Tenure and Promotion

Tenure at RIT is designed to encourage and reward excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service and to promote the atmosphere of critical inquiry and creative expression that is vital to the academic and cultural life of the university. Woven into all RIT practices is a commitment to fostering an open, respectful, supportive, accessible, and inclusive community. Tenure is earned by demonstrated achievements and ongoing pursuit of advancements in teaching, scholarship, and service, guided by concern for students’ and colleagues’ personal worth and advancement.

Tenure decisions shall be based upon documentation that meet the criteria outlined in the following policy, E05.0 Policies on Tenure.

Key sections of the policy:
(After clicking each link, scroll up to find the beginning of each section.)
Criteria for Granting Tenure
The Tenure Process
Extending the Probationary Period
Annual and Comprehensive Reviews
Tenure Reviews and Recommendation
Granting or Denial of Tenure
Expedited Tenure Review

Promotion to the next higher rank in a faculty classification is based on a faculty member’s academic and professional qualifications and achievements in the categories of teaching, scholarship, and service as defined in E4.0 – Faculty Employment Policies and as expected within a particular category and rank. 

Key sections of the policy:
(After clicking each link, scroll up to find the beginning of each section.)
Teaching
Scholarship
Service

Mid-Tenure Review Info-Session and Panel
The Faculty Career Development team coordinates an annual Mid-Tenure Review panel each spring semester. The panel discussion, “Curious about the Mid-Tenure Review Process?” begins with a presentation covering RIT’s policies on the tenure and promotion process. After the presentation, a panel of faculty representatives will share information about the tenure process, followed by breakout sessions with a representative from each of the colleges. Faculty are reminded to always check with the department chair/dean's office on their specific college mid-tenure review processes.

Mid-Tenure Information Session And Panel Discussion

Resources
Tips from Faculty Panelists
Resources on Mid-Tenure Review

• Important Process Practices for Tenure and Promotion Committees
• Guidance for Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty Evaluation Letters
• Required Documentation for RIT Tenure and Promotion Processes
• Other Helpful Resources  

Tenure Preparation Workshop

• In the Final Stretch of Preparation for Tenure 

Faculty Promotion Series
Are you an associate professor, lecturer, or senior lecturer planning to pursue promotion? The Faculty Career Development Team coordinates these workshops for all faculty, including non-tenure-track, tenure-track, and tenured. The series includes, but is not limited to the following: Strategies for Presenting a Strong Case Workshop: A Discussion with the Provost, University & College Promotion Policies, and Preparing Your External Letters and Research Statements.

• Promotion to Full Professor Workshop
• Promotion to Senior or Principal Lecturer Workshop