51污漫

Tenure & Promotion

51污漫/Tenure & Promotion/Tenure & Promotion to Associate Professor

Tenure & Promotion to Associate Professor

Faculty members on tenure-track appointments must apply for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor, typically in March of their fourth year of employment. Achieving tenure and promotion to Associate Professor is a requirement of tenure-track faculty positions at 51污漫.

The tenure and promotion process is overseen by the Office of the Provost & Vice-President, Academic. Applications are reviewed by Division Review Committees and the University Review Committee, both of which make recommendations to the President who makes a final decision.

After successful completion of the two-year probationary period (IPEC), faculty members continue to gather materials for their tenure and promotion application. In the fourth year of employment:

  • Notice of intent: Submit to the Dean by email between March 1 - 31

  • Tenure & Promotion File (TPF): Submit by May 31 through a dedicated MS Teams channel, which will be provided after you declare your intention to apply. 

Timeline and key dates

Typical probationary timeline for faculty member hired in August

August 1

  • Typical start date for Assistant Professors

Fall Term (Sep – Dec) and Winter Term (Jan – Apr)

  • Gather materials for Individual Probationary Evaluation File (IPEF):
    • Classroom observations (one/term) by Individual Probationary Evaluation Committee (IPEC) member
    • Student evaluations for every course
    • Document research/scholarship and engagement in service

Spring (90 days prior to completion of year 1)

  • Meet with the dean, decision on continuance to year 2

Fall Term (Sep – Dec) and Winter Term (Jan – Apr)

  • Gather materials for IPEF:
    • Classroom observations (one/term) by IPEC member
    • Student evaluations for every course
    • Document research/scholarship and engagement in service

Spring (90 days prior to hire anniversary)

  • Meet with the dean, decision on completion of initial probationary period

Fall Term (Sep – Dec) and Winter Term (Jan – Apr)

  • Gather materials for tenure & promotion:
    • Peer evaluation of teaching including desktop review and classroom observation (one/term) by tenured colleague
    • Student evaluations for every course
    • Document research/scholarship and engagement in service

Fall Term (Sep – Dec) and Winter Term (Jan – Apr)

  • Gather materials for tenure & promotion:
    • Peer evaluation of teaching including desktop review and classroom observation (one/term) by tenured colleague
    • Student evaluations for every course
    • Document research/scholarship and engagement in service

March 1 – 31

  • Notify Dean of intent to apply for tenure by email

May 31

  • Deadline to upload materials to the tenure and promotion file

Fall Term (Sep – Dec)

Fall Term (Sep – Dec) and Winter Term (Jan – Apr)

June 1

  • President provides final decision on tenure and promotion

 

Required components of the Tenure and Promotion File

The required components are listed in section 8 of the Terms and Procedures and they typically include:

  1. The candidate’s letter of application
  2. The Dossier document
  3. The Dean’s summary report of the Candidate’s individual probationary evaluation
  4. The Dean’s written assessment of the Candidate’s progress since the completion of the initial probationary period
  5. Student evaluations for each undergraduate or graduate section or cohort per semester taught since appointment as a tenure-track faculty member up to the application for tenure
  6. Two peer evaluations of two different courses or modules in one year, for each year in the period between the end of the initial probationary period and the application for tenure:
    • For semester-based programs, the evaluations will occur in two different semesters
    • In programs where a desktop review is not practical (e.g., clinical teaching), an in-class teaching observation will suffice
      • Note: in most cases, this requirement is equivalent to four peer evaluations over years three and four, each including a desktop review and a classroom observation

 

Review standards and committees

The standards used by review committees adjudicate applications are determined by each academic area and are listed on the Faculty Standards Committee of Senate website.

Frequently asked questions

In order to apply for tenure, faculty members must hold a tenure-track appointment and have successfully completed the initial probationary period (in accordance with Article 12.7(a)(iii) of the Collective Agreement). Tenure-track faculty normally apply between March 1–31 during the fourth year of employment.

In exceptional cases, faculty may apply for tenure during the third year of employment. Faculty considering an early application should consult with their Dean. The initial probationary period (IPEC) must be completed before applying for tenure.

  • Faculty on maternity or parental leave may defer consideration of their application for one year by providing written notice to the Dean no later than four weeks before the leave begins.
  • Faculty on approved long-term disability leave will have their application deferred for two years from the approved leave.
  • Faculty may also apply to the Dean by March 31 of their fourth year for a one-year extension due to exceptional circumstances.

All tenure-track faculty members at 51污漫 hired under Article 12.7(a) of the Collective Agreement must successfully achieve tenure and promotion to Associate Professor. Faculty denied tenure will be offered up to a one-year terminal limited term appointment to facilitate their search for employment elsewhere.

Applications are accepted once per year, so faculty hired in January apply with the same cohort as those hired the following August. This typically means applying in March four years after their start date.

Example:
A faculty member hired in January 2025 would apply in March 2029.

  • Appointees who already hold or previously held the title of Associate Professor or Professor at an accredited university may, upon recommendation of the Dean, be appointed with their previously earned titles.
  • Appointees who were already tenured at an accredited and/or recognized university may be appointed with tenure, upon recommendation of the Dean, contingent on successful completion of a one-year probation period.
  • Appointees who were in a tenure-track position at an accredited and/or recognized university may apply for tenure after completing a two-year probation period.

 

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