A Q contract is an initial, non-tenured appointment
for faculty who join the University as an associate professor or professor.
It is only relevant to the Academic (RT) and Academic (CT) Tracks. It
may be desirable to appoint a new faculty member on a Q contract when
an individual is at a senior level but has experience or credentials
which are not the norm for the College or which make the option of offering
immediate tenure inadvisable. Although Q contracts may be written for
one, two, or three years, the full three year Q appointment is strongly
recommended. During the promotion and tenure cycle of the final year
of the Q contract, the faculty member is normally reviewed for tenure.
Other options include petitioning for an additional three years (requires Provost's approval) or allowing the Q contract to expire without continued employment. The terms
of a Q appointment should be included in the letter of offer.
Process for Q-Contract Recommendations
A two-tiered process for the review of Q contracts has been approved
by the College of Medicine. The intent is to streamline the process
for those Q appointments that represent a parallel move from the last
position of the faculty member being appointed. For Q appointments
that represent a promotion from the last position, the current requirements
are still in place.
Specifically:
1) All Q-contract proposals which represent a promotion of some
kind will continue to require a full promotions and tenure packet
and traditional review by the Faculty Appointments, Promotions and
Tenure Committee and the College Executive Committee.
Examples of cases requiring a full review:
- A new hire who is currently a tenure-track Assistant Professor
at another institution and is proposed for appointment at UIC
as Associate Professor on a Q contract.
- A new hire who is currently a tenured Associate Professor at
another institution and is proposed for appointment at UIC as
Professor on a Q contract.
- A new hire who currently holds a non-tenurable position as
Associate Professor at another institution and is proposed as
Associate Professor on a Q contract in a tenurable position.
2) Appointments involving a parallel move from a tenured or tenurable
position into a Q contract at the same rank are permitted to undergo
an expedited review. The packet for an expedited Q contract review
is available here. Required documentation includes a current CV providing
detailed information on teaching/service/and research activitie,
a personal statement from the candidate describing his or her activities
and philosophical perspectives for teaching, research and service,
and a minimum of three letters of reference from full professors
able to speak with personal knowledge to the candidate's research,
teaching and clinical skills or other service as applicable, as
well as his or her professional stature in the discipline.
These materials should be submitted to the Office of Faculty Affairs
for review by the Faculty, Appointments, Promotions and Tenure Committee
and the College Executive Committee. The actions of both of these
committees are taken under advisement by the Dean who makes the
final recommendation. If the abbreviated materials prompt a negative
review by either of the College committees, the department head
has the option of a second review following submission of a complete
promotions and tenure packet.
3) The process for awarding tenure following a Q contract period
for all candidates remains as it is now - a full packet taken through
the College level review as well as review by the all-campus Promotion
and Tenure Committee, the Provost, the Chancellor, and the Board
of Trustees.
Approved by the College Executive Committee, 2/15/06
If you have any questions, please contact the Office
of Faculty Affairs.
