IV. ACADEMIC HUMAN RESOURCES POLICIES (Cont.)
The following policy was approved by the Board of Trustees on May 15, 1952 and amended on June 11, 1993.
The Board of Trustees in approving this statement of tenure policy does so in good faith with the intent to comply fully with it. It must, however, reserve the right to deviate from these terms if conditions beyond its control, such as abrupt declines in enrollment, drastic loss of income or conditions that result in the drastic curtailment or abandonment of programs or activities, make it necessary to do so.
Preamble: The purpose of tenure is to assure the University staff academic freedom and security and to protect the best interests of the University. Tenure shall not be considered to protect any person from the loss of his/her position as a result of misconduct which constitutes cause for dismissal as specified in the Dismissal of Tenured Faculty for Cause policy.
GRANTING TENURE
A faculty member with the rank of professor in the tenure system is granted tenure (appointment for an indefinite period without a terminal date) from the date of appointment at that rank.
An associate professor1 who has not served previously at Michigan State University usually is appointed in the tenure system for a probationary period of four years. In some cases, upon the recommendation of the unit administrator(s), dean(s), and with the prior approval of the Provost and President, the probationary period may vary in length from two to five years. If an associate professor is reappointed, tenure is granted. Individuals appointed at the rank of associate professor without tenure have the option of requesting reappointment at any point2 prior to the conclusion of the stipulated probationary appointment period. A negative decision on such a request shall not preclude consideration for reappointment at the time specified upon appointment.
In unusual cases, on recommendation of the unit administrator(s) and dean(s) and with the prior approval of the Provost and the President, a faculty member initially appointed at the rank of associate professor may be granted tenure from the date of appointment.
An assistant professor1 who has not served previously at Michigan State University is appointed initially in the tenure system for a probationary period of four years and may be reappointed for an additional probationary period of three years. If an assistant professor is appointed beyond the two probationary periods, tenure is granted. If at any time during these two probationary periods an assistant professor is promoted to the rank of associate professor, tenure is granted.
An instructor is appointed in the tenure system for one three-year probationary period. Appointments at the rank of instructor in the tenure system are exceptions to University policy and are provided only in special circumstances (see policy on Receipt of Terminal Qualifying Degree as a Condition of Appointment in the Tenure System, Faculty Handbook). If not promoted to the rank of assistant professor at the conclusion of the one three-year probationary period, the individual is ineligible for an additional reappointment unless a special extension is approved (see below).
If during the one three-year probationary appointment period as an instructor, promotion to the rank of assistant professor is approved, the appointment period as an assistant professor will be for:
- three years after service as an instructor for one year;
- two years after service as an instructor for two years; or
- one year after service as an instructor for three years.
If reappointed at the assistant professor rank, the appointment will be on a probationary basis for three years. If an assistant professor is reappointed after this three-year period, tenure is granted.
Extensions in the probationary appointment periods for all faculty appointed in the tenure system require approval of the University Committee on Faculty Tenure, the Chairperson/Director, the Dean, and the Provost (or designee).3 Extensions in probationary appointment periods are not interpretations of or deviations from the rules of tenure under section 4.8.5. of the Bylaws for Academic Governance.
Recommendations for tenure system faculty appointments, reappointments, extensions of probationary periods, promotion and tenure originate in the primary academic unit (department, school or non-departmentally organized college) and are reviewed successively by the Dean, the Provost and are approved by the President. Actions involving the award of tenure are approved by the President, who makes the final recommendation to the Board of Trustees for action. When tenure is granted, it is effective upon the first day of the month after the date of approval by the Board of Trustees.
Appointments to the ranks of professor, associate professor, assistant professor, and instructor normally are made under the provisions of the Michigan State University tenure system.
1. The terms and conditions of employment shall be provided in writing to the faculty member at the time of initial appointment. These terms should include:
a. The time period covered by the appointment
b. Salary provision
c. The general expectations in regard to the professional responsibilities of the person being appointed.
d. Conditions other than the appointee's performance of his/her responsibilities that would make a further appointment inadvisable.
2. The chairperson of the unit recommending the appointment shall deliver in writing to the non-tenured faculty member at the time of appointment a copy of the bylaws of the unit which specifies that administrative unit's procedures for action on the status of non-tenured faculty. (See section on Non-Tenured Faculty in the Tenure System.)
Footnotes:
Consistent with the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (Big Ten) and other peer law school policies/practices, the Law College has slightly different lengths for tenure system probationary appointment periods than those described above. An assistant professor may be promoted to the rank of associate professor without tenure after three years of college tenure system employment. An assistant or associate professor must apply for tenure after completion of ten regular semesters or five years of service at the Law College. A candidate with significant tenure system law teaching experience or exceptional public or private professional experience may be appointed as an associate professor without tenure. In unusual circumstances, an initial appointment may be made at the rank of associate professor with tenure. An appointment at the rank of full professor confers tenure upon appointment. See the Law College’s Policy for the Granting of Tenure and Promotion.
Such early reviews would occur on the normal review cycle as established by university, college and department/school procedures.
Information on extensions of probationary appointments should originate in the primary academic unit; such information may also be obtained from the chairperson of the University Committee on Faculty Tenure, the department chairperson, the school director, the dean, or the Office of the Provost. See section on Implementation Practices.
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