Promotion & Tenure

This section of the Academic Affairs website is devoted to the policies, procedures, and practices regarding promotion and tenure (P&T) for faculty holding tenure-related or tenured appointments as Officers of Instruction.  Information on promotion for non-tenure-track faculty (NTTF) in both instructional and research appointments can be found on the Non-Tenure Track Faculty (NTTF) link.    

Historically, tenure is intended primarily as a critical means to protect and guarantee academic freedom.  There are always complex interests, both external and internal to universities, that would control or silence the vigorous consideration of controversial and challenging ideas and would do so through the threat of dismissal.  The life-long contract granted with tenure represents an important investment in freedom, supporting a long history of unfettered intellectual, academic, and public discourse.

Expectations for you as a full-time tenure-track faculty member at the University of Oregon are consistent with those of other major research universities: (1) sustained high-quality, innovative scholarship in your discipline, demonstrated through a record of concrete, accumulated research or creative accomplishment; (2) effective, stimulating teaching in your classes and your contributions to ensuring academic success for undergraduates and graduate students; and (3) steady responsible service and leadership to your students and your department, your university, and your professional discipline more broadly.

The University of Oregon follows the general timetable, process, and standards of performance for evaluation and promotion as many other public research universities, particularly AAU institutions. UO also considers and adheres to AAUP guidelines to the extent possible.

The most typical timeline for evaluation is that of a tenure-track appointment with no credit for prior service. The evaluation schedule requires Annual Reviews in the spring of years 1,2, and 4; a comprehensive Third Year Review in the spring of year 3; Promotion and Tenure Review, beginning spring of year 5 with a decision by spring of year 6; and Post Tenure Reviews. It should be clear from the terms of your hire where on the timeline you are when you begin your position.

What follows here is an elaboration of UO expectations and of the evaluation process, as well as some suggestions on how you might prioritize your time and efforts in order to meet the expectations for you at the appointed times. The discussion assumes that you are a beginning assistant professor in a tenure-related appointment. As you move through your years here, you will be expected to meet the high standards for excellence in scholarship, teaching and professionalism discussed here, while you also take on additional responsibilities in your department and on campus. Our university operates with an unusually high degree of self-governance, so necessarily as you advance in your career you will also be expected to be willing and able to take on more responsibility along those lines.

All academic departments and programs with tenure-related faculty appointments must have promotion and tenure criteria that have been reviewed and approved by their dean and by Academic Affairs. Be sure to become familiar with the pertinent document for your discipline and academic department or program. These documents are all available online.