Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

Welcome to Tennessee Technological University. As a new faculty member, you probably have many questions you would like answered. Recognizing your need, the Tennessee Tech Chapter of the American Association of University Professors has produced this guidebook, which presents in one relatively short document information about many of the topics that are probably of interest to you in your efforts to become acquainted with TTU. In addition to this guide, we recommend your participation in the annual orientation for new faculty at the beginning of each academic year, which is coordinated by the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs.

Let us stress that the information presented in this guidebook is by no means complete or exhaustive. It is intended merely as a point of departure. Eventually, you will want to refer to numerous other documents that discuss the matters contained hereinafter in far greater detail than was possible or desirable in this guidebook. The most current version of this guidebook can be accessed at http://www.tntech.edu/aaup/guidebk.html.

One of the first documents that you will want to consult after browsing through this guidebook is the Faculty Handbook, accessible on-line in the latest version at http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/. In it many of the matters discussed briefly below are spelled out in considerable detail.

The Faculty Handbook includes summaries of Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and TTU policies, which apply to faculty. You should be aware of the three documents, which contain complete versions of TBR and TTU policies: the TBR Policy Manual, the TBR System Guidelines, and the TTU Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual (see the TTU website for the most up-to-date and accurate version). The TBR Policy Manual includes the TBR versions of the tenure and promotion policies (TTU policies must be written in keeping with the TBR policies and guidelines). The TBR System Guidelines cover such issues as assignment of non-instructional faculty time, retirement plans, harassment, nepotism, and longevity pay. The TTU Administrative Policies and Procedures Manual (http://www.tntech.edu/adminpandp/) is a compilation of locally (TTU) developed policies and procedures, which are typically local versions of TBR policies and guidelines. Each campus may set its own guidelines and policies within the limits set at the TBR level.

Copies of these three policy documents are kept in all line administrative offices; i.e. offices of the President, vice presidents, deans, chairpersons, and directors. Both the policy manual and guidelines can be found on the TBR site accessible at

http://www.tbr.state.tn.us/policies_guidelines.

Usually it is not necessary to consult the TBR and TTU policies, procedures or guidelines because the Faculty Handbook is, in part, a compilation, sometimes in summary form, of all such regulations, which apply to faculty.

The faculty and staff newsletter, Tech Times, is an excellent source of information about grants, scheduled events, and many other matters relevant to the functioning of Tennessee Tech. It is usually sent via email every other Friday. We urge you to read it regularly. Information about it can be found at http://www.tntech.edu/publicaffairs/office/times.html. Online sources of information about events occurring on campus are accessible on the TTU Events Calendar at http://calendar.tntech.edu/ while the official university calendar is available at

http://www.tntech.edu/ugcat/html/university_calendar.asp. More immediate events dealing with computer viruses, bad weather, emergencies, and other issues can be found at http://www.tntech.edu/publicaffairs/rel/news.html.

Information about faculty matters is discussed during the business meetings of the Faculty Senate; these occur three times per semester, as noted in the Administrative Calendar, and are open to all interested faculty members. Senate procedures can be accessed at http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/ap-3.htm.

Since much information about TTU and campus activities is available online, every faculty member is required to open an Exchange Email Account or a PC Lab account and to learn how to utilize the TTU website (http://www.tntech.edu) to access information. Faculty, staff, and administrators regularly communicate with each other via e-mail, so be sure to check with the department secretary about opening an account. Appropriate use of "netiquette," courteous and appropriate use of e-mail, is expected. You should never post anything on e-mail that you would not wish to be seen or read in an open public forum. Class schedules can be accessed at http://www.tntech.edu/classsched/.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY PROFESSORS

The American Association of University Professors actively defends academic freedom and tenure in higher education. AAUP promotes faculty rights and responsibilities in a variety of ways across the nation. The Tennessee Conference of AAUP works to improve the whole faculty here and at the other public and private institutions in the state. Check the AAUP website located at http://www.tntech.edu/aaup/ for further information about the local, state, and national AAUP.

