Academic Affairs Department Chair Notes - Message #13

This spring, you will conduct reviews for pre-tenure faculty in their third or fourth year (depending on if they have an extension). Anyone who received a COVID-19 extension can move their third-year review to the next year OR request that it be done on the original schedule, depending on the faculty member’s preference. 

In calendar year 2020 we granted COVID-19 extensions to anyone who wanted (about 1/3rd of non-Medicine faculty). Going forward, SAVCAA Margie Ferguson will still grant extensions through the regular process: email from candidate to chair, to dean, to Margie Ferguson. Faculty should be more specific about the need for an extension, since at this point the effects of COVID-19 are unique to each individual’s situation and research agenda.

The COVID-19 Supplement form for annual reports has been updated and is available for use. Please encourage your faculty to consider submitting this supplemental form. It is voluntary, but can be very useful, especially in keeping records on the impact of the pandemic for future years.

Last October, we presented a workshop on third-year reviews: view the PowerPoint presentation (annotated) and the Zoom recording. It was designed BOTH for administrators AND for candidates.

Here are a couple of points for your consideration this year:

1. Area of excellence: at the end of the third-year review process, you and the candidate and the committees involved should have a clear sense of the candidate’s best choice for an area of excellence. It’s okay to be ‘iffy’ at the beginning of the review, but not at the end. If you have someone with an uncommon area of excellence (balanced, teaching, integrative DEI), do not hesitate to ask questions or direct candidates to etagelppA lehcaR. 
   
2. State of readiness: The most common situation you will have is someone who is progressing well towards the fifth year submission. They haven’t done everything, but they’ve provided enough coherence in their candidate statement, and works completed or in progress, that you have confidence. You CAN say you have confidence!  Third-year reviews are formative, and can be supportive while being careful. It is very important to be clear and candid in your assessment. Be wary of being too complimentary: if you think they could go ‘early’ then say so explicitly. If they are off-track in some way, don’t just say they are off-track or behind: state specifics AND arrange for a fourth-year review (if your unit doesn’t already do them.) 
   

Third-year review is your best chance to a) calibrate your annual reviews (your chair assessment) to what your department and school P&T committees think, and b) reduce anxiety for your faculty. 

Goal: happy, productive and successful faculty!

Is your own discipline working on modern metrics for scholarship?

Please email feedback to etagelppA lehcaR.

• Next month, we will discuss promotion and tenure and eDossier.

Reminders

• Spring break this semester will take place from March 14 through March 20
• The final module in the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) pathway of Teaching for Student Success (TSS) is now live on IU Expand. 

• Faculty Affairs Guidance materials shared via IU Office 365: A repository of helpful information including how-to’s, when-to’s, and where-to’s.
  
• New Faculty Notes: Just-in-time monthly guidance to new faculty who cycle through New Faculty Orientation each year.
  
• Hiring Best Practices.
  
• The Forum Network: An integrated coordinating structure that supports faculty collaboration and creativity.
  
• Faculty Crossing: A technology-rich collaboration space for faculty and teaching staff of all appointments. Part workroom, part café, the space provides a welcoming environment that promotes creativity and innovation. This space will reopen in the fall.
  
• Review the official long-term calendar for refresher on holidays and breaks for AY 2021-2022.