Colorado State's Faculty Council Adopts Post-Tenure Review Policy Heralded As A Leader In State And Nation
Monday, December 9, 1996
FORT COLLINS--Colorado State University's Faculty Council
has adopted a plan to require performance evaluations for all
faculty, including tenured professors--a move that establishes a
university post-tenure review policy at the forefront of reform
efforts in higher education.
Prof. Penelope Bauer, chairwoman of Faculty Council, said
what sets the Colorado State policy apart from all but a small
handful of university policies across the country is that it
offers improvement possibilities, as well as corrective action
and even dismissal options when necessary. Bauer stressed,
however, that first and foremost the new policy offers an
opportunity for faculty--including tenured faculty--to continue
to grow professionally and for the university to improve its
efforts at accountability.
"Faculty have a duty and a responsibility to police
themselves and to ensure the standards of the profession are
upheld and even improved upon. This new policy takes a
comprehensive approach toward that goal," Bauer said. "For a
performance review policy to be effective, there have to be three
main ingredients: provisions to recognize outstanding
achievement; support and assistance for those who need to
improve; and, in those cases where it is necessary, corrective
action. This policy contains all of that, and that is what we
think will make it succeed."
Bauer said only a handful of major universities nationwide
have implemented post-tenure review policies.
"This is a good policy for both the public and university
faculty. Tenure is an important
protection of academic freedom and ensures faculty can serve
society. This policy recognizes that. At
the same, the policy reflects our desire as faculty to continue
to address public accountability," Bauer said.
Colorado State President Albert C. Yates agreed the primary
reason for such a policy is to help faculty advance and improve
as professionals, and he said much can be learned through the
review process.
"This significant action has occurred with relative harmony
and without the kind of acrimony that has characterized this
discussion on so many campuses," Yates said. "I believe this
speaks well of our faculty and its willingness to police itself -
and to the importance they place on mechanisms to support
improvement in teaching and research."
Yates also praised the faculty for establishing a policy
that is on the cutting edge of reform efforts in higher education
in the state.
"Our faculty has taken a leadership position on the most
significant post-tenure review policy of any Colorado college or
university," Yates said. "This policy is a testament to our
faculty's commitment to outstanding performance."
Under this newly adopted policy, all faculty will undergo
five-year comprehensive evaluations in addition to the current
system of annual evaluations. The policy establishes measures to
reward exemplary performance as well as corrective measures if a
faculty member receives an unsatisfactory evaluation from a
comprehensive review or two unsatisfactory annual reviews from a
department chairperson.
"I think one of the most interesting parts of this plan is
it explicitly acknowledges that all faculty are not equally
skilled at all the various responsibilities of university
faculty--teaching, research and service," Bauer said.
Bauer said, for example, faculty with expertise in
undergraduate teaching can focus efforts on educating
undergraduate students, and they will be evaluated with emphasis
on performance in teaching. The same is true for other areas of
emphasis, which Bauer said will help allow greater efficiency and
service.
"That's directly responsive to the public's concerns and
indicates our continuing desire to be responsive," Bauer said.
Comprehensive reviews of tenured faculty will include a
summary of all annual reviews since the previous comprehensive
review or since tenure was granted, an updated
resume, a self-analysis by the faculty member and a statement of
individual goals and objectives.
Additionally, a department head will provide an overall
assessment of a faculty member's
performance, which includes identifying an individual's strengths
and any deficiencies. Peer reviews will be established for cases
in which serious and chronic deficiencies are identified. These
faculty peers can recommend professional development plans, or
disciplinary actions such as salary reduction, demotion, or even
tenure revocation.
"This policy ensures there is regular review and evaluation
of faculty. It also ensures reviews are carried out in ways
consistent with the tenure system, academic freedom, due process
and other protected rights," Bauer said.
The new policy will take effect, pending approval by the
State Board of Agriculture, next fall semester.
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