These guidelines on mid-term performance reviews for faculty are based upon requirements and guidelines found in University Rule 12.01.99.M1: University Statement on Academic Freedom, Responsibility, Tenure and Promotion. They should be used in conjunction with college and department guidelines related to mid-term reviews.
Note: For guidelines related to mandatory review in the penultimate year of service for the purpose of considering the candidate’s performance toward attaining tenure only, tenure and promotion, or promotion for academic professional track and tenured faculty, please refer to the Promotion and Tenure Guidelines for the current academic year.
A comprehensive mid-term review determines progress towards tenure (or promotion for APT) and this review is mandatory for tenure-track faculty subject to a probationary period, and in some colleges/schools academic professional track (APT) faculty. This evaluation familiarizes the faculty member with the promotion and tenure process and ensures that the faculty member understands the expectations at the department and college/school levels. This review should mimic the Promotion & Tenure process as closely as possible. At minimum, a mid-term review includes dossier items contributed by the candidate (CV and Impact Statement) and is reviewed at the department and college/school levels by appropriate faculty committees as well as the department head and dean.
The mid-term review is intended to provide a formative review of tenure-track and, in some colleges, academic professional track faculty members near the mid-point of their probationary period or appointment, respectively. The mid-term review should result in an independent evaluation of the faculty member’s accomplishments to date and constructive guidance for the remainder of the probationary period in their progress towards tenure or promotion. The mid-term review should be similar to the promotion and tenure review process, including the submission of dossier materials. However, no outside letters are required.
Note: It is not necessary to conduct an independent annual review for a faculty member in the year that their mid-term review is taking place. (The mid-term review can count as the annual review for that year.) However, each department has the option of conducting its annual review as a separate process from the mid-term review. The college and department guidelines should be clear about the manner in which annual review is handled during the mid-term review year.
The mid-term review package goes only to the Dean’s level (it is not forwarded to the Provost, President, Chancellor or Board of Regents).
Timing of Mid-Term reviews is shown in the table below.
Any individual hired for a tenure-track position will be required to submit materials for review during the academic year prior to the end of their probationary period, the mandatory review year. The exact timing of this depends upon the length of the probationary period (see chart below). The start of a tenure-track faculty member’s mandatory consideration year (academic year) can be calculated as follows:
Calendar year hired + Probationary period – 2 years = First year of Tenure Consideration Period
Example 1: For a faculty member hired any time in calendar year 2024 on a seven-year probationary period: 2024 + 7 – 2 = 2029 (academic year 2029-2030) is the mandatory year to submit dossier
Example 2: For a faculty member hired any time in calendar year 2024 on a six-year probationary period: 2024 + 6 – 2 = 2028 (academic year 2028-2029) is the mandatory year to submit dossier
Faculty Member Hired in 2024
If probationary period Mid-Term Review Mandatory Tenure Review
7 years March - Dec 2027 2029-2030
6 years March - Dec 2027 2028-2029
5 years March - Dec 2026 2027-2028
The mid-term review should not begin before March of the academic year prior to the target academic year and should be completed before December of the target year. Example: If the mid-term review is due during the 2027-2028 academic year, it may be completed anytime between March 2027 and December 2027.
If the midterm review results in a decision to not renew the appointment of a faculty member, a notice of non-reappointment must be given.