PART 1: OVERVIEW OF FACULTY EVALUATION, PROMOTION AND TENURE RULES; DEFINITIONS; PERIODIC RULES REVIEW

This rule, together with Change to ARP 9.31 – 9.36, collectively referred to as the NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure, establish the rules relating to the faculty annual performance evaluation process, and relating to promotion and/or tenure criteria and procedures for review. These rules clarify the roles and responsibilities of the candidate applying for promotion and/or tenure, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the promotion and tenure committees and academic administrators involved in each review stage. These rules set forth the requirements for the department and college promotion and tenure committees, and the common elements which must be include in their respective promotion and tenure policies. Procedural guidelines, including a suggested timeline for the promotion and tenure review processes are also provided.

For quick reference, a listing of the rules with subparts is provided below:

Part 1 Overview of NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure

Part 2 Glossary of Terms used in NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion and Tenure (ARP 9.30 – 9.36)

Part 3 Implementation of 2017 Revised Rules; Coordination amongst Principal Units; Periodic Rules Review

Part 1 Purpose for Annual Performance Evaluation (See Also ARP 9.32 Part 2; ARP 9.36 Part 2)

Part 2 Guiding Principles for Annual Performance Evaluation

Part 3 The Four Areas of Faculty Effort: Teaching and Advising, Scholarship and Creative Activity, Extension and Outreach, and Service

Part 4 Requirements for Principal Units’ Evaluation Policies

Part 5 Procedural Guidelines for Annual Performance Evaluation

Part 1 Purpose

Part 2 Nature of Promotion and Tenure Reviews, Generally (See Also ARP 9.31 Part 2; ARP 6.61)

Part 3 Faculty Participation

Part 4 Transparency of Process

Part 5 Avoidance of Conflict of Interest

Part 6 Statement on Value of Diversity, paired with Non-Discrimination

Part 7 NMSU Community Colleges

Part 8 University Library Faculty

Part 9 College and Research Faculty

Part 1 Instructor

Part 2 Assistant Professor

Part 3 Associate Professor

Part 4 Professor

Part 1 Principal Unit Committees

Part 2 Principal Unit Policies

Part 3 Common Elements for Principal Units’ Promotion and Tenure Policies

Part 1 Pre-Tenure Probationary Period

Part 2 Flexibility in Tenure-Track

Part 3 Mid-Probationary Review

Part 4 Joint Appointment (With Dual Primary Responsibilities)

Part 5 Roles and Responsibilities in Promotion or Tenure Reviews

Part 6 Portfolio Preparation by Candidate

Part 7 Withdrawal of Portfolio by Candidate from Further Consideration

Part 8 Outcomes

Part 9 Right to Seek Redress for Violation of Evaluation, Promotion, or Tenure Rules

Part 10 Timeline of Procedural Steps for Promotion and Tenure Review Processes

Part 1 Purpose

Part 2 Annual Performance Evaluation (First Level Review)

Part 3 Second Level Review

Part 4 Third Level Review

Part 5 Involuntary Revocation of Tenure/Termination of Employment

PART 2: GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN NMSU RULES ON FACULTY EVALUATION, PROMOTION AND TENURE (ARP 9.30 – 9.36)

