Department of Psychology

Renewal (Third Year Review)

1. Initiation

The initial appointment for untenured faculty is normally for a period of four academic years. Departments will normally consider tenure-track candidates for renewal of term in the third year of their service. The Department notifies candidates of appropriate procedures during the end of their second year in residence. Throughout the process, the Chair serves to answer whatever questions the candidate might have about the renewal process.

1.2 Ad hoc Third Year Review Committee

A renewal committee will be established by the Chair of the Department during the fall semester of the renewal year. The renewal committee will consist of 2-3 tenured faculty members at the rank of Associate or Full Professor. In most cases, these faculty members will be drawn from the candidate's area of interest and 1 will come from outside of the candidate's area of interest. A member of the tenured faculty, preferably of another Arts & Sciences department, will also be solicited to serve on the committee. Outside members must be capable of responsibly assessing work done in the candidate’s field. One member of the committee will be appointed chair and will be responsible for coordinating the activities of the committee.

2. Supporting materials to be submitted to Chair by candidate, by Sept. 15th.

Curriculum vitae. A complete and up-to-date Vitae that divides publications into the following categories: books, articles in refereed journals, popular articles and related publications, and project reports. All published reviews of work done by the candidate, both positive and negative, should be included. In addition, the Vitae should include information on previous and current grant funding as well as indications of national and international recognition (e.g., honors, awards, invitations, committees, offices held, etc.) Furthermore, it should include a section on teaching and service that specifies: courses taught, advising activities, undergraduate and graduate supervised thesis research.

One reprint or preprint of all publications and manuscripts awaiting publication.

A list of up to 8 current/former students who may be contacted for statements relating to the candidate's teaching abilities, broadly defined. These may include advisees of the candidate, students from classes taught by the candidate or students who have worked in the candidate's laboratory. Current mailing and email addresses and telephone numbers would be most helpful to the committee.

Personal statements. The applicant should provide two documents, one discussing teaching activities and the other research goals. Each document should not be more than two single spaced pages.

3. Committee Evaluation

After meeting with the candidate, the renewal committee will prepare a written report detailing the research, teaching and service activities of the candidate as appropriate. The review committee will provide its recommendation on renewal in the report. The report, together with all other materials of the candidate, will be maintained in a file with the Assistant to the Chair in the departmental office. These materials will be available to all tenured faculty members in the department for at least 1 week prior to the meeting of the tenured faculty. The file will include summaries of all course evaluations for the candidate.

3.1 Research

The standard for renewal: evidence of candidate’s excellence or potential for excellence in research. The committee will read published and unpublished work, as well as related materials.

3.2 Teaching

The standard for renewal: evidence of the candidate’s excellence or potential for excellence in teaching and advising over the next three years. The Teaching Evaluation Committee will produce a summary of the candidate's progress as a teacher that will be incorporated into the final Review Committee's report. Included in this report will be an evaluation of the quality of courses taught, enrollment numbers, grade distribution and average grade in each course, statistical and narrative summaries of student course evaluations over the past two years, and peer evaluation as part of the assessment of quality.

3.3 Service

The standard for renewal: adequate evidence that candidate is willing and able to participate constructively in the administrative activities.

4. Departmental discussion and vote

Generally, the department will assess renewals along with the tenure and promotion cases in November and December of the year. The Third Year Review committee will have its Report ready by November 10^th. The tenured faculty of the Department of Psychology will meet on or about November 15th to discuss each candidate. The chair of the renewal committee will present a summary of the evaluation and the review committee's recommendation. Ample time will be available for discussion. A ballot will be available following the meeting and a 48-hour period for return of ballots will be in effect.

4.1 Chair’s report

The Department Chair will report the departmental recommendation to the candidate soon after the balloting. During this meeting the Chair will describe the principal judgments and items of advice that emerged from the review process and well as provide an oral summary of the report. The Chair will point out that the observations and recommendations made are meant to convey the Department's considered opinion and advice at this time. The candidate will be advised to take seriously the conversation but to recognize that fulfillment of the recommendations cannot in itself guarantee tenure. The Chair will provide the candidate a memo summarizing the conversation after it is held.

Whether the departmental recommendation is negative or positive, the Chair will provide to the following materials to the Dean on or near March 1:

(1) Chair's cover letter describing the Departmental process and vote, and including Chair's recommendation.

(2) Candidate's CV and personal statement on teaching and research.

(3) Committee report on teaching, research, and service.

(4) Grade distribution sheets.

(5) Memo of conversation with candidate

5. A positive response by the Dean will result in a renewal of the probationary contract, usually for three years. A negative response by the Dean will result in termination at the end of four years.

6. Confidentiality. All matters concerning reviews of tenure-track or general faculty members for contract renewal should be held in the strictest confidence. These issues include results of review committee and tenured faculty votes and discussions during committee and tenured faculty meetings.

7. Candidate’s appeal mechanism

A candidate wishing to appeal a negative decision should consult the Faculty Handbook of the University of Virginia (section on “Promotion and Tenure Policy”). The Handbook is available on the Provost’s WEB page, accessible through the University of Virginia WEB page (http://minerva.acc.virginia.edu/~provost/uvap&t.htm).

Revised 4/1/1999