Faculty Appointment with Tenure Process Overview

Overview

Usually, Appointment with Tenure is limited to individuals who hold tenure (or its equivalent) at another institution. Individuals who are not Tenured, including UMass Chan Faculty in the Non-Tenure Track, may be considered for Appointment with Tenure, subject to the availability of a Tenure position approved by the Dean and Provost.

Individuals are proposed for Appointment with Tenure on recommendation by the department chair and with approval through the procedures for both appointment and for the award of Tenure.  Both the appointment and tenure process will be initiated and processed simultaneously.  

If the individual withdraws their candidacy, they may accept a position in the Non-Tenure Track or in the Tenure Track with a Probationary Period or they may resign their position.

If the individual is denied Tenure, they may accept a position in the Non-Tenure Track or they may resign their position.

Faculty Appointment with Tenure Process

• Upon hire with tenure, the DoM tenure team will contact the candidate to initiate BOTH the appointment and the tenure process. **
  
• The candidate submits their CV in the UMass Chan Medical School format, evidence of teaching effectiveness, publication reprints, and a narrative statement for inclusion in their Tenure Dossier.
• The candidate also provides the tenure team with proposed lists of evaluators.
• The chair selects the individuals to write letters of evaluation. The chair may add or subtract individuals from the candidate’s list but must include at least two individuals proposed by the candidate. More information about letters of evaluation.
• The DOM tenure team solicits letters of evaluation, which are added to the candidate's dossier to be used for both the appointment process and the tenure process.

Appointment Process: 

• The Departmental Personnel Action Committee (DPAC) reviews the candidate's Basic File (which consists of the candidate’s CV and letters of evaluation).
• The DPAC determines whether the candidate meets the criteria for appointment to the proposed academic rank and writes a letter of recommendation, which is added to the candidate's Basic File.
• The department chair reviews the candidate’s Basic File and writes a letter of recommendation, which is added to the candidate's file.
• The candidate's Basic File is submitted to the Office of Faculty Affairs, where it is reviewed for completeness.
• The Basic File is reviewed by the TH Chan School of Medicine Personnel Action Committee (PAC) at their next regularly scheduled meeting to evaluate the candidate for appointment and submit their recommendation.
• The Executive Council (governing body of UMass Chan) has a 10-day review of the list of proposed appointments and promotions.
• The Dean, Provost & Chancellor approve the final list of recommendations.
• The letter confirming faculty appointments is sent to the candidates. 

Tenure Process: 

• The candidate's dossier is reviewed by the Department Tenure Committee, which submits a letter of recommendation to the department chair; this letter is added to the candidate's file.
• The department chair writes a letter of recommendation, which is added to the candidate's file.
• The candidate’s dossier is submitted to the Office of Faculty Affairs, where it is reviewed for completeness.
• The Basic File is reviewed by the TH Chan School of Medicine Tenure Committee at their next regularly scheduled meeting to evaluate the candidate for tenure and submit their recommendation.
• The Dean, Provost & Chancellor approve the recommendation for tenure.
• The letter from the Chancellor in support of the Award of Tenure, along with the basic file, is submitted to the President's office for review at the next Board of Trustees meeting.  BoT meetings are held quarterly.
• The Chancellor contacts the faculty member to inform them of the final recommendation by the BoT.
  
• Tenure is effective the date of approval by the BoT, unless the candidate was hired with tenure.
  
• **While both processes are initiated simultaneously, the appointment will be completed first, and then the tenure process.  Both the appointment and the tenure is effective the date of hire. 

DOM Tenure Committee Members