COMMITTEE ON APPOINTMENTS, PROMOTION, AND TENURE
ANNUAL REPORT 2000-2001
MEETINGS:
The Committee on Appointments, Promotion, and Tenure met thirty times
during the 2000-2001 academic year.
In addition, the committee held a meeting for new faculty in September
to
discuss criteria for continuing service as well as reappointment and tenure
procedures; one in April for newly reappointed faculty to consider tenure
procedures; and another one in April for next year's tenure candidates
to
offer advice about preparation of the tenure file.
The Chair of CAPT met with Academic Staff in September to present changes
in the calendar and CAPT's concerns about promotion procedures; the entire
committee attended the chairs' retreat in May to present proposals
regarding promotion procedures.
The Chair of CAPT also met with new faculty in January (at the request
of
Associate Deans Sue Bender and Chuck Joseph) to reflect on reading course
evaluations and again with new faculty in March at the request of CFG
to
discuss the relation of new faculty to community citizenship.
The Chair of CAPT attended meetings of the Committee of Committees in
September and April.
CAPT met with the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees
in
May to discuss tenure and promotion procedures and other matters of mutual
concern; and the Chair of CAPT also met with this committee in February
and
May to consider promotion procedures and recommendations.
PERSONNEL:
CAPT evaluated the credentials of four candidates for promotion to the
rank
of professor and recommended that all four be promoted. CAPT met with
the
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty (VPAA/DOF)
and
the President regarding the credentials of these candidates. The President
concurred with CAPT's recommendations, and the Board of Trustees, in turn,
approved the President's recommendations.
The VPAA/DOF consulted with CAPT about one reappointment case.
In accordance with stipulations in the Faculty Handbook, the VPAA/DOF
consulted with CAPT about the appointment of a faculty member from another
department to consider the sixth-year reappointment of a member of the
library faculty.
CAPT consulted with the VPAA/DOF and/or the President about several other
personnel matters.
PERSONNEL PROCEDURES:
CAPT consulted with former chairs of CAPT and also with the President
and
VPAA/DOF about the appropriate relationship between CAPT and the
administration during tenure and promotion deliberations. The Operating
Code for 2001-2002 includes language reflecting the results of these
discussions.
PERSONNEL LETTERS:
CAPT revised and expanded a document entitled "Suggested Guidelines
for
Writing Letters in Reappointment and Tenure Cases" prepared by a
former
CAPT committee (chaired by Mark Hofmann). This document will be included
in the 2001-2002 Handbook for Department Chairs for the use of chairs
as
well as other faculty obliged to write letters in personnel cases.
CONSULTATIONS:
Associate Dean Chuck Joseph consulted with CAPT about peer observation
of
classes, endowed chairs, and the Pilot Student Evaluation Form.
The Office of the Dean of Studies requested CAPT's response to possible
changes in the advising system.
The VPAA/DOF consulted with CAPT about strategic planning goals.
ENDOWED CHAIRS:
The President and the VPAA/DOF consulted with CAPT about criteria and
procedures generally governing appointments to endowed chairs, and about
the credentials of nominees for the Porter Chair and the Kenan Chair of
Liberal Arts. The President announced appointments to these chairs at
the
end of March.
HONORARY DEGREES:
CAPT reviewed the credentials of two candidates for honorary degrees
HANDBOOK CHANGES:
CAPT brought the following motions to the floor of the faculty in March:
to
accept unsolicited letters in tenure cases; to mandate consultation with
CAPT in cases where administrative officers are recommended for appointment
to the faculty; to provide a calendar for first-year review of faculty
beginning their contracts in the middle of the academic year. All
proposals were approved by the faculty at the subsequent faculty meeting;
the full text of these motions is available in the office of the VPAA/DOF,
and the changes will be incorporated in the 2001-2002 Faculty Handbook.
PROMOTION PROCEDURES:
The current Faculty Handbook offers little guidance with respect to
procedures for promotion to the rank of professor. Moreover, in reviewing
departmental procedures across the college, CAPT found many differences
from one department to another. One department sends all department
letters to CAPT; another requires no letters from department members at
all. One requires letters from external reviewers; another does not. Such
broad differences make for the perception of inequities, and may even
produce inequities, for individual candidates. In an attempt to address
these problems, CAPT brought a series of proposals to Academic Staff at
the
May retreat. The very useful discussion with members of academic staff
will assist CAPT in refining these proposals for presentation to the
faculty.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
CAPT is grateful to Gerry Erchak, who replaced Joel Smith in the fall
semester; and to both Tim Koechlin and Greg Pfitzer for serving as
alternates in personnel deliberations. CAPT also appreciates the
extraordinary work of the staff in the office of the VPAA/DOF, especially
the efforts of Chris McGill and Sue Blair--as well as the support of
Margaret Irving and Anne Montanino in the President's Office. CAPT is
also
grateful to Mehmet Odekon, Chair of CFG, and the other members of his
committee, for their prompt and helpful advice on many occasions. Finally,
members of CAPT have greatly benefited from the wisdom of outgoing members
Susan Lehr and Joel Smith.
2000-2001 CAPT
2001: Susan Lehr
Joel Smith (spring)
Gerry Erchak (fall)
2002: Una Bray
Susan Kress (chair)
2003: John Anzalone
Penny Jolly
2001-2002 CAPT
2002: Una Bray
Susan Kress
2003: John Anzalone (chair)
Penny Jolly
2004: Roy Ginsberg
Mary Lynn
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