1. Purpose

   This policy ensures compliance with the requirements of section 3345.454 of the Revised Code , which mandates that each state institution of higher education develop a policy for faculty tenure.

2. Scope

   This policy applies to all tenure-track faculty at Ohio university, including those in all academic departments, schools, and colleges offering tenure-eligible appointments.

3. Policy statement

   1. Considerations 

      Tenure is awarded to those individuals whose records indicate that they are likely to continue to make significant positive contributions to the academic life of the university throughout their professional careers, in accordance with department/school/college policy.

   2. Differential workload distributions

      Tenure track faculty may be hired on differential workload distributions as appropriate to meet the needs of the department/school, but all should contribute to the teaching, research and service missions of the university. 

   3. Eligibility

      Eligibility for tenure shall be determined by the department concerned and is reserved for those who are engaged in academic activities, including research, and/or scholarly activity, and/or creative activity (of which any may include activities leading to commercialization), teaching, and service.

   4. Criteria

      The criteria used to make decisions on promotion and tenure must originate in the department or school in consultation with the dean. The faculty should review these criteria periodically in consultation with the dean of the college.

   5. Pathways

      Consistent with differential workload distributions, departments and schools should offer multiple pathways, one of which may be a commercialization pathway, for faculty to earn tenure. Pathways should promote excellence in teaching, research, service, commercialization, or any combination thereof.

   6. Authority 

      Tenure shall be granted by the president upon recommendation of the department, the dean involved, and the provost of the university. Under exceptional circumstances, tenure may be granted by the president to a person who is newly appointed to an administrative position at Ohio university and who has not been previously a member of the Ohio university faculty. Such a grant of tenure must have been approved by the department concerned, the dean concerned, and the provost of the university.

Forms, References, and History

1. Forms

   There are no forms specific to this policy.

2. References

   There are no references relevant to this policy. 

3. History

   Draft versions of this policy that were circulated for review, their cover memos, their forms, and Reviewers' comments on them are available on the password-protected Review site.

   The only prior version of this policy was approved on June 13, 2025.