2.1 Reappointment

"Reappointment" is the offer of a new contract (other than a terminal-year contract) to a tenure-track or assistant instructional-track faculty member.

"Reappointment Review" refers to the formal process whereby a faculty member is reviewed by the unit Tenure, Promotion and Review Committee or other review committee, chair, dean, and provost, which result in a recommendation to the President.

“Annual Formative Performance Evaluation” refers to the process whereby a faculty member is reviewed by their unit leader for the purpose of feedback and continuous improvement.

2.1.1 Tenure-track Faculty

Initial probationary appointments for tenure-track faculty are for two academic years. Normally, successive appointment renewals, up to the mandatory time for tenure consideration, are for two academic years.

For untenured tenure-track faculty, annual reviews are required. The type of review (interim, major, and mandatory) required each year is based on the following schedule:

Interim reviews are done during the first year of each two-year appointment. The result of an interim review is an assessment of the record and evaluation of the suitability for a continuation of appointment.

Major reviews are conducted during the final year of each appointment up to the mandatory tenure review. The major review normally results in either a two-year appointment or a terminal one-year appointment.

Mandatory review is conducted during the year in which the faculty member is up for tenure. The mandatory review results in either tenure and/or promotion or a terminal one-year appointment.

The following example describes a typical review and reappointment process for a new tenure-track assistant professor starting in August of 2023, assuming positive outcomes at each decision point:

2.1.2 Instructional-Track Faculty

Assistant Teaching Professors are appointed for two-year rolling terms; i.e., they will, upon favorable review and approval by the unit TPR committee, chair, dean, provost, and president, receive a two-year contract at the end of each year unless they are informed that their appointment is terminated. Effectively this means they will have a one-year notification period for non-reappointment.

Associate Teaching Professors, Teaching Professors, and Professors of Practice will receive a three-year contract, except when a department chair has requested a shorter term, and this has been approved by the dean and provost. Each year of the contract is dependent upon funding being available to support the position, and satisfactory performance as determined through the departmental annual formative evaluation process that occurs in the fall semester of each year. If an annual formative review identifies that performance is not satisfactory, a full reappointment review will be conducted in the Spring semester and results in either a continuation of the existing contract or a terminal year of employment. In the final year of a contract, a reappointment review will be conducted in addition to the annual formative review, and this results in either a new three-year contract under the terms outlined above, a shorter contract as described above, or a terminal year of employment.

Mandatory Reappointment Review

Assistant Teaching Professors

An annual reappointment review is required for all Assistant Teaching Professors.

Associate Teaching Professors, Teaching Professors

Annual reappointment reviews are not required for teaching professor rank faculty after promotion to Associate Teaching Professor. Annual reappointment reviews are required, however, for newly hired Associate Teaching Professors and Teaching Professors during their first three years in such an appointment.

Professors of Practice

Annual reappointment reviews are required for Professors of Practice during their first three years of employment.

Formative performance evaluation

All instructional-track faculty will participate in a formative performance evaluation in the fall of each year independently of whether a reappointment review is being conducted.

Revised:
02/14/2025 - Updated to reflect Senate proposal 6-24 revisions approved by the Senate and administration. Revisions focused on instructional-track faculty reappointment reviews.
12/08/2016 - Annual Review: No changes made to content.
04/09/2015 - Annual Review: Changed appointment date examples from 2013-14 through 2019-20 to 2015-16 through 2021-22. To reflect current practice, the email address for questions is now policy@mtu.edu.
02/06/2014 - Annual Review: Updated Michigan Tech and Handbook banners, no changes made to content.
03/13/2013 - Annual Review: Changed appointment date examples from 2011-2012 through 2017-18 to 2013-14 through 2019-20.
07/13/2011 - Annual Review: Changed appointment date examples from 1996-97 through 2002-03 to 2011-12 through 2017-18, and to reflect current University titles and practice, MTU is now Michigan Tech and the email address for questions is now hbwebmaster.
03/02/2007 - Format changes made.