Mandatory abstentions often arise whenever a faculty member could vote twice (e.g., at the College/School and Unit levels). In these cases, the faculty member is permitted to vote only at the lower level. If a faculty member is eligible to vote within two Units (because both the candidate and the voter have similar joint appointments), the voting faculty member may only vote in their primary Unit and must abstain from voting in the second Unit.
As a general matter, voluntary abstentions are to be discouraged. Higher-level AEP review committees depend on the reasoning and expertise of the lower level committees; voluntary abstentions result in an absence of crucial input on a candidate’s dossier. Non-mandatory abstentions are non-positive votes and factor into the total vote count. Should the total number of ‘no’ and ‘voluntary abstention’ votes exceed greater than 50% of the total vote, this represents a negative decision at the Unit level.
Only PTK and tenured faculty at or above the rank to which the candidate is to be promoted or appointed may vote on that candidate’s case (AEP Guidelines, Section III.C.).