Promotion and Tenure Committee

P&T Committee Composition

All tenured associate and full professors are eligible to serve on the Department's Promotion and Tenure Committee (PTC). The PTC shall consist of an odd number of full-time tenured faculty members (excluding the Department Chair), but at no time shall it be composed of fewer than five (5) individuals. The DSPH Chair shall appoint the committee and name the Chair of the PTC by June 1. In cases of promotion, all members of the PTC voting on the promotion must hold or exceed the rank for which the candidate is being considered. If no PTC member holds or exceeds the rank for which the individual is being considered, then outside members of suitable rank are to be appointed by the College Dean in consultation with the DSPH Chair. 

As appropriate, the PTC will include at least two Instructional Faculty or Clinical Faculty members in an ad hoc capacity when an Instructional Faculty or Clinical Faculty member is standing for promotion. The ad hoc member(s) must be above the rank of the member seeking promotion and will vote on the promotion. If two appropriate faculty members are not available in DSPH, attempts will be made to identify faculty outside of the department to participate in the review.

Responsibilities of the Committee Related to Promotion and Tenure

The Chair of the PTC shall be responsible for scheduling and conducting meetings, developing agendas, delegating committee tasks, meeting all timelines, and completing a final summary report reflecting the committee's assessment and evaluation (including the final vote) of each candidate for transmittal to the DSPH Chair. While the PTC Chair and DSPH Chair are available to guide each candidate in terms of the preparation and organization of required documents, each candidate holds ultimate responsibility for the collection and assembly of all data pertinent to their bid for promotion and/or tenure. The Chair of the PTC is responsible for notifying candidates when significant data or documents are absent or when further information is needed.

The PTC is responsible for evaluating probationary faculty members’ progress toward promotion and tenure annually according to the schedule in the Faculty Handbook. The DSPH Chair shall inform the probationary faculty in writing of their progress, as judged by the PTC. This will be communicated in writing from the PTC Chair to the DSPH Chair. Upon request of the faculty member, the PTC Chair and the DSPH Chair will meet with each probationary faculty member before January 31 to discuss the annual review of their progress toward promotion and tenure. As specified in the Faculty Handbook, all probationary faculty receive a letter by February 1 that addresses progress toward promotion and tenure and is not intended to form the basis of the annual salary increase decision by the DSPH Chair. Faculty hired the immediately preceding Fall term are not required to participate in the annual promotion materials submission and review process during their first academic year.

Guideline Revision Procedures

These guidelines will be reviewed and revised as necessary by the PTC, but no less than every 5 years. If revisions are deemed necessary, the committee will submit recommended changes to all faculty of the DSPH for consideration and approval. Any changes must be approved by a majority of those voting. Once approved by the DSPH faculty, the revised document is forwarded to the Chair of the DSPH and the Dean of the CHSP for final acceptance.