Criteria for Faculty Appointment, Retention, Promotion and Tenure

These criteria, in accordance with FPP #501, FPP #501.01, & FPP # 501.02 apply to all Mathematics Department faculty.

A. General Criteria and Policies.

Members of the Department of Mathematics are expected to be active in three different areas of professional responsibilities. These three areas of responsibility are teaching; scholarly activities and professional growth; and service to the department, the university and its community, and the mathematical community. Probationary faculty being considered for retention are expected to provide evidence of progress toward meeting the criteria for tenure. Those who are being considered for a possible promotion or tenure recommendation are expected to provide evidence of quality activity in each of the three areas. Professional activities considered for promotion recommendations will be primarily those activities since the time of the previous promotion. The quality of the professional activities, as well as the quantity, will be considered. The department recognizes that activities other than those in the following specific list may be of equal value to the mathematics department and the university. In reaching its decision regarding a tenure and/or promotion recommendation the departmental Executive Committee shall consider such evidence of equivalency presented to it by the candidate. For all promotions, the requirement for an appropriate degree may be waived in cases of outstanding accomplishment widely recognized in the discipline or in cases where, at the time of hiring, it was not an expressed requirement for promotion.

B. Specific Criteria.

1. Appointments:

The minimum degree requirement for newly appointed faculty is a Master’s Degree in Mathematics or a related Master’s Degree such as in Mathematics Education. Excellence in teaching undergraduate college mathematics shall be considered to be the top priority for appointments of new faculty. A doctoral degree in the mathematics disciplines is preferred. Faculty appointed with less than the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in Mathematics, such as degree in Mathematics Education or Computer Science, must achieve the equivalent within two years.

Tenure-track appointments normally will be made at the rank of Assistant Professor. An appointment may be made at the rank of Instructor for candidates not meeting the criteria for promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor. For such appointments, no more than two years will be given to satisfy the criteria for promotion to Assistant Professor.

The Department Chair may, after consultation with the Director of Human Resources, the Provost and the Chancellor, approve up to three years of prior service towards tenure based on previous appointment in a tenure track position at another university or college.

2. Retention:

Evaluations of probationary faculty for annual retention decisions shall be made in accordance with Senate policies, and will address the three areas of professional responsibility as described above in the General Criteria and Policies.

The probationary faculty member must:

a. Fulfill any specific expectations stated in the letter of appointment.

b. Show progress toward fulfillment of 3.a - 3.f below.

3. Tenure:

a. Masters degree in mathematics and 18 semester hours, in addition to those required for a Master's degree, of graduate credits in mathematics courses, or a doctorate in mathematics.

b. Demonstrated effectiveness in teaching mathematics.

c. Contributions to the overall work of the department.

d. Evidence of continued professional growth and activity (e.g., research, courses in addition to that in (a), publications, presentations, refereeing) in the mathematical sciences (mathematics, statistics, computer science).

e. Service to the university, community, or profession.

f. Two years experience teaching mathematics in the UW Colleges.

4. Promotion to Assistant Professor.

a. Same as 3.a above.

b. Same as 3.b above.

5. Promotion to Associate Professor with Tenure.

a. All of 3 above.

6. Promotion to Associate Professor from Assistant Professor with tenure.

a. Evidence of continued effective teaching.

b. Accumulation of outstanding professional activity, such as:

i. research publications or

ii. significant expository publications or

iii. publication of a text book in mathematics or

iv. significant positions in professional mathematics organizations, or

v. demonstration of outstanding teaching ability in mathematics or

vi. refereeing professional articles in mathematics or

vii. passage of prelims for a doctorate in mathematics or

viii. mathematics presentations to professional groups

c. Service(see Appendix J for guidelines) to the University, community or profession such as:

i. university committees: campus-UW Colleges-UW System or

ii. contributions to organized student activities or

iii. contributions to campus sponsored activities or

iv. department committees or

v. professional organizations (offices held, committees or other participation) or

vi. advising high school mathematics departments or

vii. speaking to mathematics clubs and classes or

viii. assisting with mathematics contests or

ix. outreach courses taught or

x. mathematics presentations to community and organizations or

xi. non-mathematical but professionally related publications or

xii. consultation and advising for community groups and individuals

7. Promotion to Professor.

a. Same as 6a above.

b. Doctorate in mathematics.

c. Continued record of distinguished professional activities.

d. Several years of distinguished service to the department.