The Tennessee Tech Chapter of AAUP is a vital and active presence, being the driving force behind the implementation of faculty evaluation of chairpersons, the creation of the Faculty Senate, the conduct of a faculty morale survey, and the creation of a faculty handbook. Other accomplishments include the creation of a plan drawn up by the local chapter allowing greater faculty participation at all stages of the hiring process for academic positions and the adoption of a policy outlining procedures to be followed in the event a state of financial exigency is declared. Members of the local chapter participated in a study of faculty salaries that led to the pay equity system and in an examination of tenure and promotion policies, which led to new policies. Both the Tennessee Conference of AAUP and the local chapter put out newsletters to keep members informed. AAUP is open to all faculty members as well as to administrators and graduate students. It particularly welcomes new members.

In addition to defending academic freedom and tenure, the AAUP offers new faculty members unique opportunities to get acquainted with faculty members outside their departments and to keep abreast of current issues confronting Tennessee Tech. This is especially important for newcomers, who often are not well informed about such matters and who are limited in the opportunities they have to interact with those outside their own disciplines. Thus, joining the AAUP and attending its functions are good ways to keep informed and to meet new people.

The Tech chapter of AAUP meets once a month at a location announced beforehand (usually the third floor of the University Center) by e-mail. New faculty members are welcome at meetings.

SERVICES AVAILABLE TO FACULTY AND DEPENDENTS

Numerous perquisites of full-time faculty status at Tennessee Technological University are available; some "perks" are also available to part-time faculty (see the Faculty Handbook for restrictions that may apply if your status is not full-time). This summary will acquaint you with most of these services and benefits. For further details, see the Faculty Handbook and your departmental peers and chairperson.

A. ELECTRONIC DEPOSIT OF SALARY. Your salary will be paid on a 12-month schedule by a mandatory electronic deposit to your bank on the last working day of each month. Accounting stubs can be viewed through secure Banner Web Self Service website at https://ttuss1.tntech.edu:9000/pls/PROD/twbkwbis.P_GenMenu?name=homepage.

B. INSURANCE. Tech faculty members are insured under the Employees Group Insurance Plan, which offers life insurance, accident insurance, and medical expense and hospitalization as a package plan. Faculty pay a percentage of the premium, and the State of Tennessee pays the remaining portion. Additionally, whole life insurance is available to Tech faculty, and term life insurance is available to faculty and their dependents. Other optional coverages include cancer, intensive care, long-term disability, and dental insurance plans. The university participates in a flexible benefits plan which requires before tax-dollar payments for health insurance premiums and has voluntary provisions for additional medical and child care payments in before-tax dollars that can be recovered in the form of reimbursements after insurance deductibles and co-payments. Details regarding these various plans can be found by talking with appropriate persons in the Human Resource Services Office. As a new faculty member, you will go through an extensive initial meeting with someone from Human Resources to get a better understanding of what is available to you.

C. FACULTY SICK LEAVE BANK. During the annual enrollment period in October, faculty may join the sick leave bank, which provides additional sick leave (through sharing of members' unused sick leave) to its members who have exhausted all their sick leave due to serious illness or injury.

D. RETIREMENT. Tech faculty members may choose among TIAA/CREF, Aetna, Valic, and the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) retirement plans. The first three plans are fully portable to most other postsecondary institutions, while the TCRS is portable to other state institutions only. Both programs are non-contributory. Faculty may supplement their retirement program with tax-sheltered annuities available from a variety of approved vendors. Check with the Human Resource Services Office for a list of approved vendors and further information.

E. CREDIT UNION. Tech faculty members may become members of the Cornerstone Credit Union, the Tennessee Credit Union, or the Fleetguard Federal Credit Union. A payroll deduction program is available. A branch of the Tennessee Credit Union is open weekdays in the University Center bookstore.

F. BOOKSTORE DISCOUNT. Faculty members are entitled to a 15% discount (except some calculators and sale items) at the University Bookstore. (See Faculty Handbook for other restrictions.)

G. RETAIL DISCOUNTS. Some businesses in Cookeville offer discounts to Tech faculty. Check with the Student Government Association for a list of participating businesses.

H. FEE WAIVERS. Faculty members are eligible to enroll at any TBR and UT system school for one course per semester with fees waived. (See the Faculty Handbook for restrictions.)

I. FACULTY/STAFF TUITION REIMBURSEMENT. This program enables faculty to enroll in six semester hours of courses per semester and be reimbursed by the university.

J. TUITION DISCOUNT FOR DEPENDENTS. Full-time faculty at Tech are eligible for a student fee discount of up to 50% at any TBR and UT system institution for undergraduate courses by their spouses and dependent children under the age of 25 years old.

