Syracuse Sun

Balloting for faculty representatives on the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Promotion and Tenure is set to commence on October 16 and will continue until November 1. This annual election process is overseen by the University Senate Committee on Appointment and Promotions along with the Agenda Committee, with results compiled by the Office of Institutional Research.

The committee, which was established in spring 2014, has six openings this year for tenured full professors who will serve two-year terms. Its role is to ensure consistency in promotion and tenure processes across campus, following approval procedures involving the vice chancellor, provost, chief academic officer, chancellor, and Board of Trustees.

The associate provost for faculty affairs convenes the committee. It includes the vice president for research or another full professor designated by the provost alongside 12 faculty representatives from each school and college. Members review candidate cases where there are substantive disagreements between recommendation layers that could lead to negative outcomes. They provide counsel to the provost through advisory votes but do not issue formal reports or handle appeals.

Amber Anand, a committee member and Edward Pettinella Professor of Finance at the Martin J. Whitman School of Management, highlighted the significance of participating in balloting and serving on the committee: “Promotion and tenure decisions are among the most consequential decisions made by the University,” he says. “The provost and associate provost engage deeply with the committee.”

Katherine McDonald, senior associate dean for research and administration as well as a professor of public health at Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, shared her positive experience: “Serving on this committee is one of the most important things I have done at Syracuse University," she says.

All tenured and tenure-track faculty members can vote for their school's or college's representatives. Ballot information will be sent via email from the University Senate at the start of balloting.