W. Va. Code R. § 133-9-9 - Tenure

9.1. Tenure is designed to ensure academic freedom and to provide professional stability for the experienced faculty member. It is a means of protection against the capricious dismissal of an individual who has served faithfully and well in the academic community. Continuous self-evaluation, as well as regular evaluation by peer and administrative personnel, is essential to the viability of the tenure system. Tenure should never be permitted to mask irresponsibility, mediocrity, or deliberate refusal to meet academic requirements or professional duties and responsibilities. Tenure applies to those faculty members who qualify for it and is a means of making the profession attractive to persons of ability. There shall be demonstrated evidence that tenure is based upon a wide range of criteria such as: excellence in teaching; publications and research; professional and scholarly activity and recognition; accessibility to students; adherence to professional standards of conduct; effective service to the institution, college and department; significant service to the community; experience in higher education and at the institution; possession of the earned doctorate, special competence, or the highest earned degree appropriate to the teaching field; continued professional growth; and service to the people of the State of West Virginia. Ultimate authority regarding the application of guidelines and criteria relating to tenure shall rest with the institution.

9.2. In making tenure decisions, careful consideration shall be given to the tenure profile of the institution, projected enrollment patterns, staffing needs of the institution, current and projected mission of each department/division, specific academic competence of the faculty member, and preservation of opportunities for infusion of new talent. The institution shall be mindful of the dangers of losing internal flexibility and institutional accountability to the citizens of the State as the result of an overly tenured faculty.

9.3. For community and technical colleges, in order to be fully responsive to the changing needs of their students and clients, the goal in the appointment of faculty is to limit the number of tenured and tenure-track faculty to no more than twenty percent of full-time faculty employed by the respective community and technical college.

9.3.1. At community and technical colleges, full-time term faculty are eligible for reappointment, although no number of appointments shall create any presumption of the right to appointment as tenure-track or tenured faculty. A single appointment shall not exceed three years.

9.3.2. The employment standing of tenured and tenure-track faculty holding appointment at each of the community and technical colleges at the time of the implementation of this policy shall not be affected.

9.4. Tenure shall not be granted automatically, or solely because of length of service, but shall result from action by the institution, following consultation with appropriate academic units.

9.5. Tenure may be granted at the time of the appointment by the institution, following consultation with appropriate academic units.

9.6. Tenure may be attained only by faculty who hold the rank of Assistant Professor or above.

9.7. A faculty member who has been granted tenure shall receive yearly renewals of appointment unless dismissed or terminated for reasons set out in Sections 12, 13, or 14 below.

Notes

W. Va. Code R. § 133-9-9