Career Track & Tenure Track
Both are types of academic appointments.
Tenure Track is an indefinite academic appointment that can be terminated only for causeor under extraordinary circumstances, such as financial exigency, program discontinuation, egregious conduct.
Tenure is a means of defending the principle ofacademic freedom, which holds that it is beneficial for society in the long run if scholars are free to hold and examine a variety of views.
Career Track
Non-tenure track academic appointment with rank (i.e., assistant, associate, full) to one of four sub-tracks
- Clinical
- Research
- Scholar
- Teaching
Career Track Contracts
Fixed Term
1-5 year term appointments with specific end dates determined by the nature of the assigned tasks, funds, or contracts.
Contingent
Specifies end date (1-3 year contract).
Employment is determined by contingencies (i.e., hiring actions state continuing employment contingent upon specific qualifications completed by certain date (e.g., degree earned, licensed, holding temporary visa becomes eligible for permanent positions upon requisite changes in immigration status).
If specifications not met, University has no obligation to the employee beyond the contingency date.
Continuous
No contractual end date.
However, continuous appointment contracts may be terminated in accordance with Washington state and federal contract law and notification requirements** based on length of employment (3-9 months notification based on years employed).
**Notification requirements exempted in situations involving extraordinary circumstances (e.g., financial exigencies, elimination of function/program, or egregious violations of professional behavior).
Promotion
An important professional accomplishment in faculty careers.
Confirms your peers’ and the University’s assessment of excellence in your designated areas of responsibility/workload to our collective missions in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, and service, outreach and engagement (both internally directed [e.g., academic service, governance, and leadership] and externally directed [e.g., professional organizations, advisory boards, peer review processes]), as well as your contributions to a positive community and culture. And Confirms that the evidence in your dossier predicts a continuing positive trajectory.
Process/Procedures are the same across sub-tracks.
However, expectations are sub-track specific and workload specific.
Faculty are urged to maintain ongoing communication with their department chair/unit supervisors in navigating all processes and procedures.
When Am I Eligible For Promotion Review?
Only under extraordinary circumstances will a faculty member be considered for promotion to the next rank prior to the end of their fifth year of service/beginning of their sixth year of service in rank, with the promotion, if granted, awarded at the end of the sixth (6) year. For faculty appointed part-time, consideration for promotion may occur later than the end of the fifth year.
You may seek early consideration via a request routed through your chair to the Dean, Chancellor, and the Provost who makes the final determination.
Promotion Begins with Annual Review
Three Types:
- Abridged
- Comprehensive
- Intensive
Abridged Alternates with Comprehensive
If you are eligible for promotion (or received approval for early consideration), you are strongly encouraged to request an intensive review in the spring prior to submitting your materials for promotion review in the subsequent fall to “test the waters” and to help prepare materials for promotion.
Documentation
Candidate prepares the following materials for intensive review and promotion review that are notrequired for abridged or comprehensive review.
- Educator Portfolio required [for those engaged in teaching and/or mentoring].
- Research/scholarship statement required for research and scholar sub-tracks.
- Clinical activity statement required for clinical sub-track.
- Optional: Context, DEI, Administrative/Academic Leadership, Service/Outreach/Engagement, COVID-19 Impact.
Even if not requesting promotion review, career track (and tenured faculty) are encouraged to request an intensive review every four (4) to six (6) years to maximize feedback and adjust as needed.
Procedural Differences Across Types of Annual Review
Abridged and Comprehensive Annual Reviews are conducted by the chair and forwarded to the Dean and Chancellor for review and signature.
Intensive reviews also involve a faculty advisory committee–minimum five department tenure track and/or career track colleagues who hold the rank to which the candidate aspires. If fewer than five such colleagues in your department, the chair forms an augmented advisory committee, inviting colleagues from other departments within or outside the College of Medicine, with the approval of the Dean and Chancellor. (Provost approval not required for career track and tenured faculty intensive review augmented committee UNLESS chair expects to invite that same colleague to serve on the faculty member’s promotion committee.)
Promotion Review
In addition to the foregoing requirements re: candidate documentation and the faculty advisory committee required for Intensive Review,
Promotion Review also requires: At least four review letters from either internal and/or external reviewers. These letters may come from WSU faculty outside the candidate’s home department or from others familiar with the candidate’s role (e.g., professional associations or external agencies).
Promotion Letters
Letters should not be solicited from people who have a conflict of interest, such as a personal relationship with candidate that goes beyond that of colleague (e.g., no mentors, collaborators, partners, faculty who have conflict with candidate).
Two reviewers should come from a list supplied by the candidate; however, the candidate should not contact potential reviewers directly.
At least two letters must come from individuals not suggested by the faculty member.
Letters for Promotion
The chair’s request for letters should be couched in neutral terms, asking for “evaluation” rather than “support” and stating that the candidate is being “reviewed” not “recommended” for promotion.
The chair’s letter to reviewers should encourage an impartial, unbiased review of the candidate’s professional work and stature in the profession/discipline.
FRPT Involved in Promotion Review
FRPT is notinvolved in annual review of any type.
FRPT isinvolved in an advisory capacity to the Dean in promotion review.
FRPT reviews all documentation prepared by the candidate, letters obtained by the chair, and the chair’s evaluation/recommendation and submits an advisory, non-binding recommendation to the Dean.
FRPT does not review faculty advisory recommendations.
The Dean adds his evaluation/recommendation and forwards to the Chancellor, and ultimately the file is forwarded to the Provost for final determination.
Provost’s Advisory Committee
Bases assessment on the candidate’s dossier: does not solicit additional information.
Does not review the faculty advisory recommendations.
Applies the promotion criteria in the Faculty Manual and any applicable criteria established by the candidate’s college, department/school, or campus that have been included in the candidate’s dossier.
Evaluates cases on their merit and in relation to the department/school, college, and university expectations and not in comparison with others who have been promoted or who are being considered for promotion at the same time.
Department Guidelines
Department and college guidelines must be in compliance with University guidelines; however, departments may contextualize expectations based on the department’s mission, functions, priorities, workload, etc.
College Resources
- Career Sub-track Promotion Guidelines. Departments should have guidelines as well–Check with your chair.
- Educator Portfolio
- Guidance on External & Internal Letters for Tenure & Promotion All Tracks
- Tenure Promotion All Tracks Information & Procedures
University Resources
- Faculty Manual
- Guidelines & Forms
- Annual Review
- Promotion & Tenure
- Memorandums and Guidance
- Forms