Post-Tenure Review

As required by SBHE Policy 605.1, each tenured faculty member shall undergo a post-tenure review (PTR) within three years after receiving tenure, and every five years or more frequently thereafter. 

The first cycle of post-tenure review at UND was completed March 31, 2026.

Cycle 2 candidates who will undergo PTR in the 2026-2027 academic year received notice from their colleges in Spring 2026. 

Levels of Review

Faculty members will be able to review and respond to their evaluation up to four times: 

1. After the foundational review (conducted either by a department committee or by the department chair).
2. After the review by the department chair (if the foundational review was conducted by a committee; if the chair provided the foundational review, this step is not repeated).
3. After the dean’s review. 
4. After the culminating committee review. 

Updated September 22, 2025 

* Review required by UND policy, SBHE policy, or North Dakota Century Code.

Q&A 

How is PTR different than annual evaluations of faculty? 

As explained in UND’s PTR policy, “Unlike annual evaluations that typically focus on a single year, PTR cumulatively evaluates faculty productivity based on the percentage efforts in research, scholarly and/or creative activity; teaching; and service in annual faculty contracts.” 

What is the Foundational Review?

The foundational review is conducted by either the department committee or department chair. This review includes individual rating based on department guidelines for teaching, research/scholarly/creative activity, and service, accompanied by a narrative evaluation for each. These ratings form the basis for all future stages of the review process. Subsequent reviews do not assign additional ratings; instead, they respond to and expand upon the assessment made during the foundational review. Faculty will be able to review and respond to the foundational review before it proceeds to the next level of review.  

What is the Culminating Committee? 

The culminating committee is required by North Dakota Century Code and must consist of “the administrative supervisor of the faculty member being evaluated, at least one ranking administrator, and tenured faculty comprising no less than one-third and no more than one-half of the committee.” 

At UND, the culminating committee will consist of the faculty member’s department chair (administrative supervisor), the faculty member’s dean (ranking administrator), and up to two tenured faculty member elected by a process established by the college/school. Alternative committee composition will be developed for academic units without department chairs.

The culminating committee ensures procedural integrity of the PTR process as well as evaluative cohesion and integration of all levels of review. The task of the culminating committee is to provide a brief summary of the previous levels of review and the committee’s own general assessment of the candidate. The committee may need to reconcile discrepancies or disagreements at the previous levels of review. If there are conflicting evaluations at the department, department chair, college, and/or dean level, the culminating committee determines final evaluation ratings and outcomes. 

What is the period of review for the first post-tenure review after receiving tenure?

The review period covers the three academic years following the tenure review, including the year in which the faculty member was reviewed for tenure. For example, a faculty member who received tenure in 2023, who is undergoing their first PTR, would be reviewed on their contributions in teaching, research/scholarly activity/creative activity, and service from academic years 2022–23, 2023–24, and 2024–25. Including the tenure review year in the PTR period of review ensures continuity and prevents any gaps between the tenure review and the first post-tenure review, which occurs within three years of earning tenure.

If PTR is to be conducted within three years after receiving tenure, why do some faculty have a five-year period of review? 

Pursuant to SBHE Policy 605.1, the UND Faculty Handbook requires each tenured faculty member to undergo post-tenure review (PTR) within three years after receiving tenure and  every five years or more frequently thereafter. This requirement is distinct from the SBHE mandate that every tenured faculty member must have been through a full PTR by June 2028, regardless of when they received tenure. UND has established three cohorts of roughly equal size to implement the mandate and is applying the policy in two ways to create a sustainable review cycle moving forward: 

Faculty tenured in 2023

Faculty tenured in 2023 or after are scheduled for their first PTR under the standard three-year requirement. This review will take place within three years of tenure and will evaluate their first three years. 

Faculty tenured before 2023

Faculty who received tenure before 2023 are being treated as though they already completed an initial three-year PTR after tenure (as if the policy had been in place at that time). They will now enter directly into a five-year PTR cycle. This “catch-up” approach allows UND to meet the June 2028 deadline while establishing a continuous, ongoing review schedule.  

Do faculty going up for promotion to full professor need a PTR? 

UND’s PTR policy states that “[a]fter a successful promotion to full professor, the PTR cycle resets, and the next PTR will occur at least five years or more frequently thereafter.” Faculty members who are scheduled for post-tenure review in the same academic year in which they apply for promotion to full professor are exempt from completing PTR during that review cycle.Their next PTR will occur in five years. However, during the initial three-year implementation period of PTR, the review clock will not reset retroactively for faculty promoted within the last five years. 

Are faculty members with administrative roles required to undergo post-tenure review?

Faculty members whose Page 2 reflects a 100% administrative workload for the entire duration of the review period are not required to undergo post-tenure review (PTR). In these cases, their administrative responsibilities are typically evaluated through the standard annual review process. However, faculty members with less than 100% administrative duties, meaning they have any assigned workload for teaching; research and scholarly and/or creative activity; or service during the review period, are included in the PTR process. The review in such cases will be appropriately adjusted to align with the workload distribution specified on their Page 2.

Do faculty members on phased retirement or who are retiring at the end of this academic year need a PTR?

Faculty on phased retirement do not require a PTR because they are no longer tenured. Faculty who have submitted an official, written notice of retirement that has been formally accepted are also exempt from PTR.

What should be included in a PTR dossier? 

According to UND’s PTR policy, “Dossier materials shall include, at a minimum, an updated curriculum vita, all annual evaluations from the period being evaluated, and up to a three-page narrative providing context for and detailing accomplishments during the period under review.” Departments and colleges may require additional materials. 

Which annual evaluations should be included in PTR dossiers, and what should be done if an annual evaluation is not available? 

UND’s PTR policy requires dossiers to include “all annual evaluations from the period being evaluated.” For faculty undergoing PTR in academic year 2026-2027, this means the dossier should include all completed and signed annual evaluations available for the review period, including the 2025–2026 annual evaluation. 

If, due to extenuating circumstances, a completed and signed annual evaluation is not available for one year in the review period, the dossier may proceed without that evaluation. In such cases, the faculty member should be evaluated based on the materials available in the dossier, including the faculty narrative, curriculum vitae, and any completed and signed annual evaluations from the review period. 

The absence of an annual evaluation should be clearly documented. The faculty member should address the missing evaluation in the narrative, including the reason it is not included if known. The department chair and/or dean should also acknowledge the missing evaluation in their evaluation narratives so that reviewers understand why the dossier does not include an annual evaluation for that year. 

Updated May 15, 2026 

Do faculty have rights of redress if they disagree with their PTR? 

Faculty members have the opportunity to review their PTR after the foundational review and the department chair, dean, and culminating committee reviews and provide a response if they choose. UND’s PTR policy states that “[i]f the faculty member believes that the outcome of a PTR or the establishment of a PIP violates a specific SBHE or University policy, procedure, or practice, the faculty member may file a faculty grievance according to SBHE Policy 612 and section II.II of the Faculty Handbook.”  

What if I have additional questions or need help?

Please contact Randi Tanglen, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, at randi.tanglen@UND.edu or 701.777.4141.