Tenure Policy

Download Policy (PDF)

Effective Date: August 1, 2025
Issuing Authority: Provost
Policy Contact: Vice Provost, provost@mercer.edu, 478-301-2110

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to identify the terms and conditions of tenure at Mercer University.

Scope

This policy applies to all tenure-track and tenured faculty at Mercer University.

Exclusions

None

Policy Statement

(Text Found in 2.4.1 University Faculty Handbook)

 The retention of a stable faculty, exhibiting the characteristics of career-long distinction in teaching; research and scholarship; and professional, institutional, and societal service, is critical to meeting the mission of the University. The awarding of tenure is a recognition of the merit of a faculty member’s contributions and of the expectation that the faculty member would meet the long-term needs of their academic program and the University. Tenure shall only be awarded to eligible faculty who have demonstrated professional success and show promise that their future services and performances justify the degree of permanence afforded by tenure.

Tenure is a mutual commitment and offers mutual benefit to faculty and the University. Tenure improves the University’s ability to attract and retain outstanding faculty. It decreases turnover, thereby ensuring institutional continuity and the stability necessary to support innovation in teaching, research, and scholarship. Tenure ensures academic freedom for the faculty member framed under the guidance of professional responsibility as well as a sufficient degree of economic security. Academic freedom and economic security for the faculty are viewed as indispensable to the effectiveness of the University’s service to its students, its constituency, and society.

Tenure may be conferred by the President, upon the recommendation of the Provost, and is awarded only by positive action of the Board of Trustees. The granting of tenure is not an unconditional guarantee of permanent faculty appointment. Rather, tenure provides assurance that an appointment will be continued until retirement, in accordance with the University’s retirement policy, or until termination or dismissal by the University for adequate cause.

(Text Found in 2.4.2 University Faculty Handbook)

Tenured Appointments

  1. Though tenure may be granted at any time by the President, usually it is conferred only after completion of a probationary period. Tenure is awarded by the President upon the authority of the Board of Trustees and with the advice of the Provost, and the Dean of the college or school in which the individual holds faculty appointment. The award of tenure is predicated on both the demonstrated merit of the individual faculty member and the capacity of the University to assure employment in fulfillment of its mission and programmatic objectives. Fitness for tenure is determined through a review process involving faculty colleagues, department chairpersons, faculty personnel committees, and academic officers who consider evidence of the candidate’s contribution to the educational program, scholarship, and potential for continued contribution to the programmatic needs of the University.
  2. All evaluations associated with the award of tenure, including pre-tenure and tenure reviews are based on individual merit and institutional needs, as defined below.
  3. Merit is determined in the aggregate with emphasis on the following criteria, including but not limited to:
    1. Quality of teaching and attention given to students as
    2. Breadth, depth, and variety of education and
  • Professional achievement and
  1. Responsible participation in group deliberative
  2. Professional responsibility and service to the University and
  3. Cooperative and collegial conduct in the discharge of

 

  1. Institutional need involves consideration of multiple factors including but not limited to:
    1. The specialization needs of the department, academic unit, and/or
    2. Program performance factors such as enrollment and student
  • The availability of resources to support the program or position, financial as well as physical.
  1. General contribution to the mission and functioning of the

 

  1. Tenure-relevant experience:
    1. Only full-time faculty members holding tenure-track appointments and the rank of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, or Professor are eligible for consideration of tenure.
    2. Tenure-relevant experience is counted only for full-time service at the rank equivalent to Assistant Professor or above.
    3. In the case of a new appointment and upon recommendation of the Dean of the individual college or school, the President and Provost determines the amount of previous tenure-relevant experience and includes this information in the initial appointment letter.

 

  1. Tenure notification:
    1. Review and notification for tenure occurs as designated in the candidate’s initial appointment letter, typically during the sixth year of full-time faculty appointment in the University. Subject to specific qualifications in the guidelines of the different colleges and schools as approved by the President, shorter or longer probationary periods may be established. Tenure, if granted, becomes effective at the beginning of the academic year following review and notification. The probationary period for tenure and review may only be altered in extraordinary circumstances by the Provost or President in mutual agreement with the faculty member. Decisions related to tenure are subject to the rights of faculty to appeal.
    2. The appointment letter includes the following elements:
      1. Effective date of
      2. Amount of previous tenure-relevant experience, if
  • Anticipated year of tenure
  1. Anticipated effective date of tenure, if
  2. Specific tenure policy of the appropriate school or

 

  1. Faculty members are notified of tenure or offered a one-year terminal appointment following approval by the Board of Trustees the year of tenure

 

  1. If promotion is awarded to a faculty member before the probationary period is completed, no promise of eventual tenure is implied.
  1. Should a faculty member be granted a sabbatical leave or leave of absence, the period of such leave may count, under prior agreement with the Provost, as part of the probationary period. Tenure review may not occur during such leave.

 

  1. Faculty members whose appointment depend upon continued external funding are not subject to the maximum probationary period limitation.
  2. Each faculty member with tenure is informed in writing of the terms and conditions for a continued appointment when all necessary procedures attendant to the appointment have been completed and formally approved by the Board of Tenure does not guarantee a right to rank, salary, or work assignment.

 

  1. Tenure ensures a faculty member of continued annual reappointment until retirement, resignation, or dismissal by the University for adequate cause as specified in 6, 2.7. and 2.8. Timely distribution of reappointment letters shall be executed prior to the effective date as provided in the reappointment letter. Acceptance or renewal of a tenured appointment is subject to and contingent upon the return of the signed annual letter of reappointment as specified in 2.1.C and 2.2.5-6.

Additional Resources

University Faculty Handbook: https://provost.mercer.edu/resources/handbooks/faculty-handbooks/
The standards and procedures for granting tenure at Mercer are set forth in the University Faculty Handbook.

History

Revised July 23, 2023
Revised April 25, 2025