In 2024-25, a cumulative pre-promotion/tenure review is required for Tenure-Track faculty members whose Critical Year is currently 2026-27. A pre-promotion review for faculty seeking promotion in 2026-27 should also occur for non-tenure track faculty.
Tenure-track faculty members are required to have a more rigorous cumulative pre-promotion/tenure review, normally conducted two years before the Critical Year, to determine the extent to which the individual is making clear progress toward tenure. By this time, teaching should be at a level such that if sustained, the candidate would be judged as making a significant contribution in teaching. Because significant contributions in research are expected of tenure-track faculty members, there will be particular focus on the expectation to have developed an active, independent and sustainable research program as defined in the letter of appointment.
Failure to demonstrate clear progress in the areas of significant contribution or in fulfilling specific expectations in the letter of appointment may lead to the issuance of a terminal contract before the Critical Year. The faculty member should submit a cumulative faculty productivity report that summarizes their work since the initial appointment at WVU. If the appointment letter allows credit toward tenure or promotion for work done before starting at WVU, the credited work should also be included in the cumulative pre-promotion/tenure report.
Similarly, a non-tenure-track faculty member should also submit a cumulative pre-promotion review two years prior to promotion. The pre-promotion review should determine the extent to which the individual is making clear progress toward their next promotion in their area(s) of significant contribution.
A cumulative pre-promotion/tenure evaluation is conducted by both the FEC and the Department Chairperson/School Director in addition to the annual evaluation. The evaluation is based on the cumulative pre-promotion/tenure report described above, as well as the evidence in the Faculty Evaluation File. Besides ratings of teaching, research and service (as appropriate to the faculty member’s assignment), the evaluation includes a judgment about whether the faculty member is on-track for the next career step (promotion, tenure) and what steps, if any, are needed for improvement.
In the case of probationary tenure-track faculty members, a recommendation in favor of continuation suggests that the faculty member is likely to attain tenure in the Critical Year. A recommendation against continuation suggests that the faculty member is unlikely to attain tenure in the Critical Year.