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Faculty Senate Task Force on the University's Policy for Non-Tenure-Track Faculty: Charge

February 22, 2008

This Task Force is charged with a review of the University's Policy governing Non-Tenure-Track Faculty (NTTF). It will be convened in mid-March, 2008, and will be expected to complete its work by December 15, 2008. The membership (see below) has been drawn from the Faculty Senate, the General Faculty Council, and from the faculty at-large. Anda Webb, Vice Provost for Administration & Chief Of Staff, will serve as an ex officio member.

This policy review is motivated by the results of the Faculty Senate's 2007 survey of U.Va. faculty, which discovered the following:

  • "Non-tenure track faculty are less likely to agree that UVa is collegial, that their research is valued by their department, or that their participation in department governance is valued and encouraged. General faculty members are less satisfied with support for their personal academic priorities, support of career development, and fairness of the review and promotion process. Comments suggest essentially a caste system, where General faculty have considerably fewer rights and privileges and have considerably lower regard." (Report of the Faculty Senate Survey, 2008, page 7)
  • "Tenure-ineligible Assistant professors clearly prioritize Transparent administrative policies (by >24% over other choices), all other ranks (Lecturers, Instructors, and Tenure-track faculty) prioritize the top four choices within 10%." ((Report of the Faculty Senate Survey, 2008, page 37)
  • "Comments regarding General faculty reflect a widespread disregard across the University toward General faculty, a lack of inclusion in department governance, and no set review or promotion policies. Many consider their positions terminal, despite holding the position for many years, with no opportunity for advancement. This does not encourage high performance. Most schools do not give teaching awards to General faculty, which is demoralizing given the proportion of teaching performed by them. General faculty fear retribution if they say the wrong thing. In addition, women are grossly overrepresented in the General faculty and under-represented in tenure-track positions. Clearly, General faculty feel marginalized in their roles at UVa." (Report on the Faculty Senate Survey, 2008, page 38)

Although the Task Force should feel free to address any aspect of the policy governing NTTF that it deems necessary, it is explicitly charged with addressing the issues raised by the survey report. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • The review process. Are reviews being conducted in a manner consistent with policy? Are the criteria and the process clear to those faculty members subject to review?
  • Employment protections. Are they adequate?
  • Role in governance. How do different units determine the role that NTTF should play in governance? Are there clear rationales for these determinations?

In addressing these concerns, the Task Force may discover that it is preferable to devise different policies for different groups currently governed by the same policy on the NTTF. It should not feel bound by precedent to treat the NTTF as a single group.

Task Force on Non-Tenure Track Faculty Year-End Report (June 2009)

Task Force Members

Name Title School
Name Title School
Jim Freeland Sponsors Professor and Associate Dean for Faculty Darden School
Lotta Löfgren Lecturer English, Arts & Sciences
Peter Norton Assistant Professor School of Engineering
Lynda Phillips-Madson Professor, GF, and Dean School of Continuing & Professional Studies
Anda Webb Vice Provost for Administration & Chief Of Staff Office of the Provost
Eleanor Wilson Associate Professor Curry School of Education
Lawrence Phillips Professor, Task Force Chair School of Medicine
Karen McGlathery Associate Professor Environmental Sciences, Arts & Sciences
William Keene Research Professor Environmental Sciences, Arts & Sciences