Non-traditional Starting Dates

• Many CALS faculty appointments do not start with the beginning of the traditional academic year. The University Committee has established procedures to use in calculating the maximum tenure clock and tenure review dates for these situations. Departments should inform probationary faculty members of the calculation of their particular tenure clock and review dates. If you have any questions about tenure clock determination, please contact the Executive Associate Dean or the Secretary of the Faculty.

  1. A Basis Appointments

     For A basis appointments, if the begin date of the appointment is between March 15 and November 14, the individual must be reviewed for tenure by the end of Semester II, six year later, unless adjusted for prior service, approved extension, etc. The actual probationary end date would be seven years beyond the date of hire.

     If the begin date of the appointment is between November 15 and March 14, the individual must be reviewed for tenure by the end of Semester I, six years later, unless adjusted for prior service, approved extension, etc. The actual probationary end date would be seven years beyond the date of hire.

  2. C Basis Appointments

     For C basis appointments, if the begin date of the appointment is between March 15 and November 14, the individual must be reviewed for tenure at the end of Semester II, six years later, unless adjusted for prior service, approved extension, etc. The actual probationary end date would be at the end of Semester II, seven years after the hire.

     For C basis appointments, if the begin date of the appointment is between November 15 and March 14, the individual must be reviewed for tenure by the end of Semester I, six years later, unless adjusted for prior service, approved extension, etc. The actual probationary end date would be at the end of Semester I, seven years after the hire.

Tenure Clock Extensions

General

Tenure clock extensions may be requested and granted according to the procedures set forth in the Faculty Policies and Procedures .

Also see the Rules of the Board of Regents, UWS 3.04 .

Where tenure clock extensions are granted, the faculty member's contract is automatically extended by the period of the approved extension. The evaluation of the faculty member takes place as follows:

UWS 3.04
(4) If any faculty member has been in probationary status for more than 7 years because of one or more of the reasons set forth in sub. (2) or (3), the faculty member shall be evaluated as if he or she had been on probationary status for 7 years.

Example:
A faculty member has been on probationary status for a total of 9 years because the faculty member was granted 2 requests under sub. (3) for one-year extensions because of the birth of 2 children. The faculty member's teaching, research and professional and public service and contribution to the institution shall be evaluated as if the faculty member had only 7 years to work towards achieving tenure, rather than as if the faculty member had been working towards achieving tenure for 9 years.

Extensions for Childbirth or Adoption

Requests for extension of the probationary period with respect to childbirth or adoption may be submitted by the faculty member directly to the Provost in writing, with copies of the department chair and dean, within one year of the birth or adoption. Approval of the request for an extension of up to one year is presumed. The provost shall notify the faculty member, department chair and dean of the action taken. These requests are not reviewed by the University Committee.

Extensions for Other Reasons

Requests based on disability or chronic illness, elder or dependent care, circumstances beyond the control of the faculty member or significant and substantial change in duties should be submitted by the faculty member to the department executive committee. The faculty member may wish to discuss the request with his/her guidance (mentor) committee and/or the department chair, before submitting the request to the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee's recommendation should be submitted to the CALS Dean with the following documentation:

Correspondence from the probationary faculty member documenting the circumstances, including dates of occurrence or anticipated time line.

The faculty member's vita

When the request is based on a medical condition, a letter from the attending physician is required. The letter should reflect the writer's assessment of the situation, including the dates within which the situation occurred and a prognosis for recovery.

Letter from the guidance committee supporting the request

Letter from the department chair that gives the vote of the executive committee and the department's support of the request.

The dean will review the request and forward his concurrence to the University Committee, along with the documentation. Note: this process is required by the University Committee, as set forth in their September 13, 1999 letter to Department Chairs.