Faculty Retention
- Ann Kelble
Purpose:
To outline policies, procedures, and expectations surrounding the extension of preemptive or counteroffers to retain faculty pursuing employment at competing institutions.
Relevant Definitions:
Preemptive offer: an offer made to a faculty member prior to any job offer being made by a competing institution. Preemptive offers are typically at the stage of the faculty member being offered to interview at a competing institution. Preemptive offers might also come later, after an interview has occurred but before a faculty member has been announced as a finalist or extended an offer.
Counteroffer: an offer made to a faculty member in response to a formal job offer made by a competing institution.
EVPP: The Provost Office; specifically Faculty Affairs and the EVPP Faculty Retention Evaluation Committee.
Process:
- Faculty member discusses retention specifics (i.e. outside offer(s), invitation, etc.) with Department Chair.
- Department Chair assesses retention case and approaches the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs with details, being mindful of EVPP retention expectations.
- Department Chair and Associate Dean negotiate retention terms.
- If a formal retention offer is agreed upon, Department works with the Associate Dean to assist the Dean and COLA HR in submitting required materials to the Provost.
- The Dean's Office will ask the Chair to create a draft letter (from the Dean to the Provost) including the information listed on the Provost's information page.
- COLA HR creates a retention record in the Offers Database and submits any materials as required per Provost procedures.
- Upon conclusion of negotiations, COLA HR will complete the retention record in the Offers Database, and submit the record and the draft retention offer to the Associate Dean for approval.
- Following the Associate Dean’s final review and approval, COLA HR will provide the approved offer letter to the Department to send to the faculty member.
- Department returns signed retention offer (or rejection) to COLA HR.
Policy Notes:
- EVPP and COLA approval are required for all retention decisions and terms, regardless of the decision and source of support.
- Upon acceptance of a retention offer, the College leadership would not expect to respond to other outside offers for that faculty member within the next three years.
Related Links:
Provost Office Guidelines for Faculty Retention in Knowledge Base