Academic Senate

Resolution: 00/01-07

Procedure:

  1. A motion should be typed or hand-printed.
  2. A motion should first be offered to the Executive Board for review and advice on editing and parliamentary implications.
  3. If changes are necessary, the motion should be recopied on another form. Amendments may be indicated in the margin or on the reverse of this form.

Tenure Clock Policy

WHEREAS, the Academic Senate, on 19 April 2000, voted (8-7) to endorse Resolution 99/00-05, recommending an extension of the probationary period for its faculty to a maximum of 10 years;

WHEREAS, this recommendation has been refined by a joint Provost-Senate Task Force on Extension of the Tenure Clock, which unanimously recommended an option for units to propose an extension of the tenure clock for faculty within their school to a maximum probationary period of 12 years, provided the school maintains a 6th year or earlier up or out review process and abides by university standards of excellence for promotion and tenure;

WHEREAS, the faculty of a given unit are most knowledgeable about the optimal tenure clock in their discipline or field;

WHEREAS, one or more units believe that an extension is critical to the recruitment and retention of top faculty who may choose other institutions with longer tenure clocks;

WHEREAS, no unit would be required to change their tenure clock, nor any unit have an extension of their tenure clock imposed without a secret vote of their own tenured and non-tenured tenure track faculty in favor of the change;

WHEREAS, the Office of the Provost and the Executive Board of the Senate would review any specific school’s proposal for an extension to ensure its compliance with the principles laid out by the Task Force and the maintenance of high standards;

WHEREAS, this revised policy introduces more choice and flexibility for schools, while maintaining a university standard as a maximum, which has been USC practice;

BE IT RESOLVED THAT, the Senate endorses the principles embodied in the Task Force recommendations, as described in the attached report and available on the Web:

http://www.usc.edu/academe/acsen/issues/tenure_clock/

FURTHERMORE, these recommendations should be reviewed jointly by the Office of the Provost and the Handbook Committee for incorporation in the Faculty Handbook at the earliest possible date.

 

Resolution Number: 00/01-07                                                                    Motion by: Executive Board
Date: April 5, 2001                                                                                    (No second required when
For consideration at the Academic Senate                                             moved by committee)
meeting on April 18, 2001

Action Taken: Passed: 12 yea, 10 nay, 1 abstention