Q: How does the 7-year “Up or Out” clock work at the School of Medicine?
A: The SOM Rules state that Assistant Professors must be reviewed for promotion by the beginning of their seventh year in rank. Faculty members who are not promoted by the end of their seventh year will be given one-year’s notice that their appointment will not be renewed. However, there is built-in flexibility. First, the time-clock is routinely extended (pro-rated) to account for periods of part-time employment. And if the faculty member, Department Chair and Dean all concur, extensions may be granted; valid reasons include illness, family obligations, changes in career focus or assignments or other circumstances indicating that an additional year is needed before promotion. Requests for extensions should come from the Department Chair and should include an explanation of why the additional year is needed and how the time will be used to prepare the faculty candidate for promotion.
Q: What are the differences among at-will, indeterminate and limited appointments?
A: The University of Colorado recognizes four types of faculty appointments:
• Tenured appointments continue until resignation or retirement, or until termination (pursuant to applicable Regent laws and policies).
• Indeterminate appointments are made for an indefinite period of time; but, as stated in the faculty member’s letter-of-offer, continuance of the appointment is dependent upon inclusion in the approved budget and availability of salary support from specified grants or other sources. Typically, if funding from those sources ends, the appointment ends immediately, without the requirement for further notice.
• Limited appointments are for specified periods of time (from less than one year to four years).
• At-will appointments are made for an indefinite period of time; their continuance is at-will. By state law, non-tenure eligible faculty (Instructors and faculty holding research associate or research professor titles) may only hold at-will appointments, unless the faculty member’s duties are at least 50 percent devoted to direct patient care.
Q: If a department chair decides not to renew a faculty member’s appointment, is the faculty member entitled to notice?
A: One year’s notice of non-reappointment is required for full-time faculty members holding limited term appointments, after two or more years of service to the University. Three months’ notice is required for faculty members in their first year of service at the University, and six months’ notice is required for those in their second year of service.
Similar notice must be provided to faculty members holding indeterminate appointments if their appointment will be not be continued for reasons other than availability of funding (as outlined in the letter-of-offer). Faculty members holding at-will appointments may see their appointments end at any time, without notice (although certain constitutional protections apply).
One additional note: Faculty members holding limited or indeterminate appointments may not be re-assigned to at-will appointments unless proper notice is provided.
Q: What is the Grandfathering Policy for Assistant Professors Under the Old Criteria?
A: Faculty members who were appointed or promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor (or who received letters of offer) prior to August 7, 1997 are eligible to be "grandfathered" under the old policies. Faculty members eligible for grandfathering should have made their election to be considered under the “old” or “new” criteria in writing, prior to January 7, 1998 . Please include a copy of the original memo completed by the faculty member (and co-signed by the Department Chair) indicating the faculty member's election. Assistant Professors who elected the old criteria in the tenure track will be judged using these “Old Criteria”; however, if the candidate is seeking tenure, the Faculty Promotions Committee (FPC) will vote separately on the promotion and tenure awards (Old Criteria, New Procedures).
Q: What is the Grandfathering Policy for Associate Professors and Faculty Seeking Tenure Under the Old Criteria?
A: Associate Professors who wish to be considered for promotion to full Professor must be judged using the “New Criteria.” The grandfathering option expired on June 30, 2003 . The SOM Rules do not provide a grandfathering option for Associate Professors or Professors who are seeking the award of tenure; Associate Professors and Professors seeking tenure must be considered using the new policies of the SOM.
