Review Committee On Faculty Personnel Procedures

This Committee carries out the functions required under VI, B, 1, e of the Washington University Policy on Academic Freedom, Responsibility, and Tenure, Dated September 1985.

1. A candidate for the award of tenure or promotion within tenured ranks who has been considered and rejected by his or her Department or by the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences may, within 21 days after receipt by the candidate of written notification of the reasons for such rejection, request the Committee to review the adequacy and fairness of the consideration.

2. The Committee will have access to the candidate's complete dossier. This dossier will contain all materials formally considered by the Department and such additional materials as may have been submitted by the candidate or secured at the discretion of the Dean, including any outside evaluations. It will also contain the names of all persons consulted by the Dean and the criteria used in the selection of these persons. If a Department has declined to recommend a candidate to the Dean for tenure or promotion, the Committee may request, in addition to the file of materials gathered by the Department, an explanation of the Department's decision from its Chairperson.

3. In response to specific allegations by the candidate for tenure or promotion that he or she has received inadequate or unfair consideration in terms of the relevant professional standards of the Department or school, the Committee is empowered to examine whether the candidate's dossier provides reasonable support for the negative decision by the Department or Dean. If the candidate alleges that material was obtained unfairly or that other violations of established procedures have occurred, the Committee may examine the candidate's dossier and may seek other relevant and available material. The Committee shall not substitute its judgment for that of the Department or Dean as to whether the candidate merited tenure or promotion.

4. The Committee shall report its findings to the complainant, the Chairperson of the complainant's Department, the Chairperson of the Faculty Council, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and the Provost.

5. The contents of the candidate's dossier and the substance of the deliberations of the Committee shall be kept confidential. A summary of the findings of the Committee shall be reported to the University community.