Annual Reviews
As described in the Faculty Handbook, every faculty member’s professional performance is evaluated annually and written feedback is provided. The process begins with submission of a faculty activity report (FAR), which forms part of the basis for performance evaluations, awarding merit adjustments, and promotion, tenure, and post-tenure reviews.
Department heads, chairs, and school directors are responsible for conducting annual faculty evaluations, either independently or in consultation with an appropriately charged committee in accordance with departmental/school procedures. All evaluations must be in writing and include a discussion of contributions and accomplishments in all areas of the faculty member’s responsibilities (e.g., teaching, research and scholarship, service, outreach, diversity and advising, as appropriate), comments on the faculty member’s plans and goals, and any recommendations for improvement or change.
Virginia Tech uses an electronic faculty activity data system to collect and manage information about research and scholarship, creative works, teaching, extension, outreach, and service activities. This system, based on Symplectic Elements, automates the production of annual faculty activity reports, promotion and tenure dossiers, and CVs, as well as department, college, and university level reports. The system also enables deposit and claiming of scholarly works in the VTechWorks institutional repository and will feed public web profiles using VT Experts.