XVIII. Review and Evaluation of Faculty Members with Tenured Appointments

A. Rationale for Review and Evaluation of Faculty Members with Tenured Appointments. Columbia College Chicago is committed to encouraging its faculty to excel as teachers, artists/scholars, and engaged members of the College, civic, and professional communities, and it recognizes such excellence may manifest in various and diverse ways. That said, the College expects its already tenured faculty members— who are afforded broad freedoms regarding the nature and style of their pedagogical, artistic/scholarly, and professional engagement—to demonstrate a deep and ongoing commitment to excellence in the criteria in all three Evaluation Areas for Tenured Appointments as expressed in Section V of this Statement.

B. Post-Tenure Review: Level One

Note: Please review Section II. General Principles before reading the following procedures

1. Faculty Annual Activity Report (The FAAR). Each tenured faculty member will complete the Faculty Annual Activity Report, which requires that the faculty member itemize and describe all activities from the past academic year in teaching and teaching-related activity; scholarly or creative endeavor; and service to the College, profession, and community (the Evaluation Areas for Tenured Appointments set forth in Section V.) The faculty member will Deliver a completed Faculty Annual Activity Report to the faculty member’s School Director not later than May 31 of each academic year.

A faculty member who is serving as School Director will be required to complete the Faculty Annual Activity Report.

A faculty member who is on sabbatical will be required to complete the Faculty Annual Activity Report.

2. Three-Year Activity Statement. Every third year from the commencement of the faculty member’s Tenured Appointment, each faculty member will submit a current curriculum vitae and a “Three-Year Activity Statement,” a written self-assessment informed by, but not limited to, the information in the faculty member’s three most recent FAARs. The Three-Year Activity Statement will be no more than three pages in length. Not later than the first Tuesday in September of the fourth year the faculty member will Deliver the Three-Year Activity Statement to the School Director.

A faculty member who is serving as School Director will not be required to complete a Three-Year Activity Statement. When the faculty member completes service as a School Director, the faculty member will submit a Three-Year Activity Statement every third year from the point of returning to a tenured faculty role.

A faculty member who is serving as Acting or Interim Director will hold the three-year cycle in abeyance until returning to a tenured faculty role. When the postponed review commences, the faculty member’s Three-Year Activity Statement will document the three most recent years of activity, not including the faculty member’s term as Acting or Interim Director.

A faculty member who is on sabbatical will be required to complete a Three-Year Activity Statement on schedule. A faculty member who has been granted a leave of absence may request that the three-year review cycle be held in abeyance until the faculty member returns. Such a request must be approved by the School Director and Dean of Faculty Affairs and reported to the Office of Academic Personnel.

3. School Director’s Level One Review. The School Director will review the Three-Year Activity Statement, the curriculum vitae and the faculty member’s three most recent FAARs and make a recommendation with a rationale as to whether the faculty member’s performance during the period under review meets or does not meet the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment. Not later than the third Monday in September the School Director will Deliver the recommendation and rationale to the Dean of Faculty Affairs and the tenured faculty member. Not later than the fourth Monday of September, the tenured faculty member may provide a written response to the School Director and Dean of Faculty Affairs.

4. Dean of Faculty Affairs’ Level One Review. The Dean of Faculty Affairs will review the Three-Year Activity Statement, the curriculum vitae, the faculty member’s three most recent FAARs, the School Director’s recommendation and rationale, as well as the tenured faculty member’s response (if any), and determine whether the faculty member has met the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, or whether a Dean of Faculty Affairs' Interview is required. Not later than the third Monday in October the Dean of Faculty Affairs will Deliver a determination and rationale to the faculty member, the School Director and the Office of Academic Personnel.

If the Dean of Faculty Affairs concludes that the faculty member has met the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, no further action will be taken.

If the tenured faculty member is undergoing Post-Tenure Review: Level Two and the School Dean concludes that an interview is required, see Section XVIII.C.2. for the next steps.

5. Dean of Faculty Affairs' Level One Interview. If the Dean of Faculty Affairs, as a result of the Dean of Faculty Affairs’ Level One Review (outlined in Section XVIII.B.4.), determines that an interview with a tenured faculty member is required, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will conduct an interview (“the Dean of Faculty Affairs’ Level One Interview”) with the faculty member and the School Director, in order to determine whether or not the tenured faculty member’s performance during the period under review meets the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment. The Interview will take place not later than the first Monday of November.

As part of the Dean of Faculty Affairs' Interview, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will describe the evaluation process and provide the faculty member the opportunity to ask questions or offer additional information. The Dean of Faculty Affairs may also address a deficient area of performance and discuss steps for improvement in that area.

