Early Bird

MSU Denver pauses RTP/PTR processes for Category I faculty

As the University navigates the impacts of COVID-19, probationary periods toward tenure will be extended in accordance with institutional policy.

April 20, 2020

As Metropolitan State University of Denver feels the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, University leaders have elected to pause Reappointment, Tenure and Promotion and progress through the ranks (RTP/PTR) processes for Category 1 – tenure-line – faculty only.

Per the Handbook, Section II.G.2.a(3): “The President may extend (at the President’s sole discretion) a faculty member’s probationary period toward tenure for an additional year if there are extenuating circumstances.”

In addition, a March 27 memo from Angie Paccione, Ph.D., executive director, Colorado Department of Higher Education, offered the following recommendation related to tenure and promotion actions: “The Department encourages institutions to enact changes to tenure, promotion and evaluation policies that recognize the difficulties presented by the current situation and that do not disadvantage faculty on a tenure or promotional track.”

Given the clause in the Faculty Employment Handbook and the CDHE recommendations, the University is extending the option to delay by one year tenure applications for probationary tenure-line faculty members and post-tenure review for tenured faculty, due to the extenuating circumstances created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Note: This extension applies only for the 2019-20 academic year.

To this end, please note the following:

• Tenure applications:This option applies to probationary tenure-line faculty. Any faculty member choosing to take advantage of this option must notify their department chair, dean and the provost via email no later than Aug. 21.
• Any tenure-line faculty member who still wishes to “go up” for tenure/promotion to associate professor on their regular (current) timeline may do so. Any faculty member choosing to take advantage of this option must notify their department chair, dean and the provost via email no later than Aug. 21.
• Retention of tenure-track faculty: All probationary tenure-line faculty should still submit an annual portfolio. Evaluation committees, chairs, deans and the provost are instructed to give appropriate allowance to the special challenges presented by this semester when evaluating these portfolios.
• Post-Tenure Review: Faculty scheduled to undergo PTR in the 2020-21 academic year may choose to submit their PTR portfolio in that year but will not be required to do so. If they choose not to submit a PTR portfolio in AY 2020-21, they will be required to submit a PTR portfolio in AY 2021-22. Any faculty member choosing to take advantage of this option must notify their department chair, dean and the provost via email no later than Aug. 21.
• Student Ratings of Instruction will be collected as normal for data analysis. All levels of RTP/PTR review will be encouraged to reward faculty whose efforts during this extraordinary semester are recognized by students through the SRI process and to disregard scores that fall from norms during the spring 2020 period.