The probationary period refers to the period of time at the end of which a tenure-track faculty member is put up for tenure. A tenure-track assistant professor must be reviewed no later than the sixth year of the probationary period and individuals appointed to the associate professor or professor ranks without tenure must be reviewed no later than the third year of their probationary period.

For example: A tenure-track assistant professor (with no probationary period extensions) who started in rank at UT Austin at the start of the 2017-18 academic year (AY2017-18) would be reviewed no later than AY2022-23.

One year of probationary service is accrued by at least two long sessions (fall and spring semesters) of full-time academic service during an academic year. An academic year is defined as starting September 1 and ending on August 31 of the following calendar year (e.g., 9/1/22 to 8/31/23).  When a faculty member works a partial year (e.g. a faculty member begins their appointment in January) or is on a leave of absence (e.g. leave without pay) for any part of the year, that time does not count as a year of probationary service.

For example: A tenure-track assistant professor might start in rank at UT Austin in January, (spring semester), 2021. Their first full probationary year of service would then start in fall, 2020 and that full year would be AY2021-22.

In a layperson’s terms, a probationary period extension is a tenure clock extension. A year during which an extension is applied does not count toward the maximum number of years allowed for the probationary period. As noted above, a tenure-track assistant professor must be reviewed no later than the sixth year of the probationary period.  And individuals appointed to the associate professor or professor ranks without tenure must be reviewed no later than the third year of the probationary period.

For example: A tenure-track assistant professor starting at UT Austin in fall, 2016 and who receives one probationary period extension, must be reviewed no later than during the 2022-23 academic year. Without the probationary period extension, this tenure-track faculty member would have to be reviewed for tenure no later than the 2021-22 academic year.

All tenure-track faculty are eligible to extend their probationary period for up to two years due to personal circumstances. In addition, tenure-track faculty hired on or before May 31, 2022, for whom one of their probationary period years included AY 2019-20 or AY 2020-21 or AY 2021-22, are eligible to extend their probationary period one year due to the negative impact of COVID-19.

Yes, but with one important consideration.  Tenure-track faculty in the Dell Medical School are reviewed no later than their 7th year of probationary service regardless of whether they are tenure-track assistant or tenure-track associate professor.

As detailed in the HOP 2-2020: “Personal circumstances that may justify the extension include, but are not restricted to: disability or illness of the faculty member; status of the faculty member as the principal caregiver of a preschool child; or, status of the faculty member as a principal caregiver of a disabled, elderly, or ill member of the family of the faculty member”.

As detailed in HOP 2-2020, requests for a probationary period extension must be submitted to the department chair (or dean in non-departmentalized colleges/schools). “It is the responsibility of the faculty member to provide appropriate documentation to adequately demonstrate why the request should be granted. The documentation should include substantiation of why the circumstance placed an unreasonable burden upon the ability of the faculty member to meet progress expectations.”

The probationary period extension request must be made no later than the end of the spring semester (i.e. by May 31st) before the faculty member’s mandatory tenure review year.

For example: If the 2022-23 academic year is the tenure-track faculty member’s final year of their probationary period during which they must be reviewed for tenure, then the faculty member must submit a request for the probationary period extension by May 31, 2022.

The decision of the Executive Vice President and Provost will be made within five working days of their receipt of the request and all appropriate documentation unless exceptional circumstances mandate additional time for consideration.

Tenure candidates whose probationary period has been extended under HOP 2-2020 or due to leave without pay in accordance with university family and medical leave policies shall be evaluated as if the work were done in the normal period of service (e.g., six years for tenure-track assistant; three years for other tenure-track ranks).

Yes, you can rescind (cancel) a probationary period extension if rescinded using the appropriate process including meeting the relevant deadline.

A request to rescind an approved probationary period extension must be submitted in writing to the department chair (or dean in non-departmentalized College/School) no later than February 1st of the calendar year associated with the candidate’s intended fall promotion review.

For example: If a tenure-track assistant professor who joined UT-Austin faculty in that rank in fall, 2018 received one probationary period extension, then they would be up for review at the latest in fall, 2024. If the faculty member instead chooses to rescind the extension in order to be reviewed in fall 2023, the request to rescind must be received not later than February 1, 2023 before the promotion review academic year 2023-24.

Under normal circumstances, yes, there is a maximum of two probationary period extensions allowed for certain personal circumstances (as described in the policy) before tenure review. However, an extension to the probationary period that is needed due to the negative impact of COVID-19 on scholarly and creative productivity may be requested and approved outside of the maximum allowed for certain personal circumstances.

Please discuss any questions you might have about a possible probationary period extension with your department chair or dean. And feel free to reach out to the Academic Personnel Services team in the Provost’s office with any questions.

Yes, the provost’s office will approve requests for a probationary extension due to the negative impact of COVID-19 on scholarly and creativity productivity for any tenure-track faculty member. Note that the request must be formally submitted and follow the relevant deadlines and procedures.

As detailed in HOP 2-2020, requests for a probationary period extension must be submitted to the department chair (or dean in non-departmentalized colleges/schools). “It is the responsibility of the faculty member to provide appropriate documentation to adequately demonstrate why the request should be granted. The documentation should include substantiation of why the circumstance placed an unreasonable burden upon the ability of the faculty member to meet progress expectations.”

All tenure-track faculty for whom one of their probationary period years included AY 2019-20 or AY 2020-21 or AY 2021-22 and who were hired on or before May 31, 2022.

The request must be made no later than the end of the spring semester (i.e. May 31st) before the faculty member’s required tenure review year.

For example: If the 2022-23 academic year is the tenure-track faculty member’s final year of their probationary period during which they must be reviewed for tenure, then the faculty member must submit a request for the probationary period extension by May 31, 2022.

Yes

Yes. A COVID-19 probationary period extension is not counted in the maximum of two extensions due to personal circumstances that are allowed under HOP 2-2020.

Yes. A COVID-19 probationary period extension is not counted in the maximum of two due to personal circumstances that are allowed under HOP 2-2020