RUL 05.68.75 – Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences Post Tenure Review Standards and Procedures

Authority: Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

History: First Issued: February 2, 2017. Last Revised: November 14, 2019.

Additional References:
Office of the Provost RPT Website
NC State Guide on Peer Review of Teaching

Contact: Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (919-515-3221)

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 This rule establishes and describes the Standards and Procedures for Post Tenure Review in the Department of Teacher Education and Learning Sciences (TELS).

1.2 The procedures set forth below safeguard that the required Post Tenure Review (PTR) process is not a re-evaluation of tenure and is conducted in a manner that protects the academic freedom of each Tenure Track faculty member to engage in the agreed-upon Realms of Responsibility in a manner that contributes to the excellent reputation of North Carolina State University.

1.3 This rule is consistent with the requirements of UNC Policy 400.3.3.1 [Guidelines on Performance Review of Tenured Faculty], the NCSU Regulation 05.20.04 – Post Tenure Review of Faculty, and the College of Education Rule 05.68.72

1.4 This rule supplements the University’s Academic Tenure Policy and Regulation on Post Tenure Review of Faculty. To the extent of any inconsistency, the University Regulations control.

1.5 The Department Head of TELS is responsible for assuring that the PTR procedures set forth in to the University Regulation, the College Rule and this rule are followed within the department.

1.6 This rule should be reviewed and amended consistent with changes in university policies and regulations, college rules, and changes in the departmental environment, as deemed appropriate by the tenure track faculty.

2. DEPARTMENTAL RULES

2.1 Post Tenure Review Standards

The PTR Committee in TELS will use the standards set forth in this rule to assess the performance of tenured faculty members over the review period. Post-tenure reviews shall evaluate all aspects of the professional performance of faculty, in accordance to the realms of faculty responsibility specified in the faculty member’s Statement of Faculty Responsibilities (SFR).

2.1.1 Standards for Associate Professor

Tenured Associate Professors are expected to continue meeting the Standards for this rank set forth in the TELS Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure (RPT) Rule. Associate Professors will be evaluated to determine if their performance in the realms of faculty responsibility set forth in their SFR is consistent with the Standards for the rank of Associate Professor.

2.1.2 Standards for Professor

Tenured Professors are expected to continue meeting the standards for this rank set forth in the TELS Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure (RPT) Rule. Professors will be evaluated to determine if their performance in the realms of faculty responsibility set forth in their SFR is consistent with the Standards for the rank of Professor.

2.2 Departmental Criteria for PTR Assessment

The University Post Tenure Review Regulation establishes three assessment categories. These categories must reflect whether a faculty member exceeds expectations, meets expectations, or does not meet expectations. Each category is a critical summative judgment that must be rendered by each level of the post-tenure review process. It is important to recognize that peer judgments, although based on formal documentation, are ultimately subjective.

2.2.1 Meets Expectations

A positive vote by a simple majority vote of the PTR Committee in TELS and a positive endorsement by the Department Head shall be considered a judgment that the faculty member meets expectations for post tenure review.

2.2.2 Does Not Meet Expectations

A negative vote by a simple majority vote of the PTR Committee in TELS and a negative assessment by the Department Head shall be considered a judgment that the faculty member does not meet expectations for post-tenure review.

2.2.3 Exceeds Expectations

Per NCSU Regulation 05.20.04, the use of exceeds expectations is reserved for only the most exceptional performance. Thus, in order to receive a judgment of exceeds expectation, a faculty member must provide evidence of accomplishments in the realms of responsibility specified in the SFR that far exceeds the standards set forth for the rank. Some examples might include extraordinary student and peer evaluations of teaching, extraordinary amount of external funding, extraordinary number of publications in venues with the highest impact, and receiving of the highest honor national or international awards in education.

2.3 Composition and Election of the Post Tenure Review Committee

At all times, the TELS Department will have a properly constituted PTR Committee (PTRC), even if there are no mandated post-tenure reviews during a particular year. This is done to prevent the ad hoc composition and scheduling of the PTRC. It also allows the Department Head to request a post-tenure review under non-mandatory circumstances for a compelling reason, as allowed by university regulation.

2.3.1 All faculty members in TELS who have been awarded tenure are eligible to elect members of the PTRC.

2.3.2 Faculty members in TELS who hold the rank of Professor or Associate Professor with tenure are eligible to be elected to the PTRC, unless she/he is undergoing post-tenure review or serves as a member of the College RPT Committee (CRPTC) during the year when a post-tenure review within TELS is being conducted or is on Phased Retirement or is on leave (academic reassignment) during the semester when a post-tenure review is being conducted.

