Faculty and Librarian Tenure

Scope

All faculty governance organization actions with respect to tenure policies and practices must comply with IC 21-38-11 and are advisory only. 

Additionally, all tenure criteria shall comply with IC 21-39.5 and IC 21-38-3.5. 

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Policy Statement

The Principle of Tenure

The principle of tenure imposes reciprocal responsibilities on the University as a body politic and on the faculty member and librarian. In order to meet its responsibilities to its students and to society, the University must attract and retain faculty and librarians of outstanding quality. To that end the University provides academic freedom and economic security, which are implicit in the principle of faculty and librarian tenure. The faculty members, on their part, are obligated to maintain high standards of teaching, research, service, and professional conduct. Librarians, on their part, are obligated to maintain high standards of performance in librarianship, professional development/research/creative activities, service, and professional conduct.

(Faculty Council, December 3, 1968; University Faculty Council, April 28, 2009; Board of Trustees, July 25-29, 1969, June 30, 1972, June 12, 2009)

Tenure Status for Non-Citizens

It is the policy of Indiana University that only individuals who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may be granted tenure. Non-U.S. citizens who are not permanent residents, in tenure-track positions, may continue to progress in tenure probationary status, but may not be granted tenure until permanent residence in the U.S. has been obtained. When appointments to positions with tenure are offered to non-U.S. citizens who are not permanent residents, they will be temporarily appointed to tenure-probationary positions until permanent residence in the U.S. has been obtained at which time the appointment will be converted to a tenured position as originally offered.

(Administrative Practice)

Tenure-Probationary Period

Subject to the provisions which follow, an individual appointed to the faculty (as defined in Article I, Section 1 of the Faculty Constitution) or as a librarian for full-time service shall have tenure after a probationary period. At the time of initial appointment, a probationary period shall be stated. During the probationary period, appointments are usually for a period of one to three years. The total probationary period may not exceed seven years. This period may include full-time service with faculty or library rank at other institutions, if similar service in Indiana University would have been countable toward tenure. In the case of persons with three or more years of countable service in other institutions, a probationary period of not more than four years may be required, if agreed upon in writing at the time of appointment. Since the acquisition of tenure represents a major change in a faculty member’s or librarian’s status, the faculty member or librarian to whom tenure is being granted shall be so informed in writing.

The faculty of a campus of Indiana University, acting through applicable shared governance mechanisms, may adopt policies which permit schools on that campus to request the Board of Trustees to extend the tenure-probationary period for all eligible faculty members in that school. The Board of Trustees may approve such requests if the school has followed the applicable campus policy and demonstrated a compelling justification for the extension. Before being presented to the Board of Trustees, any request for extension must be approved by the dean and the faculty of the school, by the Chancellor and/or chief academic officer of the campus, and by the President of the University. Extensions for core schools require adoption of a policy and approvals by both campuses in which the core school resides.

Tenure may be conferred at the time of initial appointment or after a shorter period than specified above. When a probationary period expires during an academic year, the probationary period will be extended to the end of that year.

Under administrative policies and practices at Indiana University, where such a written agreement reduces a faculty member’s or librarian’s probationary period to less than seven years, this agreement is binding on both parties. The length of the probationary period resulting from any such reduction cannot at a later date be extended to suit the convenience of a faculty member or librarian or the academic unit.

Tenure at the University requires explicit action. The review leading to a recommendation of tenure or non-reappointment is to take place no later than the sixth year of probationary service. Failure to give notice of non-reappointment prior to the beginning of the seventh year of probationary service will not result automatically in an award of tenure. In such a case, the review leading to a tenure or termination decision should be conducted at the earliest possible time and, if necessary, the probationary period shall be extended until the review is complete.

A faculty member or librarian who has not received a notice of recommendation for non-reappointment may request consideration of the tenure decision at any time after the initial appointment. However, if the tenure decision is negative, the faculty member’s or librarian's appointment shall terminate at the end of the academic year following the year in which the negative tenure decision was made. A faculty member or librarian who applies for early tenure should be forewarned that a candidate for tenure should expect only one full review. A faculty member or librarian who requests early tenure shall be notified of any negative recommendation concerning his or her request at any time prior to a final decision by the President. A faculty member or librarian may withdraw his/her request for early tenure at any time prior to a final decision by the President.

(Faculty Council, December 3, 1968; University Faculty Council, April 23, 1991, April 28, 2009; Board of Trustees, July 25-29, 1969; June 30, 1972; June 20, 1991, June 12, 2009; University Faculty Council, May 28, 2010)

Procedures for Faculty

Recommendations for advancement to tenured status are prepared by chairpersons or other appropriate administrative officers. Such recommendations are prepared early in the academic year which counts as the sixth year for purposes of reckoning years of service towards tenure. (The actual determination of the appropriate year includes credit for service at other institutions which may have been negotiated at the time of the first appointment.)

Recommendations shall be submitted through the academic administration of each campus with the advice of faculty committees and appropriate professional peers. Administrative structure varies somewhat from campus to campus. For specific information on the routing of such recommendations, see campus-specific documents. Campus vice presidents, chancellors and/or chief academic officer, and academic deans, with the advice of faculty committees, are responsible for submitting tenure recommendations to the President. It shall be the responsibility of the President to submit to the Board of Trustees the names of those recommended for advancement to the tenured status.

The dossier constructed in consultation with the candidate provides the evidence upon which the tenure decision is to be made. If additional information is sought or received during the review of the dossier at any level, the candidate and all previous committees and reviewers must be notified and given the opportunity to respond to the additional information. The information and the responses shall then become part of the dossier.

