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Tenure Criteria

Divisional

College Wide

Washington State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 

HEALTH, PE, AND EDUCATION DIVISION

 

Criteria for Tenure

For the concept of academic freedom to remain viable, the professional educator must exhibit a high level of academic responsibility. Tenure, a mechanism for assuring academic freedom, is not and should not be a shield for mediocrity, incompetence, or academic irresponsibility. The Health, PE and Education Division, as an associated group of professional educators, have established standards of performance and of acceptance of responsibility within the division. If the division is to grow in professional stature, it must accept as additions to its membership only persons who manifest sufficient dedication and professionalism to assure future performance at and above these standards.

I.       QUALIFICATIONS CONCERNING TENURE

  1. A Master’s Degree or its equivalent, and/or appropriate certification.
     

  2. Evidence of particular knowledge or skill appropriate to the appointed position and consistent with hiring expectations and current program needs.
     

  3. Demonstrated effectiveness as a teacher at the college level.
     

  4. Demonstrated service to the college and/or profession.

 

The first of these qualifications generally is addressed during the hiring process. The Tenure Working Committee will consider all qualifications in making its quarterly recommendations regarding continuance and tenure to the Tenure Review Committee. 

The Health, PE and Education Division have developed the following criteria as essential for consideration by the Working Committee in its evaluation of the instructor seeking tenure. The Working Committee should recognize and respect the diversity of individual characteristics and the need to provide varying styles of instruction and personal qualities among our faculty. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation on the basis of these criteria is left to the professional judgment of the Working Committee, within guidelines established by the college. 

The Working Committee will evaluate the instructor using criteria including but not limited to the following items:

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II.      TEACHING EFFECTIVENESS

Faculty shall provide evidence of quality teaching and be dedicated to improving the quality of their teaching.

Excellent teachers display a variety of qualities; they challenge their students intellectually, communicate effectively, show commitment to learning, remain current in their disciplines/programs, and demonstrate personal and professional integrity.

Effective teachers….

  1. challenge learners intellectually;

    They invite students to ask questions, confront limits, recognize complexities, discriminate values, pursue alternatives, see new possibilities and seek connections.
     

  2. communicated effectively;

    They plan and organize, express expectations clearly, listen carefully, remain available to meet with students individually and act with respect, enthusiasm and empathy toward students.
     

  3. show commitment to student learning;

    They create an interactive, cooperative, mutually respectful environment, use various methods of teaching and assessment, and they are able to demonstrate that outcomes are met. 
     

  4. remain current in their disciplines/programs;

    They design, review and revise curriculum and assessments reflecting developments in their academic and/or occupational areas. 
     

  5. demonstrate personal and professional integrity;

    They are professional and ethical in selecting content, interacting with students and colleagues, and in assessing self and students.
     

  6. establish suitable goals;

    they establish goals that are suitable for the diverse needs of students, without sacrificing curriculum design intentions of a specific program and use methods of assessment that determine the extent to which the students have made satisfactory progress toward these goals. 

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III.      PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT 

The faculty shall provide evidence of professional conduct; 

  1. The instructor must meet, without being limited to, those individual responsibilities delineated by the institution in the faculty contract, the college catalog and various college policies as approved by the Board of Trustees. 

  2. The instructor must meet assigned classes as scheduled in the official class schedule or seek class-coverage or reschedule classes as approved by the Division Chair. 
     
  3. The instructor must establish satisfactory and professional relationships with students with respect to availability for consultation, conduct of classes and grading policy. The instructor must be available at least during posted office hours for the purpose of advising and assisting students. 
     
  4. The instructor must maintain a professional rapport with colleagues and should participate in group deliberations which contribute to the growth and development of students, department and college.
     
  5. The instructor must maintain professional proficiency within a discipline and should continue professional growth and development as an educator. 
     
  6. The instructor should maintain a close working relationship with industry of field representatives and be familiar with current concepts, practices and industry or discipline trends and needs. 

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IV.     SERVICE

The Instructor shall provide evidence of service to the college and their professions. 

  1. Service to the College may include general and major advising; individual discussion or conferencing with students; participation in committee work and curriculum development; performing appropriate administrative tasks; fostering collegiality among faculty; supporting student-centered extracurricular activities; speaking to student groups; recruiting and recommending students; outreach to the community and participation in community activities as an extension of the College. 
     
  2. Service to the Profession may include participating in professional organizations and accrediting activities; serving on regional/national/international committees and boards; giving presentations or lectures. 

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V.      IN ADDITION TO THE REQUIREMENT OF PARTS I AND II, THE WORKING COMMITTEE WILL SEEK OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS OR EVALUATIONS. THESE SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING: 

  1. Quarterly reports by each member of the Working Committee evaluating the probationer’s classroom performance.
     
  2. Quarterly student evaluations approved by the college will be issued, collected and summarized by the Working Committee.
     
  3. An annual written evaluation each 1st, 4th, and 7th quarter from the Division Chair before any recommendation regarding tenure can be made. This statement will address teaching effectiveness, professional conduct and service. 

Other elements specified as significant by the division and individual department may be considered in addition to the above criteria. 

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 4/93   Rev. 6/96  Rev. 11/96  Retyped 3/00  Rev. 10/03  Rev. 5/04 

Last updated: October 02, 2007