These procedures and deadlines apply to the non-reappointment of pre-tenure faculty members, professors of practice, and research faculty defined as in the language of the bylaws of the Board of Regents: faculty members on "appointments for a specific term," faculty members on "faculty practice appointments," and "faculty research appointments."
Procedures
- Any decision not to reappoint a pretenure faculty member, a professor of practice, or a research professor should be informed by a vote of an appropriate group of faculty. This might be the tenured faculty in the department, the departmental promotion and tenure committee, or some other group empowered to participate in personnel decisions.
- Before making a final decision not to reappoint a pre-tenure faculty member, a professor of practice, or a research professor, contact the associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs in the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, or the senior associate vice chancellor in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to discuss reasons for the non-reappointment and to ensure that all Regents’ and UNL policies are followed.
- The faculty member must be informed that they are not being reappointed via a letter, signed by the primary signatory on the original offer letter (usually the department chair/head), with copies to all other signatories on the original offer letter (usually the dean and the executive vice chancellor/IANR vice chancellor), and sent to the faculty member’s home address via certified mail. Use the template provided below.
- Nonreappointment Template | DOC
- In keeping with Section 4.8 of the bylaws of the Board of Regents, upon receiving the letter of non-reappointment, the faculty member (pre-tenure faculty member, professor of practice of any rank, or research professor of any rank) "shall have the opportunity to request a reconsideration by any individual or group making a recommendation or decision not to renew the appointment and to offer evidence for that reconsideration" and to "petition the Grievance Committee" of the Faculty Senate.
Deadlines
The bylaws of the Board of Regents specify deadlines by which a pre-tenure faculty member, a professor of practice, or a research professor must be notified that they are not being reappointed. For pre-tenure faculty members, the deadlines depend on the length of time the faculty member has been employed at the university. For professors of practice and research faculty, the deadlines depend on the length of the contract.
It is important to be aware that if appropriate notice is not given, then the contract is automatically extended for an additional year.
Faculty Practice and Faculty Research Appointments
| Length of Contract | Notice Required |
|---|---|
| At most one year | At least 3 months |
| More than one year and at most two years | At least 6 months |
| More than two years | At least 12 months |
Pre-Tenure Faculty - Specific Term Appointments
Academic Year with a Standard Start Date
| Deadline | Last Date of Appointment | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Faculty | February 20 of first year | End of first academic year |
| Second-Year Faculty | December 3 of second year | End of second academic year |
| Third-Year and Beyond | May 1 of current year | End of next academic year |
Academic Year with a Non-Standard Start Date
| Deadline | Last Date of Appointment | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Faculty | 3 months notice | Between one year less one day after start date and 15 months less one day after start date; will typically coincide with the end of a semester |
| Second-Year Faculty | 6 months notice | Between 18 months after start date and 30 months less one day after start date; will typically coincide with the end of a semester |
| Third-Year and Beyond | 12 months notice | At least four years less one day from start date; will typically coincide with the end of a semester |
12-month with a Standard Start Date (July 1)
| Deadline | Last Date of Appointment | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Faculty | February 20 of first year | End of first fiscal year |
| Second-Year Faculty | December 3 of second year | End of second fiscal year |
| Third-Year and Beyond | June 20 of current year | End of next fiscal year |
12-month with a Non-Standard Start Date (After July 1)
| Deadline | Last Date of Appointment | |
|---|---|---|
| First-Year Faculty | 3 months notice | Between one year less one day after start date and 15 months less one day after start date |
| Second-Year Faculty | 6 months notice | Between 18 months after start date and 30 months less one day after start date |
| Third-Year and Beyond | 12 months notice | At least four years less one day after start date |
Additional Information
The above procedures do not apply in the following situations:
- Faculty positions that are Special Appointments, including Extension Educators, Lecturers, and Lecturer-Ts. Lecturer and Lecturer-T appointments expire at the end of the stated term in the offer letter, with no presumption of renewal and no need for notification of non-reappointment.
- Special Appointments that do not have an end-date stated in the offer letter can be canceled with 90 days notice.
- In the case that a research professor’s appointment is funded in whole or in part by funds external to the university (e.g., a research grant) and those funds are reduced or discontinued, the appointment may be terminated by the university by giving the faculty member at least 90 days written notice of the date of termination. Note that in cases where these funds are reduced but not entirely discontinued, the university may, at its discretion, choose to reduce the FTE of the appointment rather than terminating the appointment, still with at least 90 days written notice of the date of the FTE reduction.
- In all other instances in which a faculty member’s appointment is being terminated prior to the expiration of the stated term of the appointment (e.g., termination for cause), the usual faculty governance procedures apply. Contact the associate vice chancellor for faculty affairs in the Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, or the senior associate vice chancellor in the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, to discuss reasons for the termination and to ensure that all Regents’ and UNL policies are followed.