Faculty members may submit formal reactions to evaluations received at any level. The reactions fall into two general categories: “responses” are reactions to annual evaluations, and “rebuttals” are reactions to promotion, tenure or non-continuation recommendations. Please note that, as shown below, the timelines are different for each type of reaction.
These are described in more detail in the WVU Procedures for Faculty Appointment, Annual Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure. For reactions to departmental evaluations see Sections XIII.A.7, XIII.A.5, XIII.A.6, XIII.B.5, and XIII.B.6.
Responses
A faculty member may respond to an annual evaluation that does not include a recommendation regarding tenure, promotion or non-continuation. Responses to annual reviews must be forwarded to the chairperson and/or Dean within ten (10) working days of receipt of the evaluation(s). The response will be added to the faculty member’s digital evaluation file. Errors of fact should normally be corrected by the chairperson with an additional memo to the file. If the faculty member disagrees or otherwise takes issue with the evaluations or the assignment of descriptors, the faculty member may work informally with the chairperson. After working informally with the chairperson, the faculty member may ask the Dean to review the evaluations or descriptors. However, any informal efforts to resolve any such issue will not serve to suspend or otherwise delay the statutory time requirements set forth in the West Virginia Public Employees Grievance Procedure for the filing of grievances. After considering the faculty member’s request, the Dean may direct the chairperson or the committee to reconsider their action based on a written justification that would be placed in the faculty digital evaluation file. Any subsequent adjustments would be documented in an additional memo to the file.
Letters from the Department Chairperson/School Director and the Faculty Evaluation Committee should advise the faculty member of their right to respond by including this language: “You may, at any time, submit a response to this evaluation to [Department Chairperson/School Director] or the Dean of the College, in accordance with Section XIII.A.7 of the WVU Procedures for Faculty Appointment, Annual Faculty Evaluation, Promotion, and Tenure.”
Rebuttals
Within five (5) working days of receipt of a recommendation, a faculty member may rebut an evaluation that includes a recommendation regarding tenure, promotion or non-continuation. Letters from the Department Chairperson/School Director and the Faculty Evaluation Committee must advise the faculty member of their right of rebuttal by including this language: “If you wish to rebut this evaluation, you may submit a rebuttal to the Dean of the College within five (5) working days of your receipt of this evaluation.”
Letters from the Dean and the College Faculty Evaluation Committee must advise the faculty member of their right of rebuttal by including this language: “If you wish to rebut this evaluation, you may submit a rebuttal to the Provost or Chancellor of WVU Health Sciences College within five (5) working days of your receipt of this evaluation.”