ACADEMIC TENURE	No. 8-14	Rev. 7-8-93
		Date 9-4-79

POLICY

The University shall extend tenure to approved members of the teaching faculty who are holders of tenure track appointments and to certain others as hereafter defined. Tenure track appointments shall only be given to those faculty who, at the time of such appointment meet the minimum degree requirements specified below in this policy.

Appointment to a tenured position is considered permanent and not subject to termination or substantial reduction in status without cause, provided that in all cases the services of an individual in that position continue to be needed and that funds are available to pay for them.

Granting tenure implies a commitment by the University. Likewise, the faculty member who is granted tenure makes an equally strong commitment to serve students, colleagues, their discipline and the University in a manner befitting an academic person. It also raises a strong presumption that those granted tenure are competent in their disciplines and are capable of scholarly contributions. It is, therefore, imperative that a responsible screening process be followed before such commitments are made to insure selection of the most competent candidates.

Any faculty member or administrator may petition the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee of the Faculty Senate to consider changes in tenure policy as provided in PPM 8-19. Petitioners for tenure policy changes in a particular college must invite comments from faculty, the department chair and the dean of that college.

A tenured instructor specialist may move to another tenure bearing rank. However, this constitutes a move to a new position. Tenure is neither retained in the old position nor automatically transferred to the new position. Years of service may be negotiated at the time of the move. (See PPM 8-13, part IV.A.1)

Minimum Degree Requirements

The following minimum degree requirements have been established for each department. Although higher standards may be desirable, no departmental criteria will be approved which fall below these minimums. (No specific degree standards have been established for faculty holding rank as "instructor specialist." Departments and colleges shall make their recommendation on this matter as part of their tenure criteria.)

A. For the colleges of Education, Science, and Social and Behavioral Sciences:

Attainment of the earned doctorate in the discipline of primary responsibility. In the event a doctorate is not the general recognized terminal degree in a candidate's discipline, a doctorate in a closely related discipline (as approved in writing by the provost in consultation with the Appointment, Promotion, Academic Freedom and Tenure Committee and the appropriate dean) shall be required.

B. For the colleges of Business and Economics and Arts and Humanities, the requirement specified in (A) shall be required with the following exceptions (which represent equivalency):

Business Admin. An earned Juris Doctorate accompanied by a Master's Degree in a related business field will be considered equivalent to the earned doctorate for those whose primary responsibility is in the area of business law.

Accounting An earned Juris Doctorate accompanied by (a) a Master's in Accounting or (b) a B.S. in Accounting and an M.B.A. will be considered equivalent to the earned doctorate for those whose primary responsibility is in the area of taxation and/or accounting law.

Computer Information An earned doctorate in the field (e.g., Systems Management Information Systems, Computer Information Systems, Information Systems) or equivalent, the latter to be satisfied by either (1) an earned doctorate in a related field of business or (2) an earned doctorate in a field outside the traditional areas of business with a graduate business degree; plus, in either case,

a. relevant, practical experience in Computer Information Systems, or

b. additional educational training sufficient to demonstrate competency and currency in the field.

Logistics An earned doctorate in Logistics or in a related field with evidence of completed graduate course work in Logistics.

A Juris Doctorate with relevant experience for those whose primary teaching responsibility is in contracting and procurement.

Visual Arts The recognized and accepted terminal degree is the M.F.A. in the following disciplines: ceramics, drawing, jewelry and metals, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, weaving and textiles, and graphic design.

Performing Arts The recognized and accepted terminal degree is the M.F.A. in the following disciplines: costume design, scene design, technical directing and dance.

C. For the College of Attainment of the earned doctorate

Health Professions or master's degree in the field or related discipline, plus current professional certification or licensure within the candidate's primary area of responsibility.

D. For the College of Applied Attainment of the earned doctorate

Science and Technology plus two years of experience or master's degree as follows: for Business Education/Administrative Systems and Computer Science, a master's degree plus five years of experience and appropriate certification; for Engineering Technology and Sales and Service Technology, a master's degree plus five years of experience; for Design Graphics and Machine Tool Technologies, a master's degree plus six years of experience. (All degrees and experience must be in approved fields/competencies and at appropriate levels, as outlined in the college promotion and tenure policy.)

E. For the Library Attainment of the earned doctorate or Masters of Library Science or its equivalent.