Professional Development and Evaluation Procedures — 2007-2008
(Available for download as PDF)
Back to Article 22, Article 25 Procedures
Definition of Steps in Faculty Development and Evaluation Process
Professional Development Plan (PDP) Development
Step 1. Consult with Dean or supervisor.
”Each faculty member shall, after consultation with their immediate supervisor, prepare a professional development plan (PDP) for the period to be covered by the evaluation. The PDP shall include specific objectives, methods, and expected achievements in respect to the criteria in Section B. Faculty members may place different emphases on the various criteria so long as such emphases are consistent with department goals and university policy. For faculty with teaching assignments, the PDP shall include a process for student assessment.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 1.)
Probationary faculty members are advised as follows:
” The decision to award tenure shall be based on the principle of a demonstrated cumulative record of positive performance and professionally competent achievement consistent with the goals of the institution over the duration of the probationary period on the criteria outlined in Article 22. Annual evaluations that are minimally satisfactory and are used in part, in the tenure decision, may result in the denial of tenure.“ (Article 25, Section A, Subd 1.)
Input from the Dean or supervisor is essential in developing a PDP that is consistent with the mission and goals of the department, college, and university. During a faculty member’s first year, this consultation is essential in learning how to construct a PDP. Many Deans/supervisors hold a meeting with all first-year probationary faculty members to explain the process and aid in developing the first year PDP. Additionally, first year faculty should consult with various members of their department for input on constructing their PDP. In subsequent years, a rough draft of the faculty member’s PDP is usually presented to the Dean before the consultation, so that more direct guidance and comments can be offered before the actual PDP is submitted. It is recommended that the PDP be organized around the criteria of Article 22, Section B of the MnSCU/IFO Master Agreement. Faculty members may also wish to consult Appendix G of the MnSCU/IFO Master Agreement.
Step 2. Submit PDP to department via the Chairperson.
”When the plan is completed, the faculty member shall provide a copy of the plan to the department members through the department chairperson.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 1.)
Before submitting a PDP to the department, faculty members should have various members of the department review a rough draft of their PDP and plan to make improvements if needed. The completed PDP should then be given to the department chairperson for distribution to the department. The department should comment on the plan and determine how the PDP relates to departmental mission and goals.
Step 3. Department’s, Department members’, and Chair’s Comments to faculty member.
”Department members are encouraged to provide written comments on the PDP to assist the faculty member in his/her professional development and, if applicable, provide guidance with respect to promotion and/or tenure. These written comments will be forwarded to the faculty member. … Before commenting, the Dean, his/her administrative designee, or other appropriate supervisor may consult with the department chairperson and with other members of the department to determine how the plan related to departmental goals and objectives.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 1.)
The department, individual department members, and department chair should provide written comments to the faculty member and the Dean on how the PDP relates to Article 22, Section B criteria and to departmental, college, and university goals and objectives. Comments by the department, department members, and department chairperson are to be forwarded to the faculty member and to the Dean/supervisor. If department members and/or the department chair wish to make preliminary comments and give the faculty member an opportunity to make revisions, the final comments must still meet the published deadlines.
Step 4. PDP, Department’s, Department members’, and Dept. chair’s comments to Dean or Supervisor.
The Dean will review the PDP and the comments of the department, department members, and department chair before preparing a written response to the PDP.
Step 5. Dean or supervisor sends her/his comments on PDP to faculty member and HR file.
”The Dean, his/her administrative designee, or other appropriate supervisor shall comment on the plan. These written comments shall provide information to assist the faculty member in his/her professional development and, if applicable, provide guidance with respect to personnel decisions. Before commenting, the Dean, his/her administrative designee, or other appropriate supervisor may consult with the department chairperson and with other members of the department to determine how the plan relates to departmental goals and objectives. Copies of the plan together with comments added shall be maintained as part of the faculty member’s official personnel file.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 1.)
The Dean’s office is responsible for sending their comments to HR for inclusion in the personnel file.
