- Policies & Procedures - Faculty Manual

Tenure

2.27 tenure

The following statement is the policy of Syracuse University with regard to tenure for instructional, research, and administrative personnel. This statement of tenure policy is also intended to include any persons who have served as full-time faculty members regardless of their specific titles.

A tenured appointment may be granted only by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with the concurrence of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. Such an appointment may be extended only to members of Syracuse University who hold full-time teaching appointments with faculty rank. Members have faculty rank provided they have an appointment at an academic rank (professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, or lecturer).

Throughout the remainder of the statement on tenure, the term "faculty members" shall be used to designate members of Syracuse University with faculty rank.

2.28 administrative officers and department chairpersons

The privilege of tenure is not attached to appointments to administrative positions or to appointments as department chairpersons in the University. Appointment to or relinquishment of such positions, however, shall not deprive faculty members of tenure in the highest instructional rank which they have attained at the University. Administrative appointments made without granting of accompanying faculty rank shall not result in the accumulation of time toward tenure.

2.29 consideration for tenure

Beginning with a full-time tenure-track appointment with faculty rank at Syracuse University, the tenure probationary period shall not exceed seven credited years at Syracuse University. A candidate for tenure must be considered for tenure before the end of the sixth credited year; however, a candidate may request to be considered for tenure at an earlier date. Such a review shall be conducted following the established standards, procedures, and timetable of the school or college. The term credited year shall mean a year of service at Syracuse University identified in the faculty member's appointment letter as a full-time tenure-track appointment.

Candidates for tenure are considered only once for tenure. The formal review process will begin with the signed and dated irrevocable request on the standard form from the individual to initiate the tenure review. A request must be submitted to the office designated by the respective school and college prior to the solicitation of external evaluations of the candidate's qualifications for tenure. After the formal review process has begun, candidates for tenure may not withdraw from consideration and subsequently reapply for tenure. If an eligible faculty member fails to submit a formal request for a tenure review prior to the college or school deadline for completing the tenure review before the end of the sixth year of the probationary period, the University will consider the faculty member to have waived all claims for consideration for tenure.

Even if a tenure candidate's school or college accepts a request for tenure review, such acceptance shall not constitute a waiver of the deadline set forth above in this section 2.29 and the consequences specified for failing to meet the deadline.

2.30 notice of tenure decision

Written notice of the tenure decision, whether positive or negative, will be given to faculty members at least one year prior to the expiration of the seven-year probationary period. If the decision is negative, the written notice will indicate that the appointment for the remainder of the probationary period becomes terminal. A negative tenure decision will be accompanied by a terminal one-year appointment. If the decision is affirmative, tenure formally begins on the date the Board of Trustees confers tenure.

It is the right of every faculty member when informed by the University of a denial of tenure, to appeal this decision on the basis of a procedural violation before the Senate Committee on Appointments and Promotions or on the basis of denial of academic freedom or violation of professional ethics before the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Professional Ethics. Also, Syracuse University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and, in accordance with law, maintains a grievance procedure whereby any employee believing himself or herself to have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era is encouraged to seek a resolution through informal or formal means. (See Affirmative Action Grievance Procedures, Section 3.23.)

2.31 effect of promotion on tenure status

Faculty members who are promoted prior to the completion of their seventh year of academic service do not by virtue of the promotion thereby receive tenure.

2.32 temporary appointments

Individuals may hold full-time non-tenure track faculty appointments no more than six years. Should their appointment be converted to a tenure track appointment, the years in the full-time non-tenure track position are not credited toward the completion of the probationary period. Tenure track and non-tenure track appointments are identified as such in the appointment letter. Individuals who are initially appointed to a tenure track position at Syracuse University are not eligible subsequently to receive full-time non-tenure track faculty appointments.

2.33 annual written contract

Faculty members without tenure shall receive an annual written contract unless they have entered into a contractual agreement with the University which specifies a period longer than one year. The institution will normally notify faculty members of the terms and conditions of their renewals prior to commencement, but in no case shall such information be given later than May 15.

2.34 nonrenewal of a probationary appointment

Regardless of the stated term or other provisions of any appointments, written notice that probationary appointments are not to be renewed will be given to faculty members in advance of the expiration of their appointment, as follows:

not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service, if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or, if a one-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least three months in advance of its termination;
not later than December 15 of the second academic year of service, if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or, if an initial two-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least six months in advance of its termination;
at least 12 months before the expiration of an appointment after two or more years of service at the institution.

2.35 annual report on non-tenured faculty members

Deans shall submit to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs an annual report and recommendation on all regular faculty members not holding tenure.

2.36 no other means of acquiring tenure

No person has tenure except as provided herein; that is, by direct grant in writing from the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with the concurrence of the Board of Trustees. No person is appointed with tenure unless it is expressly stated in the letter of appointment or other official writing to that effect.

2.37 limitations of tenure

Tenure is not synonymous with a life appointment. Serious disregard of duties, incompetence, or moral turpitude on the part of the individual, or bona fide financial exigency on the part of the institution constitutes grounds for separation. No removal shall take place without adequate warning and without compliance in full faith with the procedures described herein, which are based upon the principles and practices set forth in the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, formulated by the Association of American Colleges and the American Association of University Professors.

Approved by the Senate, November 2005

The Faculty Manual; Edition 18; January 1995 - Revisions made February 2006

The Faculty Manual is an official bulletin of Syracuse University and is published by Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244.


