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Rights of a Candidate Who Has Received a Negative Recommendation or Been Denied Tenure or Promotion

Scope: Tenure Eligible Faculty are covered by this policy.

Faculty

Rights of a Candidate Who Has Received a Negative Recommendation or Been Denied Tenure or Promotion

Policy

Reconsideration

Within ten (10) working days of receipt of the written Statement of Reasons, the candidate may request, in writing, reconsideration by the individual or committee that rendered the negative recommendation. Reconsideration is on the merits of the case.

The candidate may respond, in writing, to the written Statement of Reasons prior to reconsideration. The candidate’s response to the written Statement of Reasons must be submitted no later than ten (10) working days from the date of the request for reconsideration. Reconsideration shall be completed within ten (10) working days of the receipt of the candidate’s response or, if no written response is given, within twenty (20) working days of the request for reconsideration.

A candidate who receives a positive recommendation upon reconsideration is notified as soon as possible. A candidate who receives a negative recommendation upon reconsideration is notified, in writing, with a Statement of Reasons for the negative recommendation. This written Statement of Reasons must be given no later than ten (10) working days from the date the negative recommendation is made.

The original application, written Statement of Reasons for the negative recommendation, request for reconsideration, candidate’s response to the written Statement of Reasons, and recommendation upon reconsideration, including the written Statement of Reasons, if any, become part of the record.

Appeal of Denials

Any candidate whose application for tenure or promotion has been denied has the right to appeal to the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities and, subsequently, to the President under the “Grievance Procedures Available to Members of the Faculty” policy, in the sections titled “Grievance Hearing Procedure” and “Appeal to the President.” The basis for the appeal must be an alleged procedural error or inequitable treatment.

The candidate must appeal, in writing, to the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities within fifteen (15) working days of the last date of the consideration or reconsideration that resulted in the denial of the candidate’s application for tenure or promotion. The written notice of appeal shall state the basis for the appeal and shall be addressed to the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities and delivered to the Office of the Provost.

Appeals will be heard by the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities under one of the options described in the second paragraph of the “Grievance Hearing Procedure” section of the “Grievance Procedures Available to Members of the Faculty” policy. The decision of the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities may be appealed to the President under the section of this policy titled “Appeal to the President”. The provisions of the sections titled “Report,” “Implementation”, and “General Matters” of the policy apply to all appeals of tenure or promotion denials.

The Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities does not make a judgment on the merits of a candidate’s performance, except insofar as a judgment may be implied in a finding of inequitable treatment. Thus, the Committee will not make any findings about the ultimate viability of a candidate’s application for tenure or promotion.

Appeals may also be based on allegations of discrimination, in which case they are covered by the policy titled “Policy Prohibiting Harassment and Discrimination”. The basis for such an appeal would be discrimination based on sex (including sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, dating violence, or stalking), race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, military status, or veteran status. Appeals alleging discrimination should be presented, in writing, to the Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity. Candidates are urged to file such appeals within fifteen (15) working days of the last date of the consideration or reconsideration that resulted in the denial of the candidate’s application for tenure or promotion; such appeals must be filed with the OEEO within three hundred (300) calendar days.

When appeals based on discrimination in the tenure or promotion process are filed, there shall be coordination, as appropriate, among the Office of Equity and Equal Opportunity, the Committee on Faculty Rights and Responsibilities, and the Office of the Provost.

Presidential Directive that Tenure Be Considered the Following Year

In unusual circumstances, the President may direct that a candidate who has failed to achieve tenure be considered during the following academic year. In the event such consideration is directed, a previous positive recommendation for tenure by a committee or individual can be reversed by the committee or individual only on the basis of a deteriorating performance or the discovery of evidence not previously available as it relates to the criteria applicable at the time the original tenure recommendation was made.

Deadlines

The deadlines specified in Reconsideration and Appeal of Denials section of this policy may be extended by the Provost. The running of any time period specified in these procedures will be suspended during Thanksgiving Recess, Winter Recess, Spring Recess, and the interval between the end of final examinations for spring semester and the date on which faculty are required to report for the ensuing Fall Semester.


Related Form(s)

Not applicable.


Additional Resources and Procedures

Not applicable.


FAQ

Not applicable.


Policy Administration

Next Review Date

7/1/2023

Responsible Officers

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

Legal Authority

Not Applicable.

Compliance Policy

No

Recent Revision History

 

Reference ID(s)

  • MUPIM 7.9
  • OAC 3339-7-09

Reviewing Bodies

  • Miami University Senate
  • Miami University Board of Trustees
  • Administrative