Stanford's policy and process related to promotions and tenure are described in the Faculty Handbook.
Junior faculty members who are in the University Tenure-Line are invited to a number of annual events with the Provost related to tenure at Stanford. Every winter, the Provost leads a workshop where he describes the tenure review process. Resource faculty, as well as others who are recently tenured, join the conversation, and share their perspective and experience with the process.
Additionally, junior faculty members who are coming up for a tenure review are invited to Lunch with the Provost before the end of each academic year.
School of Humanities and Sciences
Promotion to Tenure (Tenure Line)
See Section from the School of Humanities and Sciences Faculty Handbook
Junior Faculty Leave Program
Tenure-track assistant professors in the School of Humanities and Sciences who are re-appointed to a second term may take a full year of sabbatical at 100% pay (on the nine-month base salary) during their fifth or sixth year. The intent of this program is to provide every re-appointed assistant professor with a full year of leave to enhance the preparation for tenure review and to provide a period of time for pure research leave. Read more about the Junior Faculty Leave Program - Policy.
School of Medicine - Office of Academic Affairs
Resources for Assistant Professors
Dedicated page within the SoM's OAA site that includes key information on counseling and junior faculty mentoring, flexible work arrangements, and other similar resources. See more Resources for Assistant Professors.
Office of the Provost - Faculty Affairs
Faculty Handbook
In addition to the School-specific policy, Stanford's Faculty Handbook includes University policies for the professoriate, including those related to promotions, reappointment and sabbatical leaves.
New & Pre-tenure Faculty
Providing support, guidance, advice and feedback to junior faculty is a high priority for Stanford University. The University hires the best and brightest junior faculty and is committed to providing opportunities and resources that would help them develop into outstanding scholars, teachers, and clinicians. The policies and practices described in this section are intended to assist each faculty member in launching a successful academic career.
There is variation across the university in how this support and guidance are provided, and the university does not mandate a particular methodology. However, it is expected that counseling and mentoring will occur on a regular basis for tenure-track junior faculty members, and that they will take advantage of the professional resources and support offered to them through various offices on campus.
These guidelines outline the general expectations for the kinds of support, advice and feedback junior faculty should receive. Faculty members with questions in this area should consult their department chair or dean.
For the most current version of this information, please consult Chapter 2, Section 8A of the Faculty Handbook.
Getting Through the Tenure Process Discussion Group
A professionally-facilitated small discussion group to learn of strategies for finding balance, reducing stress, optimizing your time and getting support during the tenure track years. Group size is limited to 8-10 people. A brief telephone interview is required prior to participation.
Spring Quarter 2016: The group will meet on April 22, 29 and on May 6 and 13, from 12 noon - 1pm at the Keck Science Building, 380 Roth Way, Room 187. Lunch will be provided.
Facilitators: Susan Owicki, MA, PhD, Marriage and Family Therapist and Ximena Zurita, PhD, Psychologist
To RSVP, email Susan Owicki: sowicki@stanford.edu.
Susan Owicki is a Marriage and Family Therapist at the Faculty/Staff Help Center, where she counsels faculty and other Stanford employees dealing with personal and professional issues. Before becoming an MFT, she spent ten years on the faculty of Stanford’s Electrical Engineering Department, and 15 years in industrial research and development. She has a PhD in Computer Science from Cornell and an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Santa Clara University
Ximena Zurita is a Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist, also at the Stanford Faculty/Staff Help Center. In addition, she has a private practice in Los Altos. She counsels faculty and staff on a variety of issues and supervises interns at the Center. She has a PhD from Palo Alto University.
Free and open to all tenure-track faculty of Stanford University, Stanford Hospital and clinics. For more information about the Help Center’s free and confidential counseling services for faculty and staff, visit our website at www.stanford.edu/dept/helpcenter