K. GRANT-IN-AID AWARDS. After two years of service faculty members are eligible to apply for grant-in-aid awards. These often fund faculty studies toward a terminal degree.

L. LEAVES OF ABSENCE. Faculty may request leaves of absence without pay for up to one year for justifiable reasons, including those specified under the Family Medical Leave Act. There are also faculty non-instructional grants, which allow faculty members to have one semester off with full pay or one academic year with half the teaching and full pay. However, these assignments are few in number and are restricted to tenured faculty with at least seven years service.

M. INTERNAL GRANTS. The Faculty Research Committee (Office of Research) (http://www.tntech.edu/research/) awards release time grants to faculty members to pursue research. These grants are often awarded to new faculty and usually (but not always) reduce the teaching load so as to require one less three-hour course to be taught for each semester in which the funds are granted. (Check with your chairperson for the usual practice in your department.) Additionally, instructional improvement grants (Office of Academic Affairs) are available for those who design projects intended to improve their instructional capabilities.

N. TRAVEL/INSERVICE/PROFESSIONAL SERVICE FUND. Besides travel money available through your department or college, the Office of Academic Affairs also offers financial support for participation in discipline-related short courses, seminars, institutes or workshops; international presentations; and financial obligations incurred as an officer in a national or regional professional association, though the latter is not very common.

Note: Out-of-country travel (except to Canada) during the academic year requires approval by the President. Requests for such approval are sent through your Chairperson, Dean, the Vice President for Academic Affairs, who forwards the request to the President.

O. OUTSTANDING FACULTY AWARDS. Each year two faculty members are recognized for outstanding teaching and one for outstanding service.

P. CAPLENOR RESEARCH AWARD. Each year one faculty member is recognized for outstanding research activity.

Q. FACULTY EXCHANGE. While Tennessee Tech no longer has an active program for faculty exchange, if you would like to participate in an academic assignment at another university, contact Barry Stein, ext. 3562, for information and assistance.

R. OCLC RECIPROCAL FACULTY BORROWING PROGRAM. As a Tech faculty member, you may apply for patron privileges at the libraries of any state public institution, as well as some private ones. You may also request a library borrowing program card through the Academic Research Libraries system for use at member libraries by contacting the office of Library Director Dr. Winston Walden.

S. MEDIA CENTER. The Media Center in the Library offers several services to faculty, including the making of free transparencies for use with overhead projectors; the Center also has a room that can be reserved for showing video material, and it can provide closed-circuit showings to classrooms that are properly wired for this activity.

T. MULTIMEDIA INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANCE. The Institute for Technological Scholarship, located in Clement Hall 215, provides assistance to all faculty with the creation of digital materials for online teaching, electronic graphics, slide shows, and multimedia presentations for instructional use, as well as training for presentation software packages and studio videotaping of classes, presentations, and guest lectures in DVD format. The Institute will help faculty to create and/or use in-class presentations with appropriate advance planning. The Institute also is responsible for iLearn and hosts many tutorials for becoming familiar with that technology. For additional information, go to the Institute’s website at http://www.tntech.edu/institute. For assistance or a tour of the facilities, call extension 3675 or send an e-mail message to institute@tntech.edu.

U. INFORMATION TECHOLOGY SERVICES. The D.W. Mattson Computer Center in Clement Hall offers a variety of free workshops, as well as hardware and software support for faculty who maintain university personal computer equipment. All faculty, administrators, staff, and students may apply for an Exchange Email and PC Lab account to obtain access to e-mail and the Internet. Many colleges have a computer laboratory for use by students. A considerable amount of information about Information Technology Services may be found on the TTU website located at http://www.tntech.edu/its/.

V. CULTURAL EVENTS ON CAMPUS. The TTU Events Calendar (http://www.tntech.edu/publish/webevent) and the Center Stage listings (http://www.tntech.edu/centerstage/) note cultural events occurring each month on the campus. The Music and Art Department distributes a mailing list notifying recipients about events that they sponsor, many of which are free to faculty. The Theatre Program of the Department of English and Communications sends out notices about plays that are performed by the program. There is no central place to learn about speakers coming to campus, though their coming is often announced in Tech Times. Be alert to announcements placed on bulletin boards around campus, at the information desk in the University Center, and on the Campus Announcements page (http://www.tntech.edu/announce/).

