At CSS, faculty ranks mark your growth as a teacher and scholar. Promotion within these ranks is available to all faculty, no matter if you are hired as tenure-track or non-tenure-track faculty.

Ranks

The primary ranks for tenure and non-tenure track faculty include the following:

• Instructor: This rank is often used for faculty members who have not yet attained a terminal degree (such as a doctorate or MFA). 

• Assistant Professor: Eligibility generally requires a terminal degree (Doctorate or MFA, depending on the discipline).

• Associate Professor: Faculty become eligible to apply for this rank in their fifth credited year as an assistant professor. It requires a doctoral degree or MFA, along with documented excellence in teaching and evidence of significant professional and scholarly activity.

• Professor (Full Professor): This is the highest academic rank. Faculty may apply as early as their seventh credited year as an associate professor. It requires a doctorate or MFA and evidence of substantial scholarly activity that enhances the faculty member’s discipline.

Other faculty designations exist for non-tenure track faculty, including lecturer, adjunct, and emeritus.

Promotion Eligibility by Rank

• To Assistant Professor: You can apply after a minimum of two years of teaching at the College.

• To Associate Professor: You may apply as early as the fall semester of your 5th credited year at the rank of Assistant Professor, provided that at least two of those years were served at the College.

• To Professor (Full Professor): You may apply as early as the fall semester of your 7th credited year at the rank of Associate Professor, with at least two of those years served at the College.

At CSS, tenure is a valid contractual agreement in continuous employment that serves to protect academic freedom and provide economic security. It is awarded based on a faculty member's potential for a future contribution to the institution.

The Tenure Timeline

The standard probationary period for full-time faculty on a tenure track is six years. While tenure status is reviewed annually by the Provost, faculty undergo a formal evaluation cycle in their 2nd, 4th, and 6th years of credited service.

• 2nd Year Review: In the spring of the second full academic year, the school tenure committee evaluates the faculty member. No formal vote is taken; instead, the school dean writes a report to be shared with the faculty members and administrators to guide future progress.

• 4th Year Review: The candidate updates their portfolio for a full evaluation. Portfolios are reviewed by peers in the school and then by the all-College Promotion and Tenure (P&T) Committee. A vote is taken, and a "no" vote at this stage is intended to be constructive, outlining necessary changes for a successful sixth-year application.

• 6th Year Review: This is the final automatic decision year. The candidate undergoes a full evaluation by both school and all-College committees, leading to a final recommendation to the President and the Board of Trustees.

The Evaluation and Decision Process

1. School Committee: A committee of tenured or rolling-contract peers within the candidate's school reviews the materials and makes a recommendation based on a 2/3 majority of eligible members.

2. All-College P&T Committee: This committee reviews the portfolio and the school's recommendation, then submits its own written recommendation to the Provost and President by the last working day before Christmas break.

3. Presidential Recommendation: The President reviews all materials and makes a final recommendation to the Board of Trustees for sixth-year candidates.

4. Board of Trustees Decision: The Board holds final authority and makes the official decision to grant tenure.

Possible Outcomes

In the final year of the probationary period, a faculty member will receive one of three outcomes: a tenure contract, a five-year rolling contract (typically if they lack a terminal degree), or a terminal one-year nonrenewable contract. Faculty have the right to initiate a grievance to challenge an unfavorable tenure decision within 30 days of notification.

The timing for portfolio submission depends on whether you are undergoing a scheduled tenure review or voluntarily applying for promotion. Both processes require the faculty member to submit a comprehensive portfolio as described on this page.

Promotion

Regardless of the rank, the application cycle always follows these fixed annual deadlines:

• September 15: You must submit a Letter of Intent to your department chair, school dean, and Provost.

• October 1: You must submit your completed promotion portfolio (as a single PDF)  and described on this page.

• October: School review.

• November: The all-College Promotion and Tenure (P&T) Committee review.

• December - January: Provost and President review.

• Spring: Decision meeting with Provost and President as early as February, but no later than the end of the Spring semester.

Tenure

Second Year Reviews. This review is intended to guide tenure-track faculty.

• Second Monday in October: Deadline to submit the Faculty Self-Assessment and Goals Form to your immediate supervisor

• March-April: Submit a portfolio. This is an advisory review to provide guidance and does not involve a formal vote from the all-college P&T Committee.

• April-May: School reviews portfolio.

• May: Feedback due from the School's Dean (may arrive as early as February).

The 4th & 6th Year Reviews. 

• September 15: Deadline to submit a Letter of Intent to your department chairperson, school dean, and the Provost.

• October 1: Deadline to submit your completed portfolio (as a single PDF).

• October: School review.

• November: The all-College Promotion and Tenure (P&T) Committee review.

• December - January: Provost and President review.

• Spring: Meeting scheduled as early as February but no later than the end of the Spring semester with Dean and Provost (4th year) or Provost and President (6th year).

Grievance Deadlines

If a decision is unfavorable, faculty members have 30 days (one month) from the date of notification to initiate a grievance to challenge the decision.