157.4 Faculty Status: Probationary Appointment

Faculty Status: Probationary Appointment

A. Background

Probationary appointment provides an opportunity for new faculty members to develop their skills and for the University to evaluate its faculty or develop temporary programs.

B. Policy

All full-time faculty members are on annual probationary appointment until such time as they are either granted tenure or released. (See Policies and Procedures Manual, file 158.4.) All members of the faculty, whether tenured or not, are entitled to academic freedom as set forth in the 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, formulated by the Association of American Colleges and the American Association of University Professors, and adopted by the Board of Trustees of Furman University.

C. Guidelines

1. The tenured members of each department shall meet at least annually to review the performance of any department members on probationary appointment. The chair shall then review with the faculty member or members concerned the department's evaluation and shall advise on appropriate measures for improvement if any should be thought necessary.

2. The total probationary period may not exceed seven years of full-time teaching experience at accredited four-year colleges or universities, except that the probationary period may extend to as much as four years at Furman even if the total full-time service in the profession thereby exceeds seven years. The terms of such extension will be stated in writing at the time of initial appointment. Note: In accordance with the AAUP definition of probation, the four and seven year periods include a terminal year following a denial of tenure.

3. The University is not obligated to reappoint a faculty member at the end of a probationary year nor to give reasons for such non-reappointment.

4. In the event of a decision not to reappoint at the conclusion of a probationary period, the faculty member shall be informed in writing. The relevant schedules for notification are:

a. Not later than March 1 of the first academic year of service at Furman, if the appointment expires at the end of that year; or, if a one-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least three months in advance of its termination.

b. Not later than December 15 of the second academic year of service at Furman, if the appointment expires at the end of that year; of, if an initial two-year appointment terminates during an academic year, at least six months in advance of its termination.

c. At least twelve months before the expiration of the appointment after two or more years at Furman.

5. The probationary faculty member has rights of due process as defined in file 131.5.

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