As a follow-up to MUNFA’s recent IB regarding proposed Promotion and Tenure (P&T) Guidelines being developed by the Planning and Research Committee in the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS), MUNFA’s Academic Freedom and Grievance (AF&G) Committee (SJ) continues to have concerns regarding the proposed set of draft guidelines and criteria. Concerns include the adoption of guidelines as set requirements for Promotion and Tenure assessment, a lack of clarity and confusion regarding the intent and purpose of the guidelines, and the practicality of guidelines for a faculty as diverse in programs, research and academic profile as HSS.
The AF&G Committee (SJ) has relayed these concerns to the Planning and Research Committee. While the AF&G Committee (SJ) does see some value in having guidelines available as a resource to assist ASMs in developing their P&T dossiers, it is the AF&G Committee’s recommendation that the guidelines remain as an available resource for ASMs, and that they not be adopted in any way as formal criteria through the process outlined in Clauses 10.32 and 11.16 of the Collective Agreement.
The MUNFA Executive encourages all ASMs in the Faculty of HSS to vote against any motion put forward to open these guidelines for discussion under Clause 10.32 and 11.16 of the Collective Agreement.
MUNFA has recently rolled out P&T Clinics to assist ASMs in preparing and assessing files in accordance with the Collective Agreement. It is the MUNFA Executive’s position that these types of peer-led educational workshops and resources are better suited to support colleagues in developing P&T files, especially in diverse units such as HSS.
ASMs with any questions, concerns, or comments should contact MUNFA at munfa@mun.ca.
