Action by Cognizant Vice President, and the University Promotion and Tenure Advisory Committee (UPTAC)
The cognizant senior vice president shall forward to UPTAC for its review and recommendation the tenure track files in which there is differing recommendation from any of the prior review levels. The cognizant senior vice president, in his/her sole discretion, may also send any other RPT case to UPTAC for its review and recommendations. UPTAC provides advice to the senior vice president.
UPTAC shall identify the source(s) of the differences or controversy, determine how each level addressed the issues in controversy, and assess the degree to which the file is sufficiently clear to support any conclusive recommendation. Refer to U of U PPM 9-5.H.
The cognizant senior vice president shall review each file, including the recommendations (if any) of the UPTAC. If the senior vice president determines that the file is incomplete or unclear, he/she may return the file to the department with a request to clarify specific matters, materials, and/or issues. All levels of review shall reconsider the file and their votes if appropriate, with the candidate responding in writing at the normal points in the process. (S(H)AC need not reconsider the file unless teaching is the issue in question.)
In cases of positive retention decisions, the senior vice president’s decision shall be the university’s final decision. In all cases of promotion and tenure, and in cases of retention when termination is recommended, the senior vice president shall prepare a final recommendation to the president with respect to the candidate’s retention, promotion, and/or tenure.
In positive retention cases, the senior vice president shall transmit the final decision to the candidate, the department chair, and the dean. In all other cases, prior to forwarding the file to the president, the senior vice president shall send an exact copy of the report of the UPTAC Committee and an exact copy of the senior vice president’s recommendation with respect to that faculty member to the candidate, the dean, the department chairperson, the S(H)AC.
The chairpersons of the departmental RPT and S(H)AC shall notify the members of their committees in an expeditious manner of the senior vice president’s recommendation. The senior vice president shall not submit the final recommendation to the president until at least fourteen (14) days have elapsed following the giving of such notice, so that parties may n notify the senior vice president’s office if they intend to appeal.
The time limits provided may be extended by the senior vice president in the interest of justice.