W. ATHLETIC FACILITIES AND DISCOUNTS. Both faculty members and their dependents may use any of Tech's athletic facilities. You can also take advantage of the various programs of the Fitness Center for a monthly fee. Check with the individual facility for hours, restrictions, and possible fees. Discount season tickets to many athletic events are also available.

X. FACULTY/STAFF DINING ROOM. The university provides faculty and staff with a separate dining facility offering a cafeteria line and a congenial atmosphere. The dining room is located in the University Center on the first floor behind the student dining area (go through the student dining area to find the room).

GENERAL POLICIES RELATING TO TEACHING AT TTU

A. THE BEGINNING OF EACH COURSE. At the beginning of each term, instructors must provide students with documentation concerning 1) major objectives of the course, 2) major content to be covered, 3) factors and relative weightings by which the student will be evaluated for grading purposes, and 4) special definitions of "plagiarism" that apply in the course. See the Student Handbook (http://www.tntech.edu/studenthandbook/) for details.

B. ATTENDANCE. At the beginning of each term, each instructor is responsible for explaining, in writing, the practice in treatment of absences. According to the catalog, “When, in the opinion of the instructor, the attendance record of a student becomes unsatisfactory, the Office of Records will be notified.” Unsatisfactory class attendance may result in the student's being dropped from a course with a grade of F. Tardiness may be recorded as an absence. Students may consider a class dismissed and leave the room without penalty if the instructor fails to appear within 15 minutes. (Faculty Handbook, III-2 and Student Handbook) Instructors are urged to end class on time, since the ten-minute break between classes is often just enough time to allow a student to travel from one building to another.

C. ACCOMMODATION FOR DISABLED STUDENTS. Instructors should become familiar with issues under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as they relate to students in their classes. Further information about ADA and its implementation may be obtained in the Office of Disability Services, which has online information at http://www.tntech.edu/disability/.

Students providing appropriate documentation to the Office of Disability Services may request accommodations using the Accommodation Request Form (ARF). After discussing the matter, with the Disability Services Coordinator and agreeing upon accommodations, a student is to discuss suggested modifications with the course instructor during the first two weeks of the semester. The faculty member signs the ARF and forwards it to the departmental chair for signature and return to the Office of Disability Services. If a student requests accommodations without an (updated) ARF, refer her/him to the Office of Disability Services. Do not make your own informal accommodations -- direct students to the Office of Disability Services. Accommodations to physical accessibility might include relocation of classrooms or preferential seating. Classroom accommodations include support service providers (interpreters for the deaf, readers, scribes, and note-takers), large print tests, extended time for tests, and use of assistive technology to adapt computers to the user with the disability.

D. PLAGIARISM. Students found guilty of academic misconduct, including plagiarism and cheating, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an F or a zero for the exercise or examination, or to assign an F in the course. It is optional for the instructor to send a copy of the charge to the Office of the Vice President for Student Services. (See Academic Misconduct Policy in the Faculty Handbook and Academic Regulations in the Student Handbook.

E. THE WEEK PRIOR TO FINAL EXAMINATIONS. No examinations or extensive assignments should be given during the week prior to final examinations except 1) quizzes covering no more than a week's worth of new material, 2) major tests unanimously requested by the class, 3) approved final examinations, and 4) evaluation in independent study courses or self-paced courses. At least one day should intervene between a student's last class meeting and the scheduled final examination for that class. For more information, see Tests and Examinations in the Faculty Handbook,

http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/iii-07.htm#tests

and Academic Regulations in the Student Handbook at

http://www.tntech.edu/studenthandbook/academic.html.

F. FINAL EXAMINATIONS. Final examinations are to be given according to the schedule printed in the Bulletin. If it is necessary to give a final exam at some other time, approval by your departmental chairperson and dean is required.

G. GRADE APPEAL. A student has thirty days from the official close of a semester to consult with the instructor regarding an appeal of a grade assigned during that semester. If the appeal is not resolved after consultation with the instructor, further steps may be taken by the student in a multi-step process described in detail in both the Faculty Handbook and the Student Handbook.

