P&T Follow-up: Promotion Evaluation for Promotion and Tenure

Follow-up Correspondence with External Reviewers: Promotion Evaluation for Promotion and Tenure

DATE

NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP

Dear NAME:

I want to thank you for agreeing to assist us by providing an assessment of the work of [NAME OF FACULTY], a candidate for [TENURE AND PROMOTION TO ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR] in [UNIT ].

Enclosed you will find a copy of [NAME OF FACULTY's] current vitae and a statement in which the candidate describes the impact and significance of their contributions. I have also provided a link to a secure SharePoint folder containing [BRIEFLY LIST CONTENTS; YOU CAN ALSO INCLUDE THE LINK HERE]. Let us know if you have any trouble accessing the contents of this folder. I can also send you hard copies if that is what you prefer.

I have attached a copy of a signed waiver form. [NAME OF FACULTY's] signature indicates that they have [SUMMARIZE THE WAIVERS, IF ANY, THAT THE CANDIDATE HAS SIGNED]. We shall consider your reply to be confidential to the extent permitted by law and the signed waiver. Your letter will become part of [NAME OF FACULTY's] file as a candidate for [PROMOTION AND/OR TENURE]. This file will be evaluated by a faculty review committee within our department [ALTER THIS PHRASE IF JOINTLY APPOINTED], the College Promotion and Tenure Committee and Dean, the Executive Vice Chancellor, and the Chancellor.

OPTIONAL PARAGRAPH- INCLUDE ONLY AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE CANDIDATE: The materials provided for review also include a COVID Impact Statement describing the ways in which the pandemic impacted the Candidate's program as well as an Institutional Pandemic Fact Sheet that documents the ways in which the pandemic impacted our university and our community.

REQUIRED FOR MANDATORY (ON TIME) TENURE EVALUATIONS WHICH INCLUDE ONE OR MORE TENURE CLOCK EXTENSIONS: The candidate has taken one or more extensions to their probationary (pre-tenure) period, due to impacts of the pandemic or other circumstances. Regardless of the actual length of time the candidate has been employed in a tenure-leading position, please note that their file should be reviewed as if they are seeking tenure after the normal probationary period.

INCLUDE FOR "EARLY" TENURE CASES: Please note that the candidate is scheduled for their mandatory tenure review during the [GIVE SCHEDULED P&T CYCLE] academic year and is therefore being reviewed for tenure [NUMBER] years "early". As you review the candidate's file, we ask that you take into account the "early tenure" standard described in our Guidelines: For the truly exceptional person, award of tenure may be considered prior to the mandatory time. Early tenure implies that a candidate has exceeded in the shorter time period the type of sustained high-level performance that would be expected over the normal probationary period. Any person who is being considered for award of early tenure may, at their discretion, elect to withdraw from the tenure evaluation process without prejudice to later evaluation and consideration for award of tenure. Failure to be awarded tenure after early nomination shall not prejudice later consideration.

Our promotion and tenure guidelines provide the following criteria for promotion to the rank of associate professor: "the candidate should be an accomplished teacher, where teaching is an assigned responsibility, and have a significant record of scholarly and creative work in teaching, research, and service in keeping with the individual's job responsibilities." The candidate's appointment at UNL includes the following apportionment of duties: XX% research, XX% teaching, XX% service XX% extension, and/or XX% administration . As an R1 research institution, the achieved quality and trajectory of our faculty research is very important, and we are looking for your expert evaluation of the candidate's scholarly accomplishments and potential for further scholarly growth and achievement.

We seek an independent evaluation of:

  • the quality, significance, and impact of [CANDIDATE'S] work;
  • the candidate's trajectory and prospects for scholarly growth and achievement;
  • the candidate's standing in relation to others at a comparable or higher career level;
  • any other factors you believe may be of importance in evaluating the candidate's capabilities and accomplishments.

Please begin your review by identifying your current rank and institutional affiliation and the relationship, if any, that you have with [NAME OF FACULTY] (e.g., dissertation or postdoc advisor, current or past collaborator, or former colleague). If at all possible, we would like to receive your assessment of [NAME OF FACULTY's] work by [AN APPROPRIATE DATE GIVEN THE UNL AND COLLEGE PROMOTION AND TENURE SCHEDULE]. You may send the review to me by e-mail [E-MAIL ADDRESS] or by FAX to [FAX NUMBER].

We know that these evaluations are time-consuming and we thank you for your help with this very important process. Please let me know if you have any questions.


Sincerely,

[NAME]
[TITLE, e.g., “Professor and Chair"]

Cc: (if candidate is jointly appointed) [CHAIR OR DIRECTOR OF SECOND UNIT] OR DIRECTOR OF SECOND UNIT IF JOINT APPOINTMENT]

1 If jointly appointed, stop last sentence before [UNIT} and add the following: [NAME OF FACULTY] holds a joint appointment in the [FIRST UNIT] (%FTE) and the [SECOND UNIT] (%FTE) with his/her tenure home residing in [APPROPRIATE UNIT].

2 Include only categories with nonzero apportionment