There are two topics about which the Appointment and Promotions Committee wishes to solicit faculty input at an Open Forum. 1) Voting on Promotion to Full: The A&P has been discussing Trinity’s policy of including associate professors on departmental votes for full professor. It may well be that historical circumstances at some point advised such a procedure, but it is worth considering whether that moment has long passed and whether it is preferable now to systemize voting so that associate and full professors with tenure vote on promotion of assistant professors, and only full professors vote on promotion of both assistant and associate professors. It may be worth noting that nearly all of our peer institutions operate on this principle. Of course, should we adopt such a change on practice, we will need to discuss how departments and programs with zero, one, or two full professors would proceed in promotion cases. Here too the examples of peer institutions may prove enlightening. We look forward to a discussion of this issue at the open meeting. 2) Appointment at Rank with Tenure: In at least one recent case, a candidate was hired at the rank of Professor and with tenure. The language in the Faculty Manual lays out how such appointments and the awarding of tenure are “normally” made, but what does the A&P Committee do in an extraordinary circumstance? Given the nature of mobility in the professorial ranks, the A&P Committee suspects that there will be more and more occasions of this sort, and that it is time to recognize this in the language of the Faculty Manual and in the procedures followed by the committee. We look forward to a discussion of this issue at the open meeting. For your information, the present language in the Faculty Manual governing appointment and tenure of Associate Professors and Professors is given below, and a draft version of the proposed changes is attached: 2.1. a.ii. Associate Professor and Professor: The Appointments and Promotions Committee approves appointment at the rank of Associate Professor and Professor, basing its decisions on the recommendations of a special committee or each disciplinary home of the candidate, as well as other supporting information presented by the Dean of the Faculty. Such appointments are subsequently reported to the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board and are subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees or its Executive Committee. a. Associate Professor: Appointment at the rank of Associate Professor presumes the Ph.D. or its equivalent, outstanding performance as a teacher, and mature scholarship recognized by the profession or equivalent professional contributions. Appointment at the rank of Associate Professor is normally made for three years, with review for reappointment and tenure in the spring of the second year. b. Professor: Appointment at the rank of Professor presumes the Ph.D. or its equivalent, outstanding performance as a teacher, and distinguished scholarship recognized by the profession or equivalent professional contributions. Appointment at the rank of Professor is normally made for three years with review for reappointment and tenure no later than the spring of the second year.
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