Below are links to sample annual and/or cumulative reviews that can be referenced during the faculty evaluation cycle. The sample reviews include language appropriate to the 2014-2015 Procedures for Faculty Appointment, Annual Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure, and are intended to illustrate the following:
1. The need to both identify the information used to make an evaluative judgment about a faculty member's performance and to use that information to reach a conclusion.
2. The need to provide a balanced review of a faculty member's performance identifying both strengths and areas in need of improvement, as appropriate.
After reviewing length of annual reviews over recent years, we understand why a chairperson of committee would feel overwhelmed with the annual review process, especially in large departments. Please don't let the length overwhelm you. The reviews are intentionally detailed so several different kinds of circumstances may be illustrated. While in some instances such detail may be needed, in most cases, a review as long as those enclosed will not likely be required.
The sample reviews refer to Professor S. Smart at West Virginia University. Sample annual reviews for Professor Smart's first-, second-, and third-year reviews are among those enclosed. Annual reviews during the probationary years are especially critical in a faculty member's development since it is important that faculty members be advised about areas in need of improvement and are provided guidance as to ways in which improvement might be achieved.
By the third-year review, it is not clear if Professor Smart will develop a record meriting the award of tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor. Given this, two sample sixth year ("critical year") reviews are provided: one in which tenure and promotion are recommended and one in which they are not.
While all of the annual reviews are written by Professor Smart's chairperson, it is important to note that this kind of detail need not be included in reviews at all levels. For example, the detail could be primarily in the review from the departmental faculty evaluation committee, with shorter reviews coming from the chairperson, college faculty evaluation committee, and/or the dean. These subsequent reviews could simply confirm and/or offer commentary upon the more detailed reviews, as needed.
- First Annual Review
- Second Annual Review
- Third Annual Review
- Positive Critical Year Review
- Negative Critical Year Review
Please contact Tracy Morris at tracy.morris@mail.wvu.edu if you have any questions about the sample reviews or about the annual and/or cumulative reviews provided by your unit.