Schedule for Promotion and Tenure Process

Note: any deadline falling on a Saturday, Sunday, official holiday or day the university is officially closed shall be extended to the next business day. This timeline is applicable to candidates for the ranks of Distinguished Instructor, Associate Professor, and Professor.

Note: The Distinguished Professor timeline has additional steps. All candidates receiving promotion and/or tenure will be recognized at the Faculty Awards Ceremony in the spring. 

September 1
Call for promotion and tenure applications by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

October 1
Faculty portfolios submitted to department heads.

October 1-15
Departmental or college review of portfolios: promotion portfolios available for review by all faculty equivalent to, or higher rank than that being sought; tenure portfolios available for review by all tenured faculty. Portfolios must be complete with letters of recommendation by October 15th (no further documentation may be added by the candidate).

October 16-31
Department heads review portfolios, complete evaluations, propose recommendations, and submit portfolios to the college promotion and tenure committee, where applicable, or dean of the college.

November 1-30
College promotion and tenure committees (where applicable) and deans complete evaluation, propose recommendations, and submit portfolios to the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.

December 1
The Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs begins review of portfolios for promotion and tenure.

January 15
President begins review of portfolios for promotion and tenure.

March 1
Candidates notified in writing by the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs. If promotion or tenure is denied, the faculty member may file an appeal, in writing, by certified mail, to the President of the Faculty Senate and the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, within fourteen (14) working days from the date of the letter of denial from the Vice President for Academic Affairs. (Section 2.5.3, JSU Faculty Handbook 2013)

Faculty applying for promotion and/or tenure are expected to plan ahead and meet the submission deadline set. However, the Provost realizes that there may be unforeseen situations that arise through no fault of a faculty member that may justify an extension.  A faculty member may request a one-time extension of no more than two (2) weeks. Any such request must be submitted in writing to the Provost by the deadline date originally set.  Extensions are disfavored and are presumptively disallowed, but the Provost, in the exercise of sound discretion, may waive a deadline date and grant an extension for good cause shown based upon unforeseeable exigent circumstances beyond the requesting faculty member's control.

Upon approval of the President, promotion and/or tenure will normally be effective fall semester of the following academic year. 

Distinguished Professor Timeline

September 1
Call for promotion and tenure applications by the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

October 1
Faculty portfolios submitted to department heads.

October 1-15
Departmental or college review of portfolios: promotion portfolios available for review by all faculty equivalent to, or higher rank than that being sought; tenure portfolios available for review by all tenured faculty. Portfolios must be complete with letters of recommendation by October 15th.

October 16-31
Department heads review portfolios, complete evaluations, propose recommendations, and submit portfolios to the college promotion and tenure committee, where applicable, or dean of the college (no further documentation may be added by the candidate).

November 1-February 15
Dean identifies recommended candidates and submits to outside reviewers.

February 15-March 15
Dean recommends approved candidates to Deans’ Council. Dean Council recommends approved candidates to Provost.

March 15-20
The Provost reviews Distinguished Professor portfolios. 

March 20-April 1
The President reviews Distinguished Professor portfolios.

April 1-15
Provost notifies Dean of applicants who were not recommended.

April 15
Candidates notified in writing by Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.