Renewal of Probationary Period and Tenure

For tenure and for promotion to Professor, an assessment from three qualified senior academics from comparable institutions is sought as described in Section E. Process of Evaluation of the University Standards and the College of Medicine Standards.

Listed below are the form letters recommended for use by Departments in inviting external referees.  These can be found under Form letters to external referees - departmentalized colleges

Promotion to Professor

Invitation Re: Consideration for Promotion under Category 4 Research and Scholarly Work

Invitation Re: Consideration for Promotion under Category 5 Practice of Professional Skills

Tenure (or Continuing Status)

CATEGORY 4 RESEARCH and SCHOLARLY WORK

Invitation Re: Consideration of Tenure under Category 4 Research and Scholarly Work as ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Invitation Re: Consideration of Tenure under Category 4 Research and Scholarly Work as ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Invitation Re: Consideration of Tenure under Category 4 Research and Scholarly Work as PROFESSOR

CATEGORY 5 PRACTICE OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Invitation Re: Consideration of Tenure under Category 5 Practice of Professional Skills as ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Invitation Re: Consideration of Tenure under Category 5 Practice of Professional Skills as ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Invitation Re: Consideration of Tenure under Category 5 Practice of Professional Skills as PROFESSOR

The probationary period of a faculty appointment has two parts - an initial period of probation which, if renewed, is followed by a second probationary period. Assistant Professors may be considered for tenure in any year of their second probationary period. Associate Professors can be considered for tenure either in the last year of their initial probationary period or in any year of their second probationary period.

Appointment as:	Initial Probationary Period*	Renewal of Probationary Period	Subsequent Probationary Period*
Assistant Professor	three years	consideration for renewal of probationary period takes place in third year of appointment	three years – may elect to be considered for tenure/continuing status in 4th, 5th, or 6th year
Associate Professor	three years	can be considered in third year of appointment either for renewal of probationary period or for tenure/continuing status	two years – may elect to be considered for tenure/ continuing status in 4th or 5th year
Professor	appointed either with tenure or with a two-year probationary period

* A candidate may serve one additional year of probationary service under extenuating circumstances (Articles 13.3.1.1 & 13.3.1.2)

Date of Appointment and Start Date of Probationary Period (Article 13.3.1)

For the purposes of calculating probationary service, initial appointments that take effect before November 1 are considered to start July 1 of that year. Initial appointments that take effect on or after November 1 are considered to start from July 1 of the succeeding year.

Early Consideration for Tenure (Article 15.6).

A candidate at the Assistant Professor level may request early consideration for tenure in any year of the initial probationary period.

A candidate at the Associate Professor level may request early consideration for tenure in years one or two of the initial probationary period.

The deadlines for consideration are as set out in the University of Saskatchewan Faculty Association Collective Agreement and summarized by the Provost Office calendar

The date for renewal of probationary period and for the award of tenure or promotion is July 1 of the year following consideration.

The date for award of special increases for salary review is retroactive to July 1 of year prior to consideration.

Example: A faculty member completes Form 1 and updates his or her C.V. to include all items up until June 30, 2014. In the fall the faculty member is then considered both for tenure and for promotion to Associate Professor. The member is awarded both tenure and promotion, and both take effect July 1, 2015. That same fall, the faculty member is also awarded a special salary increase. The award of the special salary increase is retroactive to July 1, 2014, and is based on the member’s previous rank at the Assistant Professor level.

Renewal of Probationary Period

1. Department Renewals and Tenure Committee
2. College Review Committee

Tenure

1. Department Renewals and Tenure Committee
2. College Review Committee
3. University Review Committee

Promotion to Associate Professor

1. Department Promotions Committee
2. College Review Committee

Promotion to Professor

1. Department Promotions Committee
2. College Review Committee
3. University Review Committee

The assessment of scholarly work within the practice of professional skills is often a source of confusion. Faculty are assessed for promotion and tenure within the College Standards under either

a) Category 4 Research and Scholarly Work or

b) Category 5 Practice of Professional Skills:   Research and scholarly work is reflected within Category 5 as one of several components considered

The category that applies is determined at the time of appointment (confirmed in the letter of offer from the Dean) and reflects the nature of the duties involved. Most commonly, faculty within Basic Science Departments (those holding PhDs) are assessed under Category 4 Research and Scholarly Work; and those faculty appointed within Clinical Departments (practicing physicians) are assessed under Category 5 Practice of Professional Skills.