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Faculty Resources Policies and Procedures Faculty Hiring New Faculty Department Chairs Recognition Tenure Emeritus Faculty Teaching Resources	Policies & Procedures - Faculty Manual Tenure 2.27 tenure The following statement is the policy of Syracuse University with regard to tenure for instructional, research, and administrative personnel. This statement of tenure policy is also intended to include any persons who have served as full-time faculty members regardless of their specific titles. A tenured appointment may be granted only by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with the concurrence of the Chancellor and the Board of Trustees. Such an appointment may be extended only to members of Syracuse University who hold full-time teaching appointments with faculty rank. Members have faculty rank provided they have an appointment at an academic rank (professor, associate professor, assistant professor, instructor, or lecturer). Throughout the remainder of the statement on tenure, the term "faculty members" shall be used to designate members of Syracuse University with faculty rank. 2.28 administrative officers and department chairpersons The privilege of tenure is not attached to appointments to administrative positions or to appointments as department chairpersons in the University. Appointment to or relinquishment of such positions, however, shall not deprive faculty members of tenure in the highest instructional rank which they have attained at the University. Administrative appointments made without granting of accompanying faculty rank shall not result in the accumulation of time toward tenure. 2.29 consideration for tenure Beginning with a full-time tenure-track appointment with faculty rank at Syracuse University, the tenure probationary period shall not exceed seven credited years at Syracuse University. A candidate for tenure must be considered for tenure before the end of the sixth credited year; however, a candidate may request to be considered for tenure at an earlier date. Such a review shall be conducted following the established standards, procedures, and timetable of the school or college. The term credited year shall mean a year of service at Syracuse University identified in the faculty member's appointment letter as a full-time tenure-track appointment. Candidates for tenure are considered only once for tenure. The formal review process will begin with the signed and dated irrevocable request on the standard form from the individual to initiate the tenure review. A request must be submitted to the office designated by the respective school and college prior to the solicitation of external evaluations of the candidate's qualifications for tenure. After the formal review process has begun, candidates for tenure may not withdraw from consideration and subsequently reapply for tenure. If an eligible faculty member fails to submit a formal request for a tenure review prior to the college or school deadline for completing the tenure review before the end of the sixth year of the probationary period, the University will consider the faculty member to have waived all claims for consideration for tenure. Even if a tenure candidate's school or college accepts a request for tenure review, such acceptance shall not constitute a waiver of the deadline set forth above in this section 2.29 and the consequences specified for failing to meet the deadline. 2.30 notice of tenure decision Written notice of the tenure decision, whether positive or negative, will be given to faculty members at least one year prior to the expiration of the seven-year probationary period. If the decision is negative, the written notice will indicate that the appointment for the remainder of the probationary period becomes terminal. A negative tenure decision will be accompanied by a terminal one-year appointment. If the decision is affirmative, tenure formally begins on the date the Board of Trustees confers tenure. It is the right of every faculty member when informed by the University of a denial of tenure, to appeal this decision on the basis of a procedural violation before the Senate Committee on Appointments and Promotions or on the basis of denial of academic freedom or violation of professional ethics before the Senate Committee on Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Professional Ethics. Also, Syracuse University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and, in accordance with law, maintains a grievance procedure whereby any employee believing himself or herself to have been subject to discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era is encouraged to seek a resolution through informal or formal means. (See Affirmative Action Grievance Procedures, Section 3.23.) 2.31 effect of promotion on tenure status Faculty members who are promoted prior to the completion of their seventh year of academic service do not by virtue of the promotion thereby receive tenure. 2.32 temporary appointments Individuals may hold full-time non-tenure track faculty appointments no more than six years. Should their appointment be converted to a tenure track appointment, the years in the full-time non-tenure track position are not credited toward the completion of the probationary period. Tenure track and non-tenure track appointments are identified as such in the appointment letter. Individuals who are initially appointed to a tenure track position at Syracuse University are not eligible subsequently to receive full-time non-tenure track faculty appointments. 2.33 annual written contract Faculty members without tenure shall receive an annual written contract unless they have entered into a contractual agreement with the University which specifies a period longer than one year. The institution will normally notify faculty members of the terms and conditions of their renewals prior to commencement, but in no case shall such information be given later than May 15. 2.34 nonrenewal of a probationary appointment Regardless of the stated term or other provisions of any appointments, written notice that probationary appointments are not to be renewed will be given to faculty members in advance of the expiration of their appointment, as follows: not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service, if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or, if a one-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least three months in advance of its termination; not later than December 15 of the second academic year of service, if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or, if an initial two-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least six months in advance of its termination; at least 12 months before the expiration of an appointment after two or more years of service at the institution. 2.35 annual report on non-tenured faculty members Deans shall submit to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs an annual report and recommendation on all regular faculty members not holding tenure. 2.36 no other means of acquiring tenure No person has tenure except as provided herein; that is, by direct grant in writing from the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs with the concurrence of the Board of Trustees. No person is appointed with tenure unless it is expressly stated in the letter of appointment or other official writing to that effect. 2.37 limitations of tenure Tenure is not synonymous with a life appointment. Serious disregard of duties, incompetence, or moral turpitude on the part of the individual, or bona fide financial exigency on the part of the institution constitutes grounds for separation. No removal shall take place without adequate warning and without compliance in full faith with the procedures described herein, which are based upon the principles and practices set forth in the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, formulated by the Association of American Colleges and the American Association of University Professors. Approved by the Senate, November 2005 The Faculty Manual; Edition 18; January 1995 - Revisions made February 2006 The Faculty Manual is an official bulletin of Syracuse University and is published by Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244.