Faculty Evaluation

Policy 1.18

Related Policies

I. REASON FOR THIS POLICY

This policy provides the framework for faculty annual evaluation, promotion, and tenure or continuing appointment. 

II. DEFINITIONS

See Board Policy for definitions of specific faculty classifications.

1. Faculty Annual Review. An evaluation of performance for the academic year, conducted after the conclusion of the academic year.
2. Post-Tenure Review. A process to ensure academic quality in instruction, research and service are maintained and meet expectations of the academy and institution. BOR 4.4.11
3. Scholarship. An umbrella terms which can encompass both research and innovation through work that is peer-reviewed, publicly disseminated, and providing a platform upon which others can build. A prerequisite for competent and current teaching, contributes to the expansion of knowledge and the development of the arts, and enhances the services provided to the public. BOR 4.4.3(C.2)
4. Service. The donation of time, effort, and energy, without significant compensation, to activities that draw upon the faculty member’s professional expertise and knowledge. Significant compensation is defined as more than $600, with the exception of those roles defined in the Faculty Performance Standards.
5. Teaching. Opportunities for learning and academic achievement. BOR 4.4.3(C.6.1)
6. Tenure. An employment action establishing a position and role and thereby ensuring that the quality of the institution is developed and maintained through instruction, research and scholarly activity, and service.

III. STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. Dakota State University strives for excellence through accomplishment of its mission and strategic initiatives, and the institution’s faculty contribute to the university’s success through their specific assignments and accomplishments.
2. All faculty holding professorial rank (unless otherwise specified in a faculty member’s contract) must be significantly active in the broad areas of teaching and advising; scholarship, research and creative activity; and service.
3. A faculty whose primary responsibility is teaching is expected to undertake an effort equivalent to that needed to deliver 30 credit hours of instruction per academic year. However, professorial faculty are also assigned reasonable time to support active research, scholarship or creative artistic activity and professional service obligations – generally the equivalent of 6 credit hours of instruction.  A faculty member whose primary responsibility is research is expected to undertake the effort needed to maintain a research program recognized nationally for its excellence. 
4. Faculty members are responsible for discharging their instructional, scholarly, and service duties civilly, constructively and in an informed manner. They must treat their colleagues, staff, students, and visitors with respect, and they must comport themselves at all times, even when expressing disagreement or when engaging in pedagogical exercises, in ways that will preserve and strengthen the willingness to cooperate and to give or to accept instruction, guidance or assistance. See BOR Policy Statement Concerning Faculty Expectations 4.4.3(C.5).
5. The university will maintain a set of standards, developed between the university and its faculty, that define the university’s qualitative and quantitative expectations for faculty in light of the university’s mission, the faculty member’s discipline and the faculty member’s rank and role within the university. The standards set forth broad statements that define professional achievement and excellence evidenced through professional behaviors of the faculty. These professional behaviors are used to determine the faculty member’s annual performance ratings and eligibility for a continuing contract. They are also used to determine the faculty member’s eligibility for promotion and tenure and other university decisions that are naturally linked to faculty performance, such as appointment to the graduate faculty or other, similar recognition.
6. The university will ensure faculty receive clear feedback on their performance annually through a faculty annual review process. Performance will be evaluated on criteria required by SDBOR Policy 4.4.3 and Dakota State University Faculty Performance Standards.
7. The university will ensure faculty receive clear feedback regarding their progress toward promotion and/or tenure or continuing appointment as a component of faculty annual review.
8. The university will ensure all university policies and procedures pertaining to faculty evaluation, promotion, tenure, continuing appointments, and post-tenure review are readily available to faculty.
9. The university will ensure new faculty hired by Dakota State University will be instructed on how to access Board of Regents policies and Dakota State University policies and related documents pertaining to faculty evaluation, promotion, tenure, continuing appointment, and post-tenure review within the first month of their first contract.
10. The university will engage faculty in a process of shared governance to regularly review university policies, standards, and related documents pertaining to faculty evaluation, promotion, tenure, continuing appointments, and post-tenure review.
11. Dakota State University adheres to all Board of Regents policies pertaining to faculty evaluation, promotion, tenure, continuing appointments, and post-tenure review.  If there is a discrepancy between the Board of Regents policy and a Dakota State University policy, procedure, or related materials, the Board of Regents policy supersedes university policy.

Exclusions

Visiting professors and post-doctorate fellows hired on a term contract who do not receive a subsequent contract will not receive a performance evaluation and are not eligible for tenure, promotion, or a continuing contract.     

Exceptions

None

IV. PROCEDURES (MAJOR)

1. Supervisors shall conduct annual faculty reviews using the procedures outlined in the Faculty Annual Review Guide.
2. The Promotion and Tenure Committee, the Provost, and the President shall conduct Tenure and promotion evaluation using the procedures outlined in the Promotion and Tenure Guide.
3. The Promotion and Tenure Committee and Provost shall conduct post-tenure review using the procedures outlined in the Promotion and Tenure Guide.

V. RELATED DOCUMENTS, FORMS AND TOOLS

Faculty Annual Review Form (DOCX)

Faculty Annual Review Guide (PDF)

Faculty Performance Standards (PDF)

Peer Review Guide and Form (DOCX)

VI. POLICY HISTORY

Adopted: 2013 Standards Document

Revised: 06/03/2023

Revised: 07/28/2026