(University Faculty Council, April 23, 1991; Board of Trustees, June 20, 1991)

Procedures for Librarians

Subject to the provisions which follow, a person appointed as a professional librarian in the Indiana University Library system shall have Library tenure after the same probationary period that is applicable to the faculty.

Recommendations for advancement to tenured status for librarians are prepared by team leaders, supervisors or other appropriate administrative officers. Such recommendations are prepared early in the academic year which counts as the sixth year for purposes of reckoning years of service towards tenure. (The actual determination of the appropriate year includes credit for service at other institutions which may have been negotiated at the time of the first appointment.) For specific information on the process of preparing such recommendations, see campus-specific documents.

Recommendations shall be submitted through the academic administration of each campus with the advice of librarian committees and appropriate professional peers. Administrative structure varies somewhat from campus to campus and among library units on each campus. For specific information on the routing of such recommendations, see campus-specific documents. Campus vice presidents, chancellors, and library deans, with the advice of librarian committees, are responsible for submitting tenure recommendations to the President. It shall be the responsibility of the President to submit to the Board of Trustees the names of those recommended for advancement to tenured status.

The dossier constructed in consultation with the candidate provides the evidence upon which the tenure decision is to be made. If additional information is sought or received during the review of the dossier at any level, the candidate and all previous committees and reviewers must be notified and given the opportunity to respond to the additional information. The information and responses shall then become part of the dossier.

(Board of Trustees, June 30, 1972; June 12, 2009; University Faculty Council, April 28, 2009)

Duration of Tenure-Probationary Appointments

Appointments and reappointments during a probationary period shall be limited to one year for Affiliate Librarians. Other tenure-probationary faculty may be appointed for not more than three years within the probationary period.

(Faculty Council, December 3, 1968; Board of Trustees, July 27, 1969; June 30, 1972)

Geographic Limitation of Tenure

All of the foregoing principles, policies, and procedures relating to tenure are applicable in all University schools, departments, and library units on all campuses. The tenure of any faculty member, however, is specific to the campus unit in which he/she is serving at the time of acquisition of tenure. Consequently, it is the responsibility of each unit of the University to develop appropriate structures and administer the necessary procedures for the implementation of general University tenure policies.

In any case in which the position of a faculty member or librarian with tenure has been eliminated or has been removed from the jurisdiction of the University, the University will make every reasonable effort to place the faculty member or librarian in a comparable position elsewhere in the University. If no such comparable position is available, the University will make every reasonable effort to assist the faculty member in securing a comparable position at another institution.

(Faculty Council, December 3, 1968; University Faculty Council, April 23, 1991; Board of Trustees, July 27, 1969; June 30, 1972; June 20, 1991)

Criteria for Tenure

1. After the appropriate probationary period, tenure shall be granted to those faculty members and librarians whose professional characteristics indicate that they will continue to serve with distinction in their appointed roles. The criteria for tenure and the criteria for promotion are similar, but not identical. (See above for Reappointment and Non-Reappointment during the Probationary Appointment Period.)
2. Each campus on which tenure is held (and other units as appropriate, e.g., school, college, department) shall have a document that states with reasonable specificity the standards that will be used to evaluate whether candidates meet the criteria for tenure. The document(s) must comply with the standards of the University and should make their application more specific. The chief academic officer on each campus is charged with the responsibilities of (a) reviewing such documents with respect to whether they are consistent with such documents at higher levels, and (b) maintaining a current file of such documents. Each campus (or other unit) shall provide each probationary faculty member with a copy of the document at the beginning of the probationary service.
3. Because numerical summaries in student course evaluations may reflect cultural biases, and low participation rates may skew results, numerical ratings should not be used as the primary source of data for evaluating teaching. Each campus faculty governance organization shall have a policy for evaluating teaching that provides for qualitative student feedback and other other sources of information.
4. If the document changes during the faculty member or librarian’s probationary period, the faculty member or librarian may choose to be evaluated for tenure under the written standards in effect at the time of appointment.
5. Tenure considerations must recognize the diversity of the missions and the contexts of the campuses of the University and must not ignore the mission of the particular unit as defined in its statement of criteria and procedures and the individual’s contribution to that mission.
6. Tenure will generally not be conferred unless the faculty member or librarian achieves, or gives strong promise of achieving, promotion in rank within the University.
7. Grants of tenure shall comply with the requirements of IC 21-39.5-2-1.

(Faculty Council, December 3, 1968; University Faculty Council, February 10, 1976; November 30, 1976; April 23, 1991; Board of Trustees, July 27, 1969; June 20, 1991)

Post-Tenure Review 

The post-tenure review process applies to all tenured faculty at the university, as that term is defined by IC 21-38-3.5-2, unless otherwise excluded pursuant to IC 21-38-3.5-4(d). Additionally, all university post-tenure review processes shall comply with IC 21-39.5 and IC 21-38-3.5. 

Monitoring of Existing Policies and Practices

The University, through actions of its administration and the University Faculty Council, shall keep under constant review all existing policies relating to reappointment, tenure, and administration of these policies to ensure that all persons are accorded equal opportunity.

(Board of Trustees, June 29, 1974)

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History

Updated July 26, 2016, to align reworded section covering Tenure Status for Non-Citizens with ACA-77. Revised by the UFC April 22, 2022.

Revisions to this policy to comply with Indiana law IC 21-39.5-2-1 were approved by the UFC Executive Committee on May 21, 2024 and were reviewed and approved by the Board of Trustees on June 14, 2024.

June 2025- Substantive revisions and update Responsible Office

Previous Versions:

Effective Dates: 05/28/2010 - 02/23/2016

Effective Dates: 07/26/2016 - 04/26/2022

Effective Dates: 04/26/2022 - 06/14/2024

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