Article VI

For the purpose of granting tenure, the functional equivalent of the department shall be the academic discipline to which the probationary faculty member has been appointed to teach. If the department includes more than one academic discipline, the Chancellor shall consult with the department and/or its constituent academic disciplines to determine which discipline is appropriate for the purpose of making tenure recommendation.

The granting of tenure after a period of less than the maximum specified above (that is, less than seven years) may be recommended by a department only on the affirmative vote of at least four-fifths of the tenured members of the discipline as specified in Section 1. In disciplines with fewer than three tenured members, the granting of such tenure may be recommended only by a vote of at least four-fifths of the tenured members of the discipline and tenured members of the department review body. In the event that there are fewer than three tenured members in the probationary faculty member's discipline (as specified in Section 1) and the department review body, the granting of such tenure may be recommended only by a vote of at least four-fifths of the tenured members of the department.

The granting of tenure to begin after the maximum probationary period may be recommended by a simple majority of the tenured members of the discipline as defined in Section 1. In disciplines with fewer than three tenured members, the granting of such tenure may be recommended by a simple majority of the tenured members of the discipline and the tenured members of the department review body. In the event that there are fewer than three tenured members in the probationary faculty member's discipline (as specified in Section 1) and the department review body, the granting of such tenure may be recommended by a simple majority of the tenured members of the department. Because of the notice periods required in UWS 3.09, all such recommendations must be made by the end of the sixth year of employment.

Recommendations concerning the granting of tenure to any faculty member shall be sent by the department (or the department review body) to the college RST committee and to the faculty member. The rules and procedures to be followed by the college RST committee are set forth in the Faculty Bylaws, Part II, Article V, Section 3, a, Duties of the College RST Committees.

Recommendations of the college RST committees shall be forwarded to the Vice Chancellor.

All recommendations concerning the granting of tenure to department chairs, deans, and other administrative faculty shall originate with the department wherein the faculty rank is held and shall be based on academic achievement.

1. If the adverse decision concerning tenure originates with the department review body, the aggrieved faculty member shall, at his or her request, be granted a reconsideration according to the provisions of the Faculty Bylaws, Part III, Article VIII, Section 2. If, after the reconsideration deliberations, the department review body reaffirms its adverse judgment, the aggrieved faculty member may then initiate the formal appeal procedure outlined in the Faculty Bylaws, Part III, Article VIII, Reconsideration and Appeal Procedures.
2. If an adverse recommendation concerning tenure originates with the college RST committee, the aggrieved faculty member shall, at his or her request, be granted all the rights of reconsideration and appeal set forth in the Faculty Bylaws Part III, Article VIII, Reconsideration and Appeal Procedures. If at any level of review a decision or recommendation is made not to grant tenure before the completion of the maximum probationary period, the decision or recommendation shall, at the faculty member's request, be reconsidered, but that faculty member shall not be granted the formal appeal privileges set forth in the aforementioned article.