H. STUDENT EVALUATION OF FACULTY. Tenure-track faculty are evaluated by students in each of the faculty member's courses (except labs in some cases) each semester. The results of the student evaluations of tenure-track faculty are sent to the faculty member. All tenured faculty submit at least two IDEA form evaluations (one from an introductory course and one from an upper-division course when possible) per year to their department chair. Departments and individuals are encouraged to use other evaluation tools as a supplement to the IDEA evaluation forms. (See the Evaluation of Instruction policy (Appendix C below) in the Faculty Handbook at http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/ii-46.htm.

I. FACULTY ABSENCE FROM CLASS. For the policy regarding faculty absence from class, see Faculty Absence and the Meeting of Classes in the Faculty Handbook, http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/ii-28.htm.

KEEPING RECORDS

During your probationary period, the years when the individual and the institution determine whether there is a good match between them, you will find it advisable to document activities you perform in the fulfillment of your duties. Good record keeping is essential if you are to accurately fill out forms for tenure and promotion and for various other purposes. The first records in your files should be those describing the nature and circumstances of your appointment:

A. Position announcement and description.

B. Letters of inquiry, appointment, and acceptance.

C. Other pre-employment commitments and expectations:

1. List of courses you will be teaching.

2. Salary.

3. Scholarly goals expected – often included in departmental and/or college tenure and promotion policies.

Note: be aware that, for tenure, credit for prior service must be stipulated in your letter of appointment if you are to receive such credit.

On assuming your duties as a new faculty member, you should document your activities for each of the areas wherein you will later be evaluated. Continuously maintaining your files will offer considerable savings of effort as up-to-date documentation will be required for each annual evaluation and for each annual tenure review, as well as for your applications for tenure and promotion. It is not sufficient merely to update your vita; evaluation of your progress will require comprehensive and factual documentation in the following areas:

A. Instruction.

1. Grade distribution sheets.

2. Student evaluations.

3. Syllabi and policy statements, especially for new

courses you develop or for classes in which you

have tried a new teaching technique.

4. Academic advisement, formal and informal.

5. Letters or awards for teaching effectiveness.

6. Developmental activities, such as workshops and short

courses attended.

B. Scholarly Activity.

1. Research objectives.

2. Publications, translations, presentations at

meetings, creation or presentation of artistic work.

3. Grant proposals, funded or unfunded.

4. News releases about your work.

5. Developmental activities.

C. Public and Professional Service

1. Committee assignments

2. Recruitment

3. Professional memberships/positions.

4. Presentations to university and/or community

5. Consulting.

D. Collegiality.

1. List of positive interactions with departmental

faculty and with students.

2. Committee work where faculty interactions occurred.

Note: the above lists are not all-inclusive; they provide examples of the type of information that will be needed. Some departments require that faculty submit copies of tests and other items for pre-tenure review. Check with your departmental chairperson.

Finally, be aware that Tennessee has one of the most comprehensive open records laws in the nation. Your teaching materials may be open to public scrutiny (i.e., anyone who is a citizen of the state of Tennessee and has a Tennessee driver's license can see copies of these materials simply by requesting them from the Personnel Officer). All your personnel records, including evaluations, are open to the public. With the exception of student records, which are protected by the Buckley Amendment, confidentiality of records in Tennessee public institutions, simply put, does not exist under the current law.

THE ANNUAL EVALUATION PROCESS at TTU

A. AGREEMENT ON RESPONSIBILITIES. Each fall semester, every faculty member, in agreement with his or her departmental chairperson, is asked to complete Form T4/P4 (Agreement on Responsibilities) for the coming calendar year. The faculty member indicates on this form how much effort will be devoted to each of five categories--Teaching, Advisement, Research/Scholarship/Creative Activity, Service/Outreach, Administration--by assigning to each category a percentage value. As part of the annual evaluation process (usually in March), the chairperson and dean will judge the actual performance of the faculty member based in large measure on fulfillment of the Agreement on Responsibilities.

Note: 1) For librarians "professional responsibilities" replace "instruction" in the list of four categories noted above.

Faculty members and departmental chairpersons should cooperatively determine the weights that will be assigned to the five areas of performance. These weights should reflect the current objectives of the department, college, and university, as well as the objectives of the faculty member. The Policy on Academic Freedom, Responsibility, and Tenure (Faculty Handbook, II-7, p. 7) (http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/ii-07.htm) and the Policy on Academic Appointments and Promotions (Faculty Handbook, II-9,) (http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/ii-09.htm)contain discussions of the Agreement on Responsibilities. Keep copies of all Agreements that you sign.

