Tenure & Promotion
Effective Fall 2024, the process for tenure and promotion reviews has transitioned to viewing of candidate dossier materials and peer and administrative feedback and recommendations all within the Watermark® Faculty Success System. The Academic Administrative Calendar is distributed to Department Chairs/School Directors in the summer before the academic year starts to help with timeline and planning purposes. In it, current dates/deadlines related to Tenure & Promotion review processes are included. Information regarding each process and supporting documents can be found within Policy Central.
Faculty Tenure Description & Process
The Tennessee Tech University tenure process (Policies 205 and 207), overseen by high-quality faculty and administrative officers, is awarded to full-time faculty who have exhibited professional excellence and outstanding performance in their roles. The status of tenure helps ensure that faculty can freely pursue knowledge and truth without fear of reprisal or undue influence. While tenure is not a guarantee of continued employment, it does guarantee academic freedom and due process built on a rigorous credentialing process and peer review. Tenure provides a level of assurance that faculty can perform their duties, unencumbered until retirement or dismissal for adequate cause, financial exigency, or curricular reasons, as further discussed and outlined in Policy 205.
Tenure Review Processes
- » Tenure-Track Faculty Annual Review Process
The tenure-track annual evaluation process takes place in the spring semester coinciding with the annual review process for all faculty. The Department Chair/School Director, in consultation with the Peers, shall assess whether the candidate is making satisfactory progress toward achieving tenure. Please see the tenure-track schedule for deadlines associated with annual tenure-track reviews. Policy 205 and its procedures linked above for additional information.
- » Tenure Appointment Review Process
The tenure review process takes place in a tenure-track faculty member candidates fifth or sixth year as he/she chooses. Policy 205 and its procedures linked above for additional information. Please see the tenure-track schedule for additional deadlines for this process.
Promotion Description & Process
Universities can help ensure the quality of their faculty by providing a variety of professional development opportunities, which help faculty pursue and attain promotion (Policy 206). Promotion in academic rank is recognition of past achievement of the faculty member being considered for promotion. In addition, promotion in rank is usually recognition of future potential and a sign of confidence that the individual is capable of greater accomplishments and of assuming greater responsibilities.
It is the policy of Tennessee Technological University to make promotions primarily on considerations of merit, tempered by considerations of institutional mission and fiscal responsibility. In maintaining this policy, promotions are made objectively, equitably, impartially, and as recognition of merit in accordance with the criteria contained in Policy 206.
Promotion Salary Increases
When a faculty member is promoted, they are awarded an increase to their base salary (typically a 9-month salary). The increase is either a percentage of their current salary or a fixed amount, whichever is larger. Below is a list of the current promotion salary increases:
- Instructor/Lecturer to Senior Lecturer = 10% or $5000
- Senior Instructor/Lecturer to Master Instructor/Lecturer = 10% or $5000
- Instructor to Assistant = 10% or $6,000
- Assistant to Associate = 10% or $7,500
- Associate to Professor = 10% or $10,000