-
About
Tenure-track faculty members who determine that certain personal circumstances may impede progress toward consideration for tenure may apply for an extension of their probationary period. Extensions are for one academic year. In special circumstances and in accordance with policy, a second year’s extension may be granted.
Personal circumstances may include, but are not limited to:
- childbirth or adoption,
- disability or illness of the faculty member, or
- status of faculty member as caregiver of a family member who is a preschool child, a disabled person, or an elderly person.
Extension Request Process
Faculty members who would like to apply for an extension of their probationary period should submit their request to their Department Chair. If the Department Chair is in agreement with the request, they will submit it to the Executive Committee for a vote (in the case of non-automatic approval; see below). If the Executive Committee votes to move forward with the request, the department administrator will submit the request to the Provost's Office.
Deadline to Submit Extension Requests
The probationary period extension request must be made no later than the end of the spring semester (i.e. by May 31st) before the faculty member's mandatory tenure review year.
Automatic Approval
Extension of the probationary period is automatic for reasons of childbirth or adoption, upon formal completion of the request process.
Non-Automatic Approval
In all instances other than childbirth or adoption (including requests related to COVID-19), extension of the probationary period is never automatic. The faculty member is responsible for providing appropriate documentation regarding personal circumstances that have led to this request. The documentation should include substantiation of why the circumstance placed an unreasonable burden upon the ability of the faculty member to meet progress expectations.
Rescinding an Approved Extension
An approved probationary period extension may be rescinded at the faculty member's discretion.
A request to rescind an approved probationary period extension must be submitted in writing to the Department Chair no later than February 1st of the calendar year associated with the candidate’s intended fall promotion review. The Department Chair will then submit the request to the College.
Once the approved extension is rescinded, the faculty member's mandatory promotion and tenure review will occur one year earlier than indicated in the extension letter.