How to Stop a Tenure Clock

College and university professors are often eligible to apply for tenure after six years of teaching and research, and tenure committees evaluate whether or not candidates have fulfilled the requirements for tenure. What happens when a professor needs more time to prepare for a tenure application because of personal situations, such as having a baby or caring for an elderly parent? Many schools have procedures for "stopping the tenure clock" to allow for these special circumstances.

Things You'll Need

  • Faculty handbook
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Instructions

    • 1

      Read the faculty handbook for your school to learn what the specific requirements are concerning tenure. Schools vary in determining when and why a professor may be eligible to stop the tenure clock.

    • 2

      Make an appointment with your chair or dean (depending on who is your direct superior) to discuss your situation. Bring your faculty handbook with you and make sure that the advice you receive matches the procedure indicated in the handbook.

    • 3

      Clarify with your chair or dean how the tenure committee will understand that your tenure clock has been stopped. For example, if the normal time before applying for tenure is six years, you should only be required to demonstrate six years worth of work, even if seven years pass before you apply. Ask for a letter to be placed in your file that states this expectation specifically.

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