Appointment, Reappointment, Tenure, and Promotion

The terms and conditions of every appointment, including credit for the previous academic appointment and specification of the year in which tenure procedures will take place, shall be stated in writing, which shall be in the possession of both Kent State University and the faculty member before the appointment is finalized. Academic unit specific criteria for appointment are contained in the academic unit’s section of the University Handbook.

All tenure-track faculty members hold probationary appointments for one year subject to annual renewal.  The general policies and procedures governing reappointment of tenure-track faculty are described in University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  More specific criteria for reappointment and tenure are contained in the appropriate academic unit section and, where applicable, appropriate regional campus section of the University Handbook.

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XI: Promotion, Tenure and Reappointment, Section 3

After successful completion of the specified probationary period and the tenure evaluation, a faculty member is granted indefinite tenure. The general policies and procedures governing tenure are described in University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. More specific criteria for tenure are contained in the appropriate academic unit section and, where applicable, appropriate regional campus section of the University Handbook.

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XI: Promotion, Tenure and Reappointment, Section 2

Promotion is viewed as recognition of a faculty member’s sustained and distinguished scholarship, teaching and service. The general policies and procedures governing promotion for tenure-track faculty are described in University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement. More specific criteria for promotion are contained in the appropriate academic unit section and, where applicable, appropriate regional campus section of the University Handbook.

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XI: Promotion, Tenure and Reappointment, Section 1

From time to time, personal and/or family circumstances arise such that an untenured faculty member may need to request that his/her probationary period be extended. Granting such an extension of the probationary period has been traditionally called “tolling” or “stopping the tenure clock.”  The policies and procedures governing tolling are described in University Policy.

Any faculty member whose reappointment or tenure has been disapproved at any level has the right to appeal the decision to the next higher academic administrative officer in the process. University Policy and the Collective Bargaining Agreement provide for specific appeals processes and deadlines for notifying probationary faculty of non-reappointment or non-tenure. 

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article VII: Grievance and Appeals Procedure, Section 2

Collective Bargaining Agreement, Article XVIII: Notification of Non-reappointment and Resignation, Section 1

University Policy and Procedures Regarding Faculty Reappointment, Section K
University Policy Regarding Faculty Tenure, Section K
University Policy Regarding Faculty Promotion, Section I