B. FACULTY EFFORT REPORTS and OTHER SUMMARIES OF ACTIVITIES.

Each spring, tenure-track faculty are to be evaluated by the tenured members of their departments. In preparation for this evaluation, each tenure-track faculty member compiles a dossier of information similar to that required when applying for tenure. Great care should be taken in putting this information together. This material and the tenured faculty's resulting evaluation will assist the chairperson in his or her annual evaluation of the tenure-track faculty member.

Every year, faculty members must compile a detailed summary of activities and accomplishments during the year called the annual Faculty Activity Report. To submit to the departmental chairpersons, who will use them when writing their annual evaluation of faculty members. Faculty members should keep a special file in which they place material such as the items listed in the preceding chapter of this handbook, as well as any other materials relevant to their performance as faculty members.

Be prepared to take several hours or more each year preparing the summary of activities. Attach copies of publications and other relevant documents to the summary.

C. ANNUAL FACULTY EVALUATION. Your chairperson will evaluate your performance in the spring of each year, basing his or her judgment on faculty effort reports, summaries of activities submitted by you, work that you have done for the department during the past year, student evaluations, and other appropriate information. For tenure-track faculty, the tenured faculty's evaluation will be incorporated into the chairperson's evaluation. The chairperson will fill out the Annual Faculty Evaluation form. Your dean will do the same. You will be given an opportunity to read and respond in writing to the evaluation by your chairperson. You may also discuss the evaluations with either or both of those administrators should you wish to do so.

The annual evaluations are a good time to take advantage of teaching improvement opportunities. Consider having your classes videotaped and having the tapes reviewed by your informal mentor(s) and perhaps by your chairperson in order to determine features of your teaching that might be improved. Videotaping services are available to faculty through the Institute for Technological Scholarship. You may want to confer periodically with one or more tenured faculty members (in and/or out of your department) who are willing to serve in an informal MENTORING capacity. (Since no formal mentoring program exists at TTU, these informal mentoring contacts are the nearest equivalent and can be quite valuable.)

Annual evaluations are used as part of the calculation of equity pay increases when money is available for equity and merit increases. These pay increments are one way faculty are rewarded for good work and salary inequities are adjusted.

D. LETTER OF RENEWAL/NON-RENEWAL. During their probationary periods, tenure-track faculty will be reviewed annually by their peers and departmental chairperson/director and will be notified by letter from the President as to whether they have or have not been renewed for an additional year's service. Faculty in the first academic year of service will receive this notice by March 1st of that year; faculty in the second academic year will receive the notice by December 15th of the second year; faculty in the third and later academic years will receive the letter by the end of the preceding academic year. Failure to be properly notified of non-renewal constitutes grounds for being granted one additional year's service, but it does not constitute grounds for being granted tenure. Appendix D summarizes significant deadlines during the tenure track years.

Some more subjective elements of the evaluation process need discussion also. The goal of the annual evaluation should be to reach an understanding with your peers and supervisors that satisfactory progress toward tenure is being achieved or to outline how it will be achieved. You should not take it lightly. The evaluation is your chance to present your work and to get an indication that you are on the right track. If you do not have a regular meeting with your chairperson and dean during evaluation time, request one. Endeavor to obtain feedback--in writing if possible--about the quality of work that your supervisors perceive you to be doing. One strategy that you might want to employ is to send a memo to your administrators indicating what your understanding of your responsibilities is; if they do not disagree, then you may assume that they accept your understanding of these matters, and you will have a document for your records.

You have a right to respond to the evaluator's comments and to submit further documentation if needed. Be aware that unfounded or ambiguous statements might be made and that you have a right to a fair and objective evaluation. You also have the right to address negative comments and to access your personnel file.

The tenured members of your department are involved in the annual tenure review process. When you apply for tenure (and promotion), these peers will have a very large role in those decisions. A single, secret ballot vote of the tenured peers can be the determining factor leading to renewal or non-renewal of your contract. It is, therefore, valuable to seek out peer evaluations of your work on a regular basis. Be particularly sensitive to the matter of collegiality, as it is defined in the Tennessee Tech Tenure Policy. That it is your peers' appraisal of your work-- and even your perceived ability to work as a colleague--that will largely decide your tenure status cannot be overemphasized.

