The Process

In April of each year, the College of Fine Arts provides a workshop for faculty interested in applying for tenure and/or promotion in the coming academic year. A tentative timeline is provided at that time. See associated links.

In May, faculty eligible for tenure and/or promotion for the following academic year are notified and receive information from Academic Affairs about the 'Guidelines' and template to be followed.

The candidate begins to prepare:

1. A 'portfolio' for external reviewers. The School Director will send this portfolio along with the College and School T&P criteria to each external reviewer.
2. An online packet, which contains the cover sheet and sections 1 through 33 as outlined in the 'Guidelines'. This is done under the technical support of Dr. Edward Schaefer, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs.

In June, the School Director, in consultation with the candidate and the Dean, creates a list of external reviewers from the candidate's field of expertise. In early August, the Director sends the candidate's portfolio, along with the College and School T&P criteria, to each external reviewer who has agreed to review the candidate's portfolio.

Starting with the 2011-12 cycle, Tenure and Promotion is now online. Paper packets are created to send to external reviewers only, however, for the college and university review, the packet material is uploaded to a special online website for review by tenured school faculty and the college T&P committee, and ultimately, finalized and forwarded to Academic Personnel.

Near the end of September, all external reviewer letters and the candidate's official 'packet' are uploaded to the online review site. A technical review by the Associate Dean, with minor revisions/corrections made to the packet by the candidate may take place at this time. In October, the tenured school faculty will review each candidate's online packet and any extra material the candidate wishes to provide, which will be made available in the school office. They will then will meet to discuss the candidate(s). The assessment addresses issues outlined in the school's, college's and university's criteria for Promotion and Tenure, and include such things as:

• What about experience and record established before coming to UF?
This is recognized, but a significant impact of teaching and research at UF is expected, especially for tenure and promotion in the first several years of employment.
• Has the candidate's record of teaching achieved distinction?
• Does the candidate's record suggest a teaching and research trajectory that is likely to lead to the rank of Associate Professor (and later, Full Professor)
• Has the candidate presented papers, performed or exhibited in appropriate venues and are the number and quality of these acceptable?
• Has the candidate published at an acceptable rate and in appropriate journals?
• Has the candidate established a national and/or international reputation in his/her field?
• Has the candidate attracted external/internal funding to support her/his research?
• Has the candidate chaired or served as a member of masters and doctoral committees?
• Is the candidate appropriately involved in professional service activities at the local, state, national and international levels?

The tenured faculty then vote by secret ballot, no sooner than 24 hours after the discussion. The candidate is notified of the faculty's vote.

In early November, the Director's letter is uploaded by the school administrator. The College T&P Review Committee then reviews, discusses and makes recommendations to the Dean. By early December, the Dean will provide her letter for each candidate's packet to be sent forward and is uploaded by the college administrator.

In early January, the online packet materials are finalized and forwarded to Academic Affairs.

In late May/early June, following approval by the President and Board of Trustees, promotions and/or tenure are announced.