The intermediate review committee is the College of Letters and Science Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Committee and conducts an independent review of the dossier in accordance with the responsibilities delineated in Sections 2 through 6 of the University Faculty Handbook Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Rights and Responsibilities.

Section 5.01 CLS Retention, Tenure, and Promotion Committee Composition, Election, and Appointment

The College of Letters and Science Retention, Tenure and Promotion Committee consists of five tenured faculty members, at least three of whom must be elected by tenurable faculty of the college.   Elected members serve staggered three-year terms.   The remaining members will be appointed by the Dean for renewable terms of one year.  In addition to the requirements described in the University Faculty Handbook, the College of Letters and Sciences recognizes the value of disciplinary diversity when selecting members of review committees at the college and departmental levels.  To that end, the Dean should appoint members consistent with this objective, particularly when an individual’s academic expertise is needed at the departmental level.

In making these appointments, the Dean should be cognizant of the impact appointments to the college level committee may have on faculty available to serve on primary review committees. Units are encouraged to adopt selection procedures for committee members that will promote membership which is inclusive of the categories protected by the university Non-Discrimination Policy.

An individual may only serve on one review committee, the departmental, college, or university.

Section 5.01.2   Responsibilities of the Committee

The committee shall determine, to the best of its ability, whether a candidate’s preceding reviews have been conducted in substantial compliance with the procedures set forth by the department, college and the University Faculty Handbook. The committee also conducts a fair, objective, independent, and substantive review of the candidate’s dossier based on department, college, and university criteria and standards. In cases of non-concurrence with a preceding review, the recommendation shall include a written rationale for non- concurrence.

The college review committee is also responsible for:

  • Preparing a written recommendation, with vote tally, concerning the retention, tenure, and/or promotion of each candidate for review; and
  • Reviewing, making suggestions for modification, and approving the Role and Scope, criteria and standards documents of the departments; and
  • Reviewing, making suggestions for modification, and approving the Role and Scope, criteria and standards documents of the college.

Section. 5.01.3 Actions of the Committee

The CLSRTPC prepares a written recommendation, with vote tally, concerning the retention, tenure, and/or promotion of each. The recommendation becomes a permanent part of the faculty member’s personnel files maintained in the Dean’s office.

For formal review of a candidate, the college committee first reviews the criteria listed in this document and the appropriate Departmental Role and Scope, Procedures, Standards and Criteria documents.

Following detailed discussion of the merits of each case, each member indicates her/his vote.

All recommendations are summarized by the college committee in a letter to the Dean which is placed in the dossier and provided to each candidate under review. Copies of these letters are sent to the appropriate department head and kept in the faculty personnel file in the Dean’s office.

Section 5.01.4 Procedures for Electing College Representatives to the University Promotion and Tenure Committee

A call for nominations is made to all CLS tenured and tenurable faculty. The nominees must be from among the tenured associate professors and full professors within the college. Normally, at least one half of the members will have attained the rank of professor. No faculty member up for review may serve on the committee. No URTPC member may simultaneously serve on either the college or departmental committee. Members normally serve for one three-year term. CLS will also use the same process to elect an alternate who will serve if the elected member is unable to serve.

A ballot is drawn up from the list of nominees consisting of those who meet the criteria shown above and who agree to serve on the committee should they be elected. A college-wide election is held with the top vote-getter serving on the committee and the second vote-getter serving as an alternate.

Section 5.02 Intermediate Review Administrator

The dean shall determine, to the best of her or his ability, whether the candidate’s preceding reviews were conducted in substantial compliance with the procedures set forth by the department, college and University Faculty Handbook. The dean shall also conduct an independent and substantive review of the candidate’s dossier and make recommendations regarding retention, tenure, and/or promotion. In cases of non-concurrence with a preceding review, the recommendation shall include a written rationale for non-concurrence.

The college dean is also responsible for:

  • Informing faculty members, committee members, and department heads of the applicable timelines for review.
  • Setting dates and times in accordance with those set by the Provost. In general, this means the departmental review will be done by the end of the fall semester.
  • Ensuring that the election of faculty representatives to the college and UPT Committees is conducted in a timely matter.
  • The election of the members of the CLSRTPC and the college representation to the URTPC is conducted by the Dean’s Office.
  • Forwarding the candidate’s dossier, with her or his recommendations, to the URTPC and sending a copy of the written recommendation to the candidate and department head.
  • Maintain a copy of dossier. 

Section 5.03 Level of Review following Intermediate Review Administrator

The next level of review after the Intermediate Review Administrator is UTPC. See 5.01.4 for the procedures for election of CLS representatives to URTPC.