Sep 19, 2024  
2023-2024 Faculty Handbook 
    
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2023-2024 Faculty Handbook

SECTION 2: PROCEDURES FOR FORMATIVE REVIEW AND REPLCEMENT OF PROBATIONARY, REGULAR FACULTY

The review, evaluation and reappointment for all full-time probationary tenure-track faculty will be conducted using the following procedures. The chair of the department, with the help of a review committee created for the purpose, conducts a formative evaluation of faculty in their first, second, fourth and fifth years. The FPC conducts the mid-probationary (third-year) review, the tenure review, all promotion reviews, and all post-tenure reviews. All committee members will be held to a high level of confidentiality regarding the process and outcome of the review.

The file created for reappointment described in this section is open to the candidate, the members of the FPC, the chair of the department, members of the annual review committee, the division head, the academic dean and the president of the college. The documents submitted for the files are the property of the college.

2.1.0 Formative Review

Formative review for full-time regular probationary faculty in years one, two, four, and five is conducted by the department chair with a committee assembled for the purpose. The formative review normally takes place in the spring of each year.

The three-person review committee consists (when possible) of the department chair, a tenured faculty member from the department and one tenured faculty member from outside the department. If a tenured faculty member in the department is not available, a second tenured faculty member from within the division of the faculty member may be appointed. (Note: The role of the department chair is not dependent on tenure; it is then reasonable that a non-tenured department chair will conduct reviews.)

Recognizing that the college is small, situations may arise that are not covered by these procedures (e.g. a three-person department without tenured faculty members or non- tenured department chair up for review). In these situations, FPC and the dean will make the final decision of the makeup of the committee. Information regarding the policy regarding conflict of interest for committee participation may be found on the college’s website: https://simpson.edu/system/files/2019- 08/Conflict%20of%20Interest%20Guidelines%20July%202007%20updated%20Feb%2020 12.pdf

2.1.1 Timing and Procedures

2.1.1.1 The Semester Before a Formative Review

  1. The department chair meets with the person being reviewed and they determine provisional dates of the review. They also discuss possible members of the review committee.
  2. The person being reviewed provides the chair with the names of three possible tenured faculty members from outside the department and up to three tenured faculty members from within the department.
  3. The department chair then selects the members of the review committee, finalizes dates of review and informs the person being reviewed.

2.1.1.2 The Semester of a Formative Review

  1. A file is created in the academic dean’s office. As part of all regular reviews, the chair of FPC will announce the review. Signed letters will be accepted for the candidates file in the academic dean’s office. The letters should address the criteria for reappointment, promotion and tenure as stated in Simpson College Faculty Handbook Part II: Personnel Policies, Section 7 . (See Simpson College Faculty Handbook Part VII: Appendix B  for details regarding the guidelines.)
  2. A file is created in the academic dean’s office to hold these letters. The file includes the candidate’s teaching evaluations, and all letters submitted during the process. The candidate will write a self-evaluation and submit a current vita and syllabi for the file. The candidate will be permitted to review the file.
  3. The first meeting of the review committee is organizational. The committee reviews the conflict of interest policy and organizes class visits.
  4. Each member of the committee sits in on at least one class, individually interviews the candidate, and reviews the file.
  5. If, based on the evidence in the current review, the review committee deems it useful, committee members may consult the file containing formative review material from previous years of the person being reviewed in the academic dean’s office.
  6. At the second meeting, the review committee discusses the substance of the letter that will summarize its findings. The department chair drafts the formal letter and, after approval by members of the committee, sends it to the candidate. The letter should address the four criteria outlined in Simpson College Faculty Handbook Part II: Personnel Policies, Section 7  on teaching, advising, professional development and service. The letter should focus on the materials gathered through the review process and found in the file.
  7. After the person being reviewed receives the letter, the chair schedules a meeting with the review committee so that the person being reviewed may respond. After the meeting, the review committee may or may not choose to revise the letter as it deems appropriate.
  8. The final formative letter is included in the file of the person being reviewed in the academic dean’s office.

2.2.0 Reappointment for Probationary, Regular Faculty

The department chair and division head conduct a review for the purpose of reappointment of all probationary, regular faculty in their first, second, fourth and fifth years.

  1. The chair writes a letter regarding reappointment. It is based on the formative review. In addition, the chair should seek the opinions of all tenured members of the department regarding the reappointment of the candidate.
  2. The chair will create a letter regarding reappointment of the candidate that summarizes the work of the candidate and the view of the department. In writing the reappointment letter, the department chair is speaking on behalf of the department. In a situation where the view of the department chair is contrary to the others in the department, the chair must clearly delineate her or his opinion from that of other faculty members.
  3. The department chair shares the reappointment letter with the candidate before sending it to the division head and allows the candidate a chance to respond. The department chair may or may not revise the letter as she or he deems appropriate before sending it to the division head.
  4. The chair then sends the reappointment letter to the division head.
  5. The division head reviews the letter, sits in on at least one class, and personally interviews the candidate. The division head makes sure that the process has been followed and that the department chair’s recommendation is consistent with the evidence. The division head follows up on any problems or irregularities in the process that he or she identifies.
  6. The division head submits her or his reappointment letter with the reappointment letter from the department chair to the academic dean.
  7. The academic dean makes a recommendation to the president of the college, who makes the final decision.
  8. The academic dean meets with the faculty member to share the final decision regarding reappointment and writes a concluding statement for the file.
  9. A decision against reappointment will be reviewed by the Faculty Personnel Committee upon the written request of the faculty member. The request must be sent to the chair of the FPC within 30 days of the faculty member receiving the negative reappointment decision.