Good Practice in Tenure Evaluation: Advice for Tenured Faculty, Department Chairs, and Academic Administrators

This report provides guidance on conducting tenure evaluations that are thoughtful and just. Practical suggestions for the tenure evaluation process fall into four themes. The first is that of the need for clarity in standards and procedures for evaluation. Institutions should ensure that their stated criteria for tenure match the criteria that, in actual practice, the institutions apply. A second major theme is that tenure decisions must be consistent over time among candidates with different personal characteristics, such as race, gender, disability, and national origin. A third necessity is candor in the evaluation of tenure-track faculty. Periodic evaluations should be candid and expressed in plain English. The fourth theme is that of caring for unsuccessful candidates. Faculty and administrators must treat an unsuccessful tenure candidate with professionalism and decency. Active efforts to assist the candidate in relocating to another position are of mutual benefit to the individual and the institution. (From the Publisher)