About the Work Group
The Tenure & Promotion Policy Implementation Work Group was established to support the successful implementation of ETSU's newly adopted faculty policies. Working collaboratively with faculty, academic leadership, Human Resources, and administrative partners, the group is responsible for identifying the institutional actions, resources, and communication needed to ensure a smooth and consistent transition to the new policies.
The work group serves as a central resource for implementation planning and will develop recommendations, guidance, and supporting materials to assist colleges, departments, and faculty throughout the implementation process.
-
Work Group Membership
Dr. Don W. Good
Professor, Program Coordinator for Higher Educational LeadershipFaculty Representative
Dr. Amy Johnson
Associate Dean for Faculty AffairsQuillen College of Medicine
Ms. Amanda Mowell
Special Assistant to the PresidentOffice of the President
Mr. Mark Proffitt
Assistant Dean for Budget and Planning College of Arts and Sciences
Ms. Ashley Sergiadis
Watermark Faculty Success Implementation Coordinator, and Associate Professor, Sherrod Library
Dr. Alan Stevens
Chair of the Department of Music Faculty Senate Past President
Dr. Sarah Thomason
Professor and Chair of Pharmacy Practice at the Gatton College of PharmacyChair, Council of Chairs
Ms. Yasmeen Elayan
Director of Creative Services University Marketing and Communications
Purpose and Charge
The work group has been charged with identifying the institutional actions necessary to successfully implement the new faculty policies. This includes recommending implementation strategies, timelines, training, and resources, as well as developing a comprehensive communication plan to support faculty, department chairs, academic leaders, and campus partners.
Why This Work Matters
The new faculty policies represent significant updates in several key areas of faculty employment, including:
-
- Faculty Appointments and Designations
- Faculty Workload
- Faculty Tenure and Promotion
Successful implementation requires coordinated planning across the institution to ensure that policies are applied consistently and that faculty and academic leaders have the guidance and resources they need.
Scope of Work
The work group's responsibilities include:
-
- Identifying institutional implementation needs
- Reviewing existing procedures and practices
- Recommending standardized processes, templates, and forms
- Identifying policy questions requiring clarification
- Coordinating campus communications
- Recommending training opportunities for faculty and academic leaders
- Identifying technology and reporting needs
- Monitoring implementation progress and recommending adjustments as needed
Key Implementation Questions
As implementation planning moves forward, the work group is addressing several important questions, including:
-
- How will faculty workload expectations be documented?
- What will college-level implementation guidelines include?
- When and how will faculty transition to the new policies?
- What revisions will departments need to make to tenure and promotion criteria?
- How will faculty appointments and designations be categorized?
- What training will faculty, department chairs, deans, and supervisors need?
- How will tenure and promotion materials and documentation be updated?
- What resources will department chairs need to successfully implement the policies?
Timeline
-
Summer 2026 – Implementation Inventory
During the initial phase, the work group will:
- Identify institutional implementation needs
- Review existing resources and procedures
- Identify gaps requiring additional guidance or resources
- Develop a campus communication strategy
-
August–October 2026 – Recommendations
The work group will develop recommendations for:
- Implementation procedures
- Standardized processes and documentation
- Training for departments, faculty, and supervisors
- Website content and communication resources
-
November 2026 – May 2027 – Implementation Support
During the implementation phase, the work group will provide:
- Implementation resources
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Ongoing guidance and support for campus stakeholders
Get Involved
Faculty and campus leaders are encouraged to participate throughout the implementation process by:
-
- Reviewing the new faculty policies
- Attending implementation trainings and open forums
- Reviewing guidance and resources developed by the work group
- Contacting any work group member with questions or suggestions
- Working with their Faculty Senate representative to share feedback and recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know when I will transition to the new policy?
The Tenure and Promotion for Tenure-Track and Tenured Faculty policy, Section 7.3, Applicability of Tenure and/or Promotion Criteria, states:
“Faculty members are evaluated for Tenure and/or Promotion under the criteria in effect at the time of their initial appointment or at the time following their most recent Promotion.”
Section 6.3 in the Promotion Policy for Renewable Track Faculty makes a similar statement related to promotion only.
Faculty should use the Criteria Transition Chart to determine when they will begin following the new policy and criteria.
The chart is color-coded by faculty appointment type and rank:
Yellow-gold: Tenure-track faculty hired at the rank of Assistant Professor
Blue: Tenure-track faculty hired at the rank of Associate Professor
Green: Non-tenure-track faculty hired at the rank of Assistant ProfessorTo use the chart, start in the section color coded for your hire appointment and rank. Then, locate the year you were hired in the left-hand column and move across that row to the column titled “Semester Faculty Begin to Follow New Criteria.” The semester listed in that column indicates when you will transition to the new policy and criteria.
The chart is designed for faculty who have followed the standard timeline for tenure and/or promotion. If your timeline differs from the standard progression—for example, if you received an approved extension of the tenure probationary period (“stop the clock”) or did not apply for promotion to Associate Professor when you first became eligible—the chart may not clearly identify your transition date.
If your circumstances do not align with the standard timeline or you are unsure when you will transition to the new policy and criteria, please email Dr. Karin Keith (keithkj@etsu.edu), Associate Provost for Faculty for clarification.
When is the deadline for departments to develop criteria?
Departments need to provide their criteria to their department chair no later than March 15, 2027 to ensure that the chair, dean, and Provost have an opportunity to review and approve their criteria. Academic Units that do not have departments need to have their criteria to their dean no later than April 15, 2027 to ensure the dean and the Provost has an opportunity to review and approve criteria.
How is "significant administrative activities" defined in each policy?
In the Tenure and Promotion for Tenure-Track and Tenured Faculty policy, Section 9.5, Administrative Activities section states, "Faculty members with significant administrative activities, such as department chair, associate/assistant dean, center director, and school director, may extend the Probationary Period for Tenure and/or the Minimum Standard Time in Rank as described in the Administrative Activities' Affect on Probationary Period section and the Administrative Activities Affect on Minimum Standard Time in Rank section.
Faculty are considered to have significant administrative activities when 50% or more of their assigned time is devoted to administrative activities, as documented with the Faculty Supervisor and reflected in the Faculty Activity Plan (FAP).
Are external reviews required for Renewable Term Faculty?
No, but your department may elect to require external reviews for Renewable Term Faculty.
I am currently classified as a Clinical Faculty and this title is no longer recognized within the Faculty Appointments and Designations Policy. When will I transition to a new title and how will that impact me?
The Office of the Provost is working with Human Resources to determine when faculty will transition to the new titles. If you are required to change titles, the only thing that would change would be your title.
In my current workload, I devote 10% of my time to research, do I need to include a discussion of research in my dossier?
Yes, according to the policy if ten percent (10%) or more of a faculty's workload is devoted to a specific activity, they should include information about that activity in their dossier.
For additional questions or to provide feedback, please contact the Office of the Provost at provost@etsu.edu.