PURPOSE 

The purpose of this Academic Operating Policy and Procedure (AOP) is to promote our understanding of both standards and procedures concerning academic promotion and tenure. 

POLICY/PROCEDURE 

Academic tenure and promotions in rank are subject to the general guidelines drawn up by the Faculty council, recommended to the President, and printed below in this document.  At the time of the initial appointment the appropriate department head should make the faculty member aware of these general procedures as well as any other guidelines specific to the academic department in which he/she holds a tenure-track position. 

All regulations of Mississippi State University concerning employment, promotion, and the granting of tenure must adhere to the By-Laws and Policies of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning. (See Academic Promotion and Tenure Policies below).

GENERAL CRITERIA FOR FACULTY
APPOINTMENT AND ELIGIBILITY
FOR TENURE 

All regulations of Mississippi State University concerning employment, promotion, and the granting of tenure must adhere to the By-Laws and Policies of the Board of Trustees of State institutions of Higher Learning (1970, with subsequent amendments).  Specific attention is called to the section, “Employment and Tenure of Faculties of Institutions of Higher Learning in Mississippi.” 

2.1. Tenure is recommended by and held in an academic department or on an academic faculty.  Tenure track positions, i.e., ranks in which one can work towards possible continuous employment at Mississippi State University, are instructor (in the sense that up to three years in this position may be counted toward meeting tenure requirements once the faculty member achieves the next higher rank), assistant professor, associate professor, and professor.  All other positions or titles, e.g., lecturer, research assistant/associate, non-rank library positions, graduate assistant and adjunct, are non-tenure track and must be so indicated to prospective and incumbent holders of these positions or titles. 

2.2.  Every person employed by the University is expected to meet high standards of professional integrity, collegiality and objectivity, and to further the goals of his/her department at the University.  In addition, a person of professorial rank must have either a professional/terminal degree appropriate for the discipline or its equivalent in training and experience; a strong commitment to higher education, and in particular to the mission of Mississippi State University; and a willingness to assume the responsibilities and obligations appropriate to a university faculty member (see FACULTY HANDBOOK, Section IV, Faculty Responsibilities.)  In addition, the following is appropriate at each level: 

      a.   Instructor:  An instructor is a faculty member with either a professional master’s degree appropriate for the discipline or the equivalent in training and experience and a potential for teaching. 

      b.   Assistant Professor:  An assistant professor is a faculty member with a terminal or professional degree (or its equivalent) in the discipline, who possesses the potential for successful performance in teaching, research (or creative achievement), and service in a university environment. 

      c.   Associate Professor:  An associate professor is a faculty member who has met the criteria for assistant professor, has consistently demonstrated an ability to perform at a satisfactory level in the three areas of teaching, research or creative achievement, and service, and excels in at least one of these areas. 

      d.   Professor:  A professor is a faculty member who has achieved demonstrated excellence in two of the three areas of teaching, scholarship, research/creative endeavors, and service to on-campus and off-campus communities. A rating of “satisfactory” or above in the third area will also be required. 

e.   Article III (below) must be utilized in assessing the performance by and of faculty members, as that performance affects considerations of promotion, tenure, and compensation. 

      f.    Unless indicated otherwise at the time of appointment by the departmental committee on promotion and tenure, promotion and tenure applications by chairholders will be governed by Mississippi State University’s promotion and tenure policies and procedures document. 

2.3. The University recognizes faculty achievement both by advances in rank and the granting of tenure, though the two are not necessarily linked.  For this reason, promotion is never granted routinely for simple satisfactory service, but reflects progressively higher professional competence and accomplishment. Rank also reflects comparable stature with others in similar disciplines in other university settings.  Promotion is based on performance and demonstrated competence and not on length of service.  However, a reasonable time must elapse for the individual faculty member to demonstrate competence and have it confirmed by periodic evaluation.  Professional achievement elsewhere will be considered for promotion and tenure.

RESPONSIBILITIES