1. Allocation of Effort: The percentage of effort, agreed upon by the faculty member and department head or supervisor, that the faculty member will devote to each of the major categories of teaching and advising, scholarship and creative activity, service, extension, outreach and other assigned duties. (See ARP 6.61 Assignments – Teaching Load)
2. Annual Performance Evaluation: (See ARP 9.31 – [Effective AY 18/19] Annual Performance Evaluation – Regular Faculty)
3. College Faculty: A faculty member on a regular (0.5 FTE or greater) appointment, who is not eligible for tenure, but is eligible for advancement in faculty rank (promotion). (See ARP 6.03 Employment Categories and ARP 6.35 – Non-tenure Track Faculty Appointments)
4. Core Document: A document submitted in the Portfolio for promotion or tenure that includes several specific elements: a routing form, cover sheet, table of contents, curriculum vitae, executive summary, department head and dean letters, prior and current Allocation of Effort statements, annual performance evaluations, summary of teaching evaluations, external reviews and, for community colleges, letters of support. (See ARP 9.31 – [Effective AY 18/19] Annual Performance Evaluation – Regular Faculty and ARP 9.35 Part 6, “Portfolio Preparation by Candidate”).
5. Department Head: Department head refers to the academic department head or equivalent supervisor, which may include program coordinator or superintendent, depending upon the unit and as determined by the cognizant dean or community college chief academic officer.
6. Documentation File: An organized collection of supplemental documents and other materials that supports, explains, or clarifies the quality and significance of the candidate’s work. Administrators and committee members must have access to this file, which is stored by the Principal Unit.
7. Executive Summary: A summative report and personal statement by the faculty member that addresses the faculty member’s activities in and philosophies regarding teaching and advising, scholarship and creative activity, service, extension and outreach, and other assigned areas.
8. Extension and Outreach: Extension involves the process of defining and building relationships between communities and the university to extend university resources and intellectual expertise through coalition building, non-formal educational programs, and applied research designed to address locally identified needs. Outreach involves an organized and planned program of activities which are offered to representative groups of citizens of New Mexico and the nation or internationally; these activities bring the resources of the university to bear in a coherent and strategic fashion for the benefit of the receiving entity.
9. External Reviewer: A person from outside NMSU who writes a letter of evaluation of a candidate’s Portfolio. (See ARP 9.34, Part 3.AA; ARP 9.35, Part 5.B.9.)
10. NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure: Rules ARP 9.30 – 9.36 are collectively referred to as the NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure.
11. Four Areas of Faculty Effort: As used in this rule and the other rules governing promotion and tenure at NMSU, the Four Areas of Faculty Effort refers to: teaching and advising, scholarship and creative activity, extension and outreach, and service. (See ARP 9.31, Part 3)
12. Joint Appointment: A faculty line shared between two departments or colleges; the appointee enjoys all the privileges and incurs all the responsibilities normally given in each area.
13. Letters of Support: Letters submitted to support a candidate’s application for promotion or tenure that are distinct from external reviews (See Definition I. above), but serve a similar purpose at the community colleges. (See  ARP 9.34, Part 3.AA.6.; ARP 9.35, Part 10.C.)
14. Mid-Probationary Review: A formal, non-mandatory mid-term assessment requested by a Tenure-Track Faculty member of their professional development and progress toward tenure. The Mid-Probationary Review is in addition to the annual performance evaluation.
15. NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure: ARP 9.30 – 9.36 of the Administrative Rules and Procedures of NMSU posted at arp.nmsu.edu.
16. Peer Evaluation: Assessment of teaching style, content, and effectiveness gained through observation by colleagues; the observations may come in such forms as classroom visits, participation in web-based courses, review of videotaped teaching, or reviews of course materials collected/created by the faculty member being reviewed.
17. Performance Evaluation: An annual report prepared by the faculty member documenting activities in the areas of teaching and advising, scholarship and creative activity, extension and outreach, service, and other assigned areas. The department head provides the faculty member with a written appraisal of the faculty member’s performance.
18. Portfolio: Consists of the Core Document and Documentation File that supports the candidate’s case for promotion or tenure. A Portfolio is also sometimes referred to as a dossier.
19. Post-tenure Review: An annual review designed to identify strengths and weaknesses of the tenured faculty member in the areas of teaching and advising, scholarship and creative activity, service, extension, outreach and other assigned areas. The Performance Evaluation generally serves the above aim; however, if deemed necessary due to deficiencies, a more extensive review may be initiated. (See ARP 9.36 – Faculty Post Tenure Review.)
20. Principal Unit: A tenure home unit responsible for conducting annual faculty performance evaluations and making promotion and tenure recommendations. This definition includes Departments, Colleges, Community Colleges, Cooperative Extension Service, and the University Library, but not centers, clusters, or institutes.
21. Probationary Period: The cumulative amount of time spent under term appointments while on the “tenure-track.” (See ARP 9.36 – Faculty Post Tenure Review).
22. Research: See Scholarship
23. Research Faculty: A faculty member on a regular (0.5 FTE or greater) appointment, who is not eligible for tenure, but is eligible for promotion among the faculty ranks. (See ARP 6.03 Employment Categories and ARP 6.35 – Non-tenure Track Faculty Appointments)
24. Scholarship: Both creative activity and product, scholarship includes discovery through original research; integration through synthesizing and reintegration of knowledge; application through professional practice; and teaching through transformation of knowledge. (See Boyer, 1990 and ARP 9.31 Part 3.D. “Scholarship and Creative Activity”.)
25. Service: Contribution to the institution and development of the university, as well as provision of service to local, state, national, or international agency or other organization in need of the faculty member’s professional expertise.
26. Supporting Documents: Material available to the Promotion and Tenure Committee in the Documentation File that serves to further support, explain, or clarify the Core Document.
27. Tenure: Continuous contract granted after a probationary period to a faculty member candidate that gives protection from dismissal without due process; the primary purpose of tenure is to protect academic freedom and offer economic security.
28. Tenure Home: The Principle Unit where tenure and rank resides or will reside.
29. Tenure-Track Faculty: A faculty member in their pre-tenure probationary period, eligible for tenure but who has not yet been granted tenure, sometimes also referred to as “candidate” (as are faculty members seeking promotion).
30. Tenured Faculty: A faculty member who has been awarded tenure by the provost and chief academic officer.

PART 3: IMPLEMENTATION OF 2017 REVISED RULES; PRINCIPAL UNIT COORDINATION; PERIODIC RULES REVIEW

The revised NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure will become effective August 13, 2018. Prior to this effective date, each Principal Unit must update its promotion and tenure policies and forms consistent with ARP 9.30 – 9.36. At the discretion of the provost and chief academic officer, the deadline for the NMSU Rules on Faculty Evaluation, Promotion and Tenure may be extended pending completion of the Principal Units’ Promotion and Tenure Policies.