Main Policy Content
Contents:
- Purpose
- Fixed-Term Review Committees
- First-Level Promotion Review Committee
- Second-Level Promotion Review Committee
- Tenure-Line Review Committees
- First-Level Promotion Review Committee
- Second-Level Promotion Review Committee
- Independent Judgments of Review Committees
PURPOSE:
To state the University Libraries’ procedures for establishing faculty review committees for promotion of full-time fixed-term faculty members according to University policy HR21 Definition of Academic Ranks, and faculty review committees for tenure and promotion of tenure-line faculty members according to University policy HR23 Promotion and Tenure Procedures and Regulations.
FIXED-TERM REVIEW COMMITTEES
First-Level Promotion Review Committee
Composition:
Three (3) members of the University Libraries faculty.
Eligibility:
All full-time fixed-term members of the Libraries’ faculty holding the rank of Associate Librarian or Librarian, except Academic Administrators.
Selection:
All members are elected by a vote of University Libraries full-time fixed-term faculty to staggered two-year terms.
If any member is unable to serve the full term of two years, the faculty member who received the largest number of votes in the most recent election (among those not elected or appointed) will complete the term.
Chair of the Committee:
Elected by the Committee each year.
Promotion to Librarian (full rank):
When candidates are being considered for promotion to full rank (Librarian rank), the Dean will form a three-member ad hoc committee whose members include those with full rank on the First-Level Promotion Review Committee. If the Chair of the First-Level Promotion Review Committee does not hold full rank, the Dean will appoint a chair from among the members of the ad hoc committee.
Second-Level Promotion Review Committee
Composition:
Three (3) members; one (1) member from University Park, one (1) member from a campus other than University Park, and one (1) member at-large
Eligibility:
All full-time fixed-term members of the Libraries’ faculty holding the rank of Associate Librarian or Librarian, except Academic Administrators. Prior service of at least one term on the First-Level Committee is a prerequisite for membership on the Second-Level Committee.[1]
Selection:
All members are elected by a vote of University Libraries full-time fixed-term faculty. One (1) member elected by a vote of the University Park Libraries’ full-time fixed-term faculty to a two-year term; one (1) member elected by a vote of the full-time fixed-term faculty at campuses other than University Park to a two-year term; one (1) at-large member elected by a vote of the University Libraries full-time fixed-term faculty to to a one-year term.
If any member is unable to serve the full term, the faculty member who received the largest number of votes in the most recent election will complete the term.
Chair of the Committee:
Appointed by the Dean of University Libraries each year.
Promotion to Librarian (full rank):
When candidates are being considered for promotion to full rank (Librarian rank), the Dean will form a three-member ad hoc committee whose members include those with full rank on the Second-Level Promotion Review Committee. If the Chair of the Second-Level Promotion Review Committee does not hold full rank, the Dean will appoint a chair from among the members of the ad hoc committee.
TENURE-LINE REVIEW COMMITTEES
First-Level Tenure and Promotion Review Committee
Composition:
Seven (7) members of the University Libraries faculty.
Eligibility:
All tenured members of the Libraries’ faculty holding the rank of Associate Librarian or Librarian, except Academic Administrators.
Selection:
Four (4) members elected by a vote of University Libraries tenure-line faculty to staggered two-year terms; three (3) members appointed to one-year terms by the Associate Deans and Directors, in consultation with each other. The appointments are made after the election, and include careful consideration of the core responsibilities of the candidates under review to ensure a balanced faculty review committee whose members can contribute to an informed understanding of the responsibilities of each candidate.
If an elected member is unable to serve the full term of two years, the faculty member who received the largest number of votes in the most recent election (among those not elected or appointed) will complete the term.
Chair of the Committee:
Elected by the Committee each year.
Promotion to Librarian (full rank):
When candidates are being considered for promotion to full rank (Librarian rank), the Dean will form a five-member ad hoc committee whose members include those with full rank on the First-Level Tenure and Promotion Review Committee. If the Chair of the First-Level Tenure and Promotion Review Committee does not hold full rank, the Dean will appoint a chair from among the members of the ad hoc committee.
Second-Level Tenure and Promotion Review Committee
Composition:
Five (5) members; two (2) members from University Park, two (2) members from campuses other than University Park, and one (1) member at the discretion of the Dean.
Eligibility:
All tenured members of the Libraries’ faculty holding the rank of Associate Librarian or Librarian, except Academic Administrators. Prior service of at least one term (elected or appointed) on the First-Level Committee is a prerequisite for membership on the Second-Level Committee. [1]
Selection:
One (1) member elected by a vote of the tenure-line University Park Libraries’ faculty to a two-year term; one (1) member elected by a vote of the tenure-line faculty at campuses other than University Park to a two-year term; three (3) members appointed by the Dean of University Libraries to a one-year term with (1) member from University Park, one (1) member from a campus other than University Park, and one (1) member at the discretion of the Dean.
If an elected member is unable to serve the full term of two years, the faculty member who received the largest number of votes in the most recent election (among those not elected or appointed) will complete the term.
Chair of the Committee:
Appointed by the Dean of University Libraries each year.
Promotion to Librarian (full rank):
When candidates are being considered for promotion to full rank (Librarian rank), the Dean will form a five-member ad hoc committee whose members include those with full rank on the Second-Level Tenure and Promotion Review Committee. If the Chair of the Second-Level Tenure and Promotion Review Committee does not hold full rank, the Dean will appoint a chair from among the members of the ad hoc committee.
INDEPENDENT JUDGMENTS OF REVIEW COMMITTEES
To protect the independence of review committees from undue administrative influence, administrators in the direct line of report between a faculty member and the Dean will not serve on a faculty review committee during the committee's discussion and vote of that faculty member's dossier. Rather than participate in the faculty review process, those administrators in the direct line of report will instead contribute to the first-level administrative evaluation of that faculty member, as specified in UL-HRG14 General Promotion and Tenure Working Guidelines. Administrators in the direct line of report include the faculty member's immediate supervisor, and in some cases that individual's supervisor, as well as the faculty member's associate dean or director.
The supervisee of a faculty member whose dossier is under review shall not serve on a faculty review committee during the committee's discussion and vote of that faculty member's dossier.
[1]This requirement waived for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 promotion cycles, per approval by the Office of the Provost, July 2017.
Effective Date: July 2005
Date Approved: July 1, 2005 (Provost)
Date Approved: June 8, 2005 (Libraries Faculty Organization)
Most recent changes:
- Revised to reflect formation of one first-level (department-level) faculty review committee, and to clarify the independent judgment of review committees. Approved by the Libraries Faculty Organization (May and September 2012), Dean of the University Libraries and Scholarly Communications (February 2013), Provost (February 2013)
Revision History (and effective dates):
- July 14, 2017 – Revised by Dean
- April 26, 2017 – Revised to reflect legislation passed by the Library Faculty Organization
- July 1, 2013 – Revsied
- August 2007 – Revised to reflect decision to have Hershey fall under the Commonwealth Campus Libraries' process and Dickinson under the University Park Libraries' process; deleted the transition plan and replaced it with election schedule
- July 1, 2006 – Revised to reflect campus reorganization
- July 1, 2005 – New guideline with a completely revised structure for election of peer review committees
Last Review Date: July 2017