Continuing Track Evaluation

R33H

R35V

The length of the probationary period for a faculty member on continuing track is four years. Faculty members on continuing track are reviewed annually by their Chair. During the probationary period, continuing track appointments are of fixed term length, normally one academic year, with no guarantee of reemployment.

Unit reports are described in the Faculty Evaluation System.

Shaded areas in the chart above indicate post-probationary status.

R29H

Full time continuing track teaching faculty members at Elon University are evaluated annually according to the criteria listed in the Criteria for Evaluation of Teaching Faculty and by the guidelines found in the Statement of Professional Standards. Review of a continuing track faculty member is based primarily on demonstrated teaching, with considerable weight also given to contributions to the life of the University. Professional activity appropriate to rank is also considered.

R27Q

Continuing track appointments include a probationary period of four years. During the probationary period the continuing track appointments are of a fixed term length, normally one academic year, with no guarantee of employment. In the fourth year the faculty member on continuing track is reviewed by his or her Chair, Dean, and Senior Faculty Review Committee.

R26M

The evaluation system for teaching faculty on continuing track during the fourth year involves five stages and follows the Schedule of Activities for Evaluation.

Stage 1 involves the creation of a file consisting of material drawn from the faculty personnel file as well as additional information included by the candidate. The individual candidate is responsible for seeing that the file is in finished form by September 15 so that the process may proceed to stage two.

Stage 2 involves the separate evaluation of this file by the respective Chair and Senior Faculty Review Committee. Each independently makes a recommendation regarding continuance and communicates that to the respective Dean.

Stage 3 involves a recommendation on continuance by the Dean to the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Stage 4 involves a recommendation on continuance by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs to the President.

Stage 5 involves personnel decisions made by the President of the University.

R35E

Teaching faculty members on continuing track who are applying for continuance will create a file which will serve as the basic resource for the decision. The file is drawn from material in the faculty personnel file but may be supplemented by material of the candidate’s choosing (e.g., personal recommendations). Generally, the file will include the following material organized according to these guidelines:

Part 1: This part includes a letter of consideration for removal of probationary status that reflects on the candidate’s time at Elon and on reviews of the candidate prepared in the most recent four years. The letter should summarize the candidate’s case for removal of probationary status, with specific reference to the candidate’s performance relative to the Criteria for Evaluation of Teaching Faculty.

Part 2: This part includes a current curriculum vitae. Candidates are asked to provide clear indications of the types of scholarship listed in their curriculum vitae. In particular, reviewers of portfolios must be able to distinguish peer-reviewed and refereed scholarship from other kinds of academic products. It is also important that candidates follow accepted professional documentation guidelines (e.g., APA, CBE, MLA style) in formatting each entry. Candidates should be particularly careful to follow these guidelines when listing multiple authors and researchers.

Part 3: This part includes the Teaching Faculty Member’s Annual Self-Review (Unit I)) for the faculty member’s term of employment at Elon University or the previous four years.

Part 4: The candidate will include a description, self-evaluation, documentation, and representative samples of the candidate’s achievements relative to the Criteria for Evaluation of Teaching Faculty . The primary focus should be upon activity at Elon. Evidence as to the status of scholarship that is not yet public, such as “in press,” or “under contract,” must be provided, if that scholarship is listed in support of the candidate’s application. Such evidence might include galleys, letters from editors, and so on.

Part 5: This part includes the Department Chair’s annual evaluation (Unit III), including Midpoint Unit III for each year of the candidate’s term of employment at Elon University or for the previous four years.

Part 6: The candidate will submit annual summaries of Student Perceptions of Teaching (Unit IV) for the candidate’s term of employment at Elon University or for the previous four years, whichever is shorter.

Part 7: The candidate will include the most recent Dean’s midpoint evaluation of the candidate (Unit V).

Part 8: The candidate may submit letters of support for teaching, service, and professional activity from colleagues at Elon University and other institutions, not to exceed 15 letters. Letters required in Parts 1 – 7 above are not included in the 15-letter maximum.

Part 9: The candidate must prepare a digital copy (PDF) of the complete file and must include it with the file.

The file becomes the basic resource in the review. However, if further clarification becomes necessary, those people involved in the decision may consult and use the candidate’s personnel file (described above).

The file exists only for the duration of the evaluation process. Once this process has been completed, the file is returned to the candidate.

R24J

Following the probationary period, and upon favorable decision by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, a teaching faculty member with a continuing track appointment will receive a two-year annually renewable appointment.

Teaching faculty on continuing track appointments whose initial appointment was at the Associate Professor rank will receive a three-year annually renewable appointment and an annual $3,000 salary supplement following the probationary period and upon favorable decision by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

Those individuals not offered continuance on a continuing track appointment may be given an additional year of employment.