Department Chair's Recommendation
Department chairs are a vital component of the evaluation process and should carefully weigh the strengths and weaknesses of the candidate. The department chair's recommendation may rely heavily on the MSD, with no need to reiterate information already summarized in the file.
The recommendation should be cogent and brief. Department chairs must explicitly address the area of faculty responsibility. She/he should address problem areas identified during the review process so that those areas can be reviewed in perspective.
In the case of review for a candidate for their secondary-department appointment, the chair of the secondary department should carefully explain the function of the candidate in her/his department so that the candidate's activities, accomplishments, and responsibilities will be clearly understood why the secondary appointment is needed.
After the official RPT departmental faculty meeting, the department will send a copy of the department chair's recommendation to the candidate undergoing review, along with a copy of the minutes from the official RPT departmental faculty meeting, and the MSD.
The candidate shall have the opportunity at this time, but not the obligation, to add a written statement to his/her formal RPT review file in response to the documents provided by the department.
Written notice of this option shall be included with the copy of the department chair's recommendation sent to the candidate (Refer to Sample Seven Day Response Letter). If the candidate chooses to add such a statement to the file, that statement must be submitted to the department chair within seven (7) business days, except in extenuating circumstances, of the date upon which the department chair's recommendation is delivered to the candidate.
If the candidate submits a written statement to the department chair within this time limit, the candidate's statement shall be added to the formal RPT review file, without comment by the department chair. The response letter should include updates (e.g., the citation to a recently published paper, a newly awarded grant, etc.). An updated CV and self-assessment statement may be submitted to their RPT file, provided that updated documents are clearly marked with the date of revision.
The department chairperson shall then forward the entire file for each individual to the Faculty Administration Office by 4:00 p.m. October 29, 2007.
