Tenure Clock Extensions
Extension of the probationary period: 6-311
Effect of leave of absence. The pretenure probationary period may be extended by one year when, in one academic year, a nontenured regular faculty member
1. Takes a medical leave of absence for one or more terms or takes family leave (either as full or partial leave) amounting to at least half a year and elects in a written communication to the department chairperson, dean, and cognizant senior vice president before the starting date of the leave that the academic year not be counted;
2. Has a serious health condition as defined in Policy 5-200 (FMLA) that a health care provider certifies requires at least six weeks of continuous leave beginning no later than June 30 of the year in which the review to be extended is scheduled, elects in a written communication to the department chairperson, dean, and cognizant senior vice president before external reviewers are solicited or other action is taken to begin a formal review, whichever is earlier, that the academic year not be counted, and provides to the Human Resources Benefits Office documentation of the serious health condition meeting the standards described in Policy 5-200;
3. Ttakes family leave amounting to at least one term but less than half a year or has their productivity substantially affected by a medical or family condition for which a disability or family leave could have been taken, but was not, and successfully petitions the department chairperson and dean in a timely fashion to have the academic year in which it occurred not counted (petitions should be made at the time of leave or disability, or as soon as possible thereafter and prior to the next regularly scheduled formal review);
4. Takes another type of leave for one or more semesters, and the faculty member's department chairperson or college dean, before the starting date of the leave, specifies in a written communication to the faculty member and the cognizant senior vice president, that the academic year in which the leave is taken will not be counted.
Effect of administrative assignments. Subject to the approval of the cognizant vice president, before a nontenured regular faculty member accepts an administrative assignment which is expected to require a significant commitment of time and effort, the faculty member's college dean, after consultation as appropriate with the faculty member, the department RTP committee, and the department chairperson, shall prepare a written memorandum specifying the basis for calculating the duration of the faculty member's pretenure probationary period. In no case may the period of pretenure service be extended for more than three years beyond the maximum period otherwise permitted by this policy, Section 3.B. Copies of this memorandum shall be given to the faculty member, to the cognizant vice president, and to committees participating in the retention/tenure review of the faculty member. 3. Extraordinary circumstances. Extensions of maximum pretenure probationary period of one or two years may be granted when extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the candidate, such as natural disasters or war, have substantially impeded normal progress. The candidate must request such an extension from the department chairperson in writing. The department chairperson, the dean and the cognizant vice president must concur in granting the extension.