2.3.3 The Department Head is not eligible for membership on the PTRC.

2.3.4 Three (3) Professors and two (2) tenured Associate Professors will comprise the Post Tenure Review Committee in TELS. Professor members will serve staggered three-year terms, with one new member being elected each year. PTRC Associate Professor members will serve staggered two-year terms, with one new member being elected each year. If a Professor or Associate Professor cannot serve a full term, the alternate for the rank will become a member of the PTRC.

2.3.5 The Department Head will prepare an electronic ballot at the beginning of the Fall semester and send it out to all tenured faculty in the department. The names of all eligible Professors and Associate Professors will be listed on the ballot. The votes will be recorded and reported once all eligible faculty members have been provided an opportunity to vote.

2.3.6 Following the election of the PTRC, the Department Head will request that one member serve as Chairperson, and convene the Committee before the end of October to initiate the procedures specified in this rule.

3. PROCEDURES

3.1 As part of the annual performance review process required by the University, the Department Head will inform each faculty member, in written form, the projected date of her/his next post tenure review. A single notification of the projected time of the next post-tenure review will be considered sufficient to establish that the faculty member has been properly informed. The information can be transmitted via the annual letter of performance evaluation that each member of the TELS Department receives.

3.2 The PTRC chairperson is responsible for all communication between the Department Head and the PTRC. The Department Head is responsible for transmitting the names and materials of persons under Post Tenure Review.

3.3 Faculty who are undergoing PTR will prepare and submit the required materials through the Department Head to the PTRC in accordance with the College of Education general timeline for post-tenure reviews to begin no sooner than the first day of the fall semester and to be completed by the deadline announced by the CED Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs and/or the CED Administrative Council.

3.4 The PTRC, under the direction of the chairperson, will establish its meeting dates, with the intended goal of concluding deliberation(s) and submitting in written form the review(s) to the Department Head in accordance with the College of Education general timeline for post-tenure reviews to begin no sooner than the first day of the fall semester and to be completed by the deadline announced by the CED Associate Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs and/or the CED Administrative Council..

3.5 For the PTR of Associate Professors, all members of the duly elected Committee (two Associate Professors and three Professors) will participate in the discussion and vote.

3.6 For the PTR of Professors, only the three duly elected Professors will participate in the discussion and vote.

3.7 The PTRC will provide a comprehensive written assessment of the faculty member’s performance. The deliberations of the PTRC will occur in a two-step process.

3.7.1 First, the PTRC deliberates and votes on the candidate’s performance for each realm of faculty responsibility. The votes are conducted using a prepared secret ballot that includes check-off options: “does not meet expectations”, “meets expectations”, “exceeds expectations”. The specific outcome is not recorded, but may be alluded to (i.e., majority vs. unanimous votes) in the written assessment.

3.7.2 Second, the PTRC deliberates on the overall performance to determine whether the candidate meets expectations. A vote is taken using a prepared secret ballot with check-off options: “For” or “Against”. The outcome of this second vote is recorded in the written assessment.

3.7.3 Drawing on the outcomes of its deliberations, the PTRC may recommend to the Department Head and to the Dean that a faculty member’s performance in any realm of responsibility exceeds expectations (or that the overall performance exceeds expectations) and therefore, should be evaluated for designation for special recognition.

3.8 The written assessment of the PTRC, including the numerical vote (For, Against) will be transmitted directly by the Chairperson to the Department Head for inclusion in the personnel file. Each member of the PTRC will receive a copy of the transmitted written assessment.

3.9 After receiving the assessment of the PTRC, the Department Head will consult with the PTRC Chairperson, on behalf of the Committee, prior to completing her/his written assessment of the documentation submitted by the faculty member for post tenure review. Consultation will be conducted via an oral discussion between the Committee and Department Head. The Department Head shall then make an independent determination of whether the faculty member meets expectations or does not meet expectations for each realm of responsibility described in the SFR, based on the Standards in the RPT Departmental Rule. The Department Head will also make an overall determination of whether the faculty member’s performance meets expectations or does not meet expectations. The Department Head may agree or disagree with a PTR Committee’s assessment and recommendation that a faculty member be evaluated for designation as exceeds expectations.

4.0 The PTR process continues as established in the NCSU Regulation 05.20.04 – Post Tenure Review of Faculty, and the College of Education Rule 05.68.72.