Note: The role of the Chair is assumed by the Dean in a non-departmentalized College or Director if a School within a College structure exists.
Preparation for tenure and promotion review begins when the candidate enters the University. The APT Policy calls for the administrator of the academic Unit that will become the candidate’s tenure home to (a) meet with the candidate and provide a copy of the promotion criteria by which the candidate will be evaluated (APT Policy Section II; Section IV), as well as directing the candidate to these guidelines (faculty.umd.edu/apt-manual) and (b) appoint one or more senior faculty mentors. (APT Policy Section IV.A.3) It is suggested that the mentors be mutually agreed upon between the Chair and the candidate.
Mentoring Assistant and Associate Professors is key to maintaining excellence at the University and is essential to the APT process. Mentors should work systematically and on an ongoing basis with their assigned mentees at least until the tenure review is completed, with supportive and constructive feedback given to the candidate. The Chair should meet at least annually with each tenure-track candidate and provide written feedback to the candidate following the meeting; the Chair should also oversee the Unit’s mentoring process to ensure its effectiveness. In addition, the Chair should discuss options for multiple mentors who can provide guidance on different areas of responsibility and for issues related to any particular challenges the candidate may face. Mentoring should not end after an award of tenure, but should be continued if desired by the faculty member, on an ongoing basis to support the professional development of the faculty member. Each Unit will offer mentoring by one or more members of the senior faculty to each Associate Professor. The Chair is responsible for submitting the Unit’s mentoring plan to the Office of Faculty Affairs.