Faculty Award of Tenure Process Overview

Overview

In accordance with the Academic Personnel Policy, section 4.1, to be considered for the award of Tenure, individuals must have an appointment on the tenure track (section 4.5), be eligible for Appointment with Tenure (section 4.10), or be eligible for Appointment with Term Tenure (section 4.11).

Tenure is only awarded to Faculty Members at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor. Tenured Faculty Members may be UMass Chan-Employed Faculty (with the exception of professionally-salaried faculty) (section 5.2), UMMHC-Employed Faculty (section 5.3) or Faculty Employed by a University-Approved External Foundation or Agency (section 5.4).

Award of Tenure Process Overview

• The candidate is notified by the Office of Faculty Affairs when their DOM Tenure Decision Year (TDY) is about to start.
• The candidate submits their CV in the UMass Chan Medical School format, evidence of teaching effectiveness, and a narrative statement for inclusion in their Tenure Dossier.
• The candidate also provides the tenure team with proposed lists of evaluators and ad hoc reviewers.
• 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 the letters of evaluation, which are added to the candidate's Dossier.
• 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. Learn more.

DOM Tenure Committee Members