Upon completion of the Dean of Faculty Affairs' Interview, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will draft the “Dean of Faculty Affairs' Level One Post-Tenure Report”, articulating the Dean of Faculty Affairs' findings.

Not later than two Business Days after the first Monday of November, copies of the Dean of Faculty Affairs’ Report will be Delivered to the faculty member, the School Director, the Provost, and the Office of Academic Personnel.

If the Dean of Faculty Affairs concludes that the faculty member has met the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, no further action will be taken.

If the Dean of Faculty Affairs finds that the faculty member is not meeting expectations, the report will provide criteria and expectations for the faculty member’s performance over the next three years. The report will also indicate that the faculty member will be subject to “Post-Tenure Review: Level Two” as outlined in Section XVIII.C.

If the tenured faculty member disagrees with the Dean of Faculty Affairs' conclusion as articulated in the Dean of Academic Affairs' Level One Post-Tenure Report, the faculty member may request Further Review. The faculty member must submit a request for Further Review to the Dean of Faculty Affairs, not later than the second Monday of November.

6. Further Review

a. Faculty Member’s Level One Post-Tenure Report. If the tenured faculty member requests Further Review, the faculty member will prepare a formal report (the “Faculty Member’s Level One Post-Tenure Report”). The Faculty Member’s Level One Post- Tenure Report will provide (a) evidence that the faculty member has met or exceeded the performance standards expected of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment; and (b) a detailed plan enumerating and describing anticipated activities and accomplishments over the next three years in each of the Evaluation Areas for Tenured Appointments. Not later than the fourth Monday of November, the faculty member will Deliver the signed Report to the faculty member’s School Director and the Dean of Faculty Affairs.

b. Consultation with School Faculty. When a tenured faculty member requests Further Review, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will direct the School Director and the School’s tenured faculty to select two tenured faculty members to serve as the Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty (the “Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty”). Additionally, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will request that the Provost select one tenured faculty member with the rank of Professor from a different School to serve as a member of the Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty. In School with small numbers of tenured faculty members, the School Director and the School’s tenured faculty will recommend to the Dean of Faculty Affairs tenured faculty members from within another School to serve as members of the Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty.

All materials from the review process outlined in Section XVIII.B.1.-5. and the faculty member’s Post-Tenure Level One Report will be made available to the Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty. The Dean of Faculty Affairs will then schedule a meeting or series of meetings with the Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty and the School Director for the purpose of (a)  discussing all review materials and the Faculty Member’s Post-Tenure Report with the Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty and the School Director; and (b) holding a vote as to whether the faculty member under Post-Tenure Evaluation has or has not met the performance standards for a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment.

c. Further Review Post-Tenure Report. The Dean of Faculty Affairs will draft a report (“Further Review Post-Tenure Report”) articulating the decision, outlining the procedures that took place and the numerical results of the vote. Not later than the third Monday of December, copies of the signed Report will be Delivered to the faculty member, the Post-Tenure Reviewing Faculty, the School Director, and the Provost. Copies of the Report, along with the Faculty Member’s Post-Tenure Report, will also be Delivered to the Office of Academic Personnel.

i. If the Further Review Post-Tenure Report states that the faculty member’s performance meets the standards of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, no further action will be taken.

ii. If the Further Review Post-Tenure Report states that the faculty member’s performance does not meet the standards of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, the report will provide criteria and expectations for the faculty member’s performance over the next three years. The report will also indicate that the faculty member will be subject to “Post-Tenure Review: Level Two” as outlined in Section XVIII.C.

C. Post-Tenure Review: Level Two

1. Post-Tenure Review: Level Two. If, as a result of the Post-Tenure Review: Level One, it is determined that a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment must undergo Post- Tenure Review: Level Two, the faculty member will again undergo the review process described in Section XVIII.B.1-4. of this Statement during the third academic year following the Post-Tenure Review. All of the corresponding reports will be identified as part of the Post-Tenure Review: Level Two.

2. Dean of Faculty Affairs Level Two Interview. If the Dean of Faculty Affairs, as a result of the Dean of Faculty Affairs' Level Two Review (outlined in Section XVIII.B.4.), determines that an interview with a tenured faculty member is required, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will conduct an interview (“Dean of Faculty Affairs' Level Two Interview”) with the faculty member and the School Director, in order to determine whether or not the tenured faculty member’s performance during the period under review meets the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment. The Interview will take place not later than the first Monday of November.

As part of the Dean of Faculty Affairs' Level Two Interview, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will describe the evaluation process and provide the faculty member the opportunity to ask questions or offer additional information.

