III. Faculty: Personnel Procedures, Practices, and Procedures
H. Pre-Tenure Probationary Period
The period prior to a tenure decision is considered a time of professional probation. This probationary period shall be long enough to enable the faculty member to demonstrate his/her qualifications and to enable colleagues to assess the record. Throughout the probationary period, the department chairs, senior faculty, and appropriate administrators shall endeavor to provide untenured faculty members with guidance and help in assessing their progress toward tenure. The faculty member's instructional colleagues bear a special responsibility in this connection. Formal responsibilities for consultation are assigned to the Dean of the College and to department chairs, who normally shall confer annually with each person on probationary status about his/her progress toward tenure, to identify strengths and weaknesses, and to make appropriate suggestions for improving his/her performance.
Beginning with an appointment at Randolph College in a tenure-track position at the rank of full-time Assistant Professor, the faculty member may be considered for tenure in his/her sixth probationary year, and, in the event of a negative decision, shall be granted a final seventh year appointment. A faculty member who elects to defer the tenure decision until his/her seventh year shall not normally be granted another year's appointment in the event of a negative decision.
Up to two years may be granted toward the probationary period, in recognition of (a) two years of full-time teaching at the rank of Instructor at RC, or (b) part-time teaching for the equivalent of four full years (judged by the departmental full load) at the rank of Instructor at RC. Up to three years may be granted toward the probationary period, in recognition of (a) the equivalent number of years of full-time teaching at the Assistant Professor or higher rank at the college level elsewhere, or (b) part-time teaching for the equivalent of four full years at the rank of Assistant Professor for at least two of the four equivalent years at RC.
At the time of initial appointment at the rank of Instructor or higher, the number of years of prior service, if any, to be counted toward the probationary period shall be determined and clearly stated in the letter of appointment. For the length of the probationary period for those whose initial appointment is at the rank of Associate or Full Professor see III.C.1.c and d above.
[III. H. Amended: Faculty, 4/14/09; Trustees, 5/9/09]