THE TENURE AND PROMOTION PROCESS AT TTU

A. THE TENURE PROCESS. Tenure and promotion at Tech are different processes that sometimes operate synchronously. Of the two, the tenure process is the one a faculty member should be most concerned with during the first years on campus. Normally, the tenure decision takes place during the sixth year of the probationary period; thus, accomplishments during the first five years of service are used to determine whether or not a tenure appointment is granted. Those who are granted prior service credit in the letter of initial appointment to a tenure-track position will come up for tenure earlier than normal by the number of years of prior service credit granted.

Data have been compiled (Appendix E) to give you an idea about results of, and trends in, the tenure decision process at TTU since the 1979-1980 academic year.

Prepare for the tenure decision from the beginning of the first year by collecting relevant information and maintaining it in a safe but accessible location. Copies of your faculty activity reports are especially good sources of information for the tenure dossier. In addition, formally discuss your progress toward tenure with your departmental chairperson and dean at least once per year, perhaps more often. Your departmental peers take a vote on progress toward tenure each year, so that you have annual feedback about how your peers are reacting to your work; this vote may also affect renewal of your contract.

Early in the year when the tenure decision is made, you will be notified by your departmental chairperson that you are to be considered for tenure. Your departmental colleagues will also be notified of the fact that you are "up" for tenure, and they will be asked to participate in the decision-making process, by supplying information, writing letters, working on the tenure committee, voting, etc. You will be asked to complete a lengthy form, the Tenure Data Sheet, and to submit other documentation, including the names of those whom you wish to submit letters in support of your candidacy, for placement in a dossier that will be available to those involved in the process. Study the tenure policy carefully, including the procedures and forms section. Be sure you understand the Flow and Check-off List so that you are ready for each required step as it occurs. All information listed on the Tenure Data Sheet should be relevant to the categories of instruction, scholarly activity, and professional and public service. Request a copy of this form at least one year before you begin the process of completing it, and be ready to spend a substantial number of hours preparing your documentation for submission near the beginning of your fifth year of service (or earlier). Refer to Appendix D for important deadlines. The Tenure Procedures and Forms Packet can be found at

http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/NewPolicy/ii-08a.htm.

The tenure process, like the annual evaluation process, has subjective elements; some of these are discussed next. The tenure policies described in the Faculty Handbook are unique to Tech and will be applied to you whether or not you fully agree with them. Pay attention to what is written about what counts in being granted a tenure appointment, and pay special attention to your departmental colleagues' interpretation of what counts. Some departments and colleges have adopted their own formal policies and specific minimum expectations for tenure and promotion, but most of the truly important ideas about how to obtain tenure are found through interactions with your departmental peers, your chairperson, and your dean.

A final point that we wish to stress involves your duty to your academic discipline. Ultimately, it is to that discipline that your efforts should be directed. The work that you do to be granted tenure should not overshadow or diminish the work that you perform in order to promote your discipline. Ideally, this will not be the case, since the work for each should be the same.

B. THE PROMOTION PROCESS. Application for promotion at Tennessee Tech generally occurs about every five years if the candidate has attained minimal qualifications for the rank to which he or she aspires. The promotion process is sufficiently different from the tenure process: know the differences between the two. See the promotion policy in the Faculty Handbook for a full discussion of this important feature of your later career at Tech. The Promotion Procedures and Forms Packet can be accessed at http://www.tntech.edu/facultyhandbook/NewPolicy/ii-10a.htm.

GOVERNANCE

The governance structure at TTU is rather complicated. A brief description of that structure is given below for informational purposes. We urge you to consult your departmental peers for information about university governance and to participate in general faculty meetings, held prior to the start of fall semester and during the last week of each semester, and in the election of faculty representatives to the Academic and Administrative councils. The members of these councils (including elected faculty, appointed students, and appointed administrators) form the University Assembly, and the elected members for the Faculty Senate. Consult the Faculty Handbook for more information about the two councils, committees reporting to the councils, and the Faculty Senate.

The President, who is the chief administrative officer, receives advice and guidance from two primary University sources: the governance system of the University (TBR) and the upper-level administrators of the University.