The collective agreement states:
“Tenure means the appointment of an employee to a permanent position on the academic staff of the University.”
Equivalent to tenure for some members, for example those in the Crop Development Centre and clinical faculty in the College of Medicine, is Continuing Status or Permanent Status.
Tenure offers protection against infringements of the academic freedom of our members and this protection is perhaps the key element in a healthy University that is relevant to all facets of society. One of the continuing roles of the Faculty Association is to ensure that this protection continues to be enjoyed by our members.
The quick answer is that you are eligible for consideration for tenure in any year during your probationary appointment. However, the decision about when you elect to be evaluated for tenure is one of the most important career decisions you will make. You are only considered once for tenure – if you are unsuccessful then your appointment terminates at the end of the academic year in which you are considered. To ensure success, you have to balance the desire for the security that tenure provides with the need to make the strongest case possible. Consult widely (as discussed below) before you make this decision. It is your responsibility to inform your Department Head (or Dean) by June 15 that you wish to be considered for tenure in the following academic year.
You may choose to be considered for tenure in any year of your probationary appointment. If you choose to be considered before the end of your initial probationary appointment, it is considered as early tenure. The same standards are used to evaluate early tenure as normal tenure but the same outcome also applies if you are unsuccessful – if you are denied early tenure then your appointment terminates at the end of the academic year. Be aware of what your standards for tenure say. The University Standards for Promotion and Tenure as well as information about preparing your case file for the various collegial processes can be found on the website for the Provost’s Office.
The timing of the process is set out in Article 15.12.10 of the Collective Agreement. You must go forward for tenure in the last year of your probationary period. Throughout this section the reference to Department Head also includes Deans in the case of non-Departmentalized Colleges.
In each year of your probationary appointment your Department Head must meet with you by May 31 to provide written comments on your progress towards tenure. Make sure you fully understand these comments and respond to the comments in writing.
You must notify your Department Head by June 15 of your intention to be evaluated for tenure in the next academic year.
By June 30 your Department Head shall advise you as to the material you must provide in support of your candidacy. This material is outlined below and must be submitted to your Head by September 1.
After you have submitted your material, your case is considered for review by the appropriate Department, College, and University committees (see below). The decision of the University Review Committee on tenure cases must be completed by January 31, and you will be notified as to their decision.
Your Department Head (or Dean in the case of non-Departmentalized Colleges) is the key individual in monitoring your progress to tenure. It is critical that you clearly understand whatever progress reports are presented to you and that deficiencies in your progress are identified and remedies explored. Bear in mind that a new Department Head may assume office during your probationary period or that your continuing Head may be away on administrative leave when your case is presented. Hence it is very important to have clear documentary evidence of your discussions with the Head and any measures that you undertook as a result of your discussions.
As well, you should solicit advice from a wide range of colleagues – from faculty who have recently been reviewed for tenure or who have recently served on College or University Review Committees. As well, the Faculty Association provides a forum for new faculty in the fall concerning promotion and tenure issues, and the staff and executive of the Association are an excellent source of information about the process. It is in your best interest to solicit a wide base of information to assist you in this process.