Upon completion of the Dean of Faculty Affairs' Level Two Interview, the Dean of Faculty Affairs will draft the “Dean of Faculty Affairs' Post-Tenure Level Two Report,” articulating the Dean of Faculty Affairs' findings.

Not later than two Business Days after the first Monday of November, copies of the Dean of Faculty Affairs' Report will be Delivered to the faculty member, the School Director, the Provost, and the Office of Academic Personnel.

If the Dean of Faculty Affairs concludes that the faculty member has met the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, no further action will be taken.

If the Dean of Faculty Affairs finds that the faculty member is not meeting expectations, the faculty member will prepare a formal report (the “Faculty Member’s Level Two Post- Tenure Report”). The Faculty Member’s Level Two Post-Tenure Report will provide (a) evidence that the faculty member met the criteria and expectations established at the Post-Tenure Review: Level One; (b) evidence that the faculty member has met or exceeded the performance standards expected of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment; and (c) a detailed plan enumerating and describing anticipated activities and accomplishments over the next three years in each of the Evaluation Areas for Tenured Appointments. Not later than the fourth Monday of November, the faculty member will Deliver the signed Report to the faculty member’s School Director and Dean of Faculty Affairs.

3. All-College Tenure Committee Review. All materials from the review process outlined in Section XVIII.C.1.-2. will be made available to the All College Tenure Committee. The ACTC will then schedule a meeting for the purpose of (a) discussing all materials from the Post Tenure Review: Level Two; and (b) holding a vote as to whether the faculty member under Post-Tenure Review: Level Two has or has not met the performance standards for a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment.

The ACTC will draft a report (“ACTC’s Level Two Post-Tenure Report”) articulating the decision, outlining the procedures that took place and the numerical results of the vote. The number of persons on the ACTC, if any, who disagree with the conclusions and recommendation in the ACTC Report will be noted in, and all members of the ACTC will sign, such Report. (An ACTC member’s signature will affirm only that the faculty member has read such Report.) Any member of the ACTC who disagrees with any conclusion or recommendation in the ACTC Report may submit to the ACTC Chair a signed statement setting forth the nature and extent of such disagreement. The Chair will append any statement to, and make such statement a part of, the ACTC Report.

Not later than the third Monday of December, the signed report and all materials from the Post Tenure Review: Level Two will be Delivered to the Provost for further evaluation. Copies of the Report will be Delivered to the faculty member, the School Director and the Dean of Faculty Affairs.

4. Provost's Processes. The Provost will make an evaluation of the performance of the faculty member based on the Reports identified in Section XVIII.C.1-3. and any other relevant materials, persons, and resources available.

The Provost will draft a report (the “Provost’s Level Two Post-Tenure Report”) articulating whether the faculty member under review has or has not met the performance standards of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment. Not later than the third Tuesday of January, copies of the signed Report will be Delivered to the faculty member, the School Director, and the Dean of Faculty Affairs. A copy of the Report, along with the Faculty Member’s Post-Tenure Level Two Report, and the ACTC’s Post-Tenure Level Two Report will be Delivered to the Office of Academic Personnel.

a. If the Provost’s Level Two Post-Tenure Report indicates that the faculty member’s performance meets the standards of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, no further action will be taken.

b. Deficient Performance. A faculty member with a Tenured Appointment whose performance is determined by the Provost to fall below the standards of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment will be deemed to have exhibited “Deficient Performance” for purposes of Section XX (Sanction and Dismissal of Full-Time Faculty Members). 

In the event the Provost finds that a faculty member’s performance falls below the standards of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment, the faculty member will be offered a one-year appointment in the faculty member's current rank for the following academic year. At the conclusion of the one-year appointment, the faculty member’s tenured appointment will terminate.

Alternatively, in consultation with the Dean of Faculty Affairs with input from the Director, and subject to the applicable academic department’s needs and any relevant limitations in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between Columbia College Chicago and the Columbia Faculty Union ("CFAC"), the Provost may, at the Provost's sole discretion, offer the faculty member a non-tenured teaching-track appointment at an appropriate rank and salary to begin the following academic year. Such an appointment will not be offered to a faculty member who has not met expectations in teaching and teaching-related activity. If the faculty member accepts such teaching-track appointment, the faculty member’s tenured appointment will terminate at the conclusion of the current academic year.

5. Review. The Provost’s determination as to whether the faculty member’s performance does not meet the expectations of a faculty member with a Tenured Appointment is subject to review only under the provisions in Section XX.E. (Review of Post-Tenure Review: Level Two Determination, Sanction or Dismissal of Faculty Members).