Suggestions for Dossiers

General Suggestions

Confidentiality

The P & T/CS & P processes are to be strictly confidential. That means that all individuals handling parts of the dossier should take care great to maintain confidentiality at every step of the preparation process (including photocopying). The candidates should not see the letters from outside evaluators, the list of evaluators, or the letters of recommendation from the unit faculty status (i.e., peer) committee or the unit head.

Model dossier

Each unit may consider keeping a model dossier on file for information purposes. A model dossier can reduce the mystique of the dossier and give assistance to candidates when writing the statement.
The model dossier should include only sections that are not strictly confidential. In other words, it would be appropriate to include in the model dossier the summary data sheet, the workload statement/job description, the unit P & T/CS & P criteria, the Curriculum Vitae and Candidate Statement, and sections on evaluation of teaching and/or outreach.
In all cases, the model dossier should not be made public without the express approval of the candidate.
In no case should any confidential material be made available in the model dossier.

Follow instructions

The Office of the Provost issues instructions and templates that should be followed precisely. The request for precision is not a form of torture but a fairly straightforward request for uniformity in information because the college and university committees have many cases to evaluate. Uniformity assists the committee members in their evaluation processes. If there is a request for information, however, that does not apply to the candidate (e.g., information on media in curriculum vitae), then the candidate does not need to include the section.

Readability

The dossier should be readable. That means that the graphical design should promote ease of reading. For example, use 12 point in a standard font and use appropriate section markers. In addition, because many individuals from outside one's discipline or field will read and evaluate the dossier, make the text jargon free and do not use abbreviations or acronyms without first using the full names or text.

Questions

If you have questions on the promotion and tenure/continuing status and promotion processes, the P & T/CS & P dossier or changes to the tenure clock, please contact the SBS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs or Anna Elias-Cesnik, the Senior Associate to the Vice Provost for Academic Affairs.