Step 6. Faculty member’s written response to Dean’s or Supervisor’s comments.
"The faculty member shall have an opportunity to respond to these comments.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 1.)
The faculty member has the right to prepare a written response to the Dean’s comments. This response should be signed and dated and will be placed in the faculty member’s permanent personnel file. The Dean’s office is responsible for sending these comments to HR for inclusion in the personnel file.
PDR Review
Step 7. Professional Development Report (PDR), documentation to department via the dept. chair.
”At the end of the evaluation period, the faculty member shall prepare a report and send it to the Dean, together with appropriate documentation describing progress made in respect to achieving his/her objectives as specified in his/her professional development plan. A copy of the report shall be sent to the department members through the department chairperson.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 2.)
It may be beneficial for the faculty member to discuss the PDR with various members of the department before submission of the final PDR to the department.
The PDR should address and fully document achievements in regard to the PDP and achievements beyond the PDP during the period covered by the PDP. The materials submitted are determined by the faculty member who submits the PDR. It is recommended that the PDR be organized around the Article 22, Section B criteria, generally, and specifically to the PDP. Appendix G should be consulted as a guideline for documenting achievements.
Step 7b. Summary report to Dean or Supervisor and to department via the chair.
This step is only applicable to Non-Tenure Track Full Professors and Tenured Full Professors. See the table in Article 22, Section C. Tenured and Non-Tenure Track Full Professors submit a summary PDR in year two (2) with full PDR in year four (4).
Step 8. PDR and comments from the department, department members, and dept. chair on PDR to Dean or supervisor.
”Department members are encouraged to provide written comments on the report to assist the faculty member in his/her professional development and, if applicable, provide guidance with respect to promotion and/or tenure. These written comments will be forwarded to the faculty members.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 2.)
The department chair will forward the PDR, appropriate documentation provided by the faculty member, the comments from the department, department members’ and the chair to the Dean or supervisor. Copies of the comments from the department, department members and the chair must be given to the faculty member. Comments by the department, department members and department chair must be limited to the criteria of Article 22, Section B. Department members are encouraged to provide written comments on the report to assist Professional Development and Evaluation Procedures page 5 of 8 7/7/06 the faculty member in his/her professional development and, if applicable, provide guidance with respect to promotion and/or tenure.
If department members and/or the department chair wish to make preliminary comments and give the faculty member an opportunity to make revisions, the final comments must still meet the published deadlines. This procedure is still being clarified by the Faculty Association and the Administration.
Step 9. Meet with Dean or supervisor to discuss PDR and next PDP.
”The faculty member will then meet with the Dean to discuss achievements made during the evaluation period.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 3.)
This meeting serves to both review the past cycle and begin the next one. Achievements of the past year are discussed. A rough draft of the PDP for the next year is also discussed in the context of the current achievements and departmental, college, and university missions and goals.
The faculty member is encouraged to meet with their department to discuss the development of their PDR and future PDP.
Step 10. Dean’s or supervisor’s written assessment to faculty and copy to Provost and HR file.
”A written summary of the Dean’s assessment of the faculty member’s accomplishments in respect to his/her plan, as they relate to the criteria in Section B, together with suggestions to guide future professional development activities, and any upcoming application for tenure and/or promotion, shall then be sent to the faculty member and placed in the faculty member’s official personnel file.” (Article 22, Section D, Subd. 3.)
The PDR, department members’ comments, chair’s comments, and Dean’s assessment shall be forwarded to the Provost and placed in the faculty member’s official personnel file in Human Resources. The Dean’s office is responsible for sending these materials to the HR office for inclusion in the personnel file.
Step 10b. Dean’s or supervisor’s written comments on Summary report to faculty and HR file.
”For the purpose of maintaining and improving effectiveness, tenured faculty members shall be evaluated and shall submit progress reports as described in this Article. The Dean shall submit written comments in response to summary reports submitted by faculty members in accordance with this Article.” (Article 22, Setion E.)
