, faculty may be tenured, pre-tenured (probationary), or special appointments. Special Appointment faculty (either adjunct or those hired through a special appointment contract) may be hired to teach a load as small as a partial credit up to a 15-credit (100%) full-time load.

Faculty contracts are for a 9-month period, from mid-August to mid-May each academic year. For any teaching duties assigned during the off-contract period, faculty will be compensated according to the Summer School policies currently in effect (available on the Academic Affairs website

Faculty Evaluations

According to NDUS Policy 604.3, all faculty members must undergo evaluation.

Pre-tenure full-time faculty undergo a peer evaluation annually in the categories of scholarship/professional achievement; effectiveness of instruction; and service to university, profession, and community. Special Appointment faculty submit a self- assessment annually. All tenured faculty submit an annual report/development plan in the spring (AA-4).

A faculty member engaged in the tenure procedure will submit a portfolio of documentation which will be subject to review by a department committee and evaluated on the following standards:

70-80% Effectiveness of Instruction or performance of Primary Responsibility

10-20% Scholarship, Professional, and Creative Activities

10-20% Service to university and community

The recommendation of the department committee will be added to the portfolio and forwarded for further review to the department chair, the tenure advisory committee, the President, and the State Board. The faculty member initiates the tenure application process in September of the sixth year of full-time employment.

Promotion

The usual rank upon entry for a faculty with a terminal degree is “Assistant Professor.” A faculty hired as “Instructor” who completes a terminal degree prior to tenure will automatically advance to “Assistant Professor” on the next contract. With favorable reviews, a faculty member may normally expect his/her first promotion in rank at the time of tenure; and subsequent promotions at (approximately) six-year intervals.