Faculty Award of Tenure Process Overview

Overview

In accordance with the Academic Personnel Policy (APP), section 4.11, Usually, Appointment with Term 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 Term Tenure, subject to the availability of a Term Tenure position approved by the dean and Provost. UMass Chan Faculty Members appointed in the Tenure Track with a Probationary Period are not eligible for Term Tenure. 

A Faculty Member may submit a written request to the departmental chair to extend their Appointment with Term Tenure for up to three years.  The chair reviews the request and, if approved, makes a recommendation to the TH Chan School of Medicine Dean and the Provost. If the Provost approves the request, the appointment is extended by written agreement between the Faculty Member and the chair, dean and Provost.

At the expiration of the Term Tenure appointment or if a request for extension of the appointment is not approved by the chair, dean or Provost, the individual’s employment and appointment at UMass Chan ends, and there is no form, measure or payment of any “notice” to the individual. Prior to termination, the individual may request transfer to the Non-Tenure Track; such transfers are not automatic and require approval of the departmental chair and in consultation with the TH Chan School of Medicine Dean and Provost, as applicable.

Award of Term Tenure Process

The process for term tenure is the same as the Award of Tenure:

• 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.

DOM Tenure Committee Members