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New SUNY-UUP Memorandum of Understanding on Tenure Clock and Permanent Appointment

Andrew Bruso

The SUNY Board of Trustees has adopted emergency rulemaking (modifying SUNY Trustee policy) which allows a new SUNY-UUP Memorandum of Understanding titled “Possible Adjustments to Tenure Clock Timelines and Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Review Materials,” to become effective immediately. SUNY New Paltz leadership had been discussing this during campus meetings and we’re proud to see our model feature prominently in the final resolution adopted by the Board of Trustees.

There are three key elements to the memorandum, summarized below:

  • As of May 6, 2020, all academic rank employees serving in a position of academic rank who have not yet attained continuing appointment status or who are not currently under review, will receive an automatic one-year extension of the time of continuing appointment, without change in title, full-time equivalent or other employment status.
    • An employee who chooses to opt out of the automatic one-year extension and be considered for continuing appointment based on their original schedule can do so by submitting a request in writing to their Chair with a copy to their Dean and to the Provost. Please use this form to submit a request to opt out of the automatic one-year extension.
    • Tenure clock stop does not apply to any employee in academic rank who has already been provided notice of non-renewal.
  • Anyone who taught in spring 2020 will have the option of not including student or peer evaluations in their dossier, and they can add an explanation of the impact of COVID-19 on their work.
  • As of May 6, 2020, a six-month clock stop is available for non-faculty professionals on track to permanent appointment. Professionals must be within two years of their permanent appointment eligibility date at of the date of the request. Request must be made in writing by Dec. 1, 2020. Employees who wish to exercise this option can email their supervisor with a copy to their Vice President. Please use this form to request the six-month clock stop for permanent appointment eligibility.
    • The clock stop shall be achieved by moving the professional employee to qualified professional title for the length of time requested.
    • This provision does not apply to any professional employee who has already been provided notice of non-renewal.