Chapter Twelve: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Faculty

12.0 Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) Faculty

For information on VTCSOM faculty members employed by Virginia Tech who are tenured or on the tenure-track, see chapter three, “Employment Policies for Tenure-Track and Tenured Faculty.”

VTCSOM faculty members are of two types: faculty employed by the university or faculty employed by other entities (in most cases Carilion Clinic). At all times, regardless of employer, faculty members providing instruction, academic support, or performing academic duties or roles as a VTCSOM faculty member are governed by the university’s policies and procedures.

All faculty employed by Virginia Tech, fully or in part, will be subject to employment policies stipulated in the Faculty Handbook. Faculty with assigned duties in the VTCSOM, but not employed by Virginia Tech, will be subject to the employment policies of their employer(s), but the VTCSOM will have sole responsibility for assigning duties, including discontinuation of assignments, in accordance with governance procedures stipulated in VTCSOM bylaws

Virginia Tech will award tenure to faculty members in the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine who are employed by the university through a department in the VTCSOM and whose promotion and tenure materials have been reviewed and found to meet the rigorous departmental, VTCSOM, and university standards, as defined in chapter three of this handbook.

12.1 Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine Faculty Appointments

Regular* Faculty: Regular faculty have a primary appointment to the VTCSOM in a tenure-to-title track or non-tenure-to-title track. Ranks are assistant professor, associate professor, or professor.

Regular* Primary: A primary appointment includes a substantial commitment to the education mission of the VTCSOM with regular engagement in teaching and service to the VTCSOM, and the pursuit of scholarship in medicine.

Instructional Faculty: Instructional faculty include faculty members with an adjunct appointment to the VTCSOM in the rank of adjunct assistant professor, adjunct associate professor, adjunct professor, clinical preceptors, instructors or senior instructors.

Definitions of VTCSOM Appointments

*Note: the term “regular” for VTCSOM faculty appointments is distinct from the use of the same term in chapter two of this handbook where it is used to distinguish faculty appointments with opportunity for renewal from those appointments that are “restricted” and that have an end date such as research faculty whose salaries are paid from external funding, visiting professorships or other temporarily available faculty positions.

12.2 Tenure-to-Title Track Faculty Appointments

Tenure-to-title is the conferring of permanent appointment to VTCSOM. Tenure-to-title is recognition by the VTCSOM of service and accomplishment of the faculty member and represents the expectation of continued exceptional service and accomplishment by the faculty member.

Tenure-to-title is awarded in recognition of a body of accomplishment in teaching, clinical care (if relevant), and scholarship, and in acknowledgment of service to the missions of VTCSOM. As the criteria for tenure-to-title are virtually identical to criteria for promotion, tenure-to-title typically is awarded at the time of promotion.

Tenure-to-title is granted at the discretion of the VTCSOM without any right to, interest in, or expectation of any compensation or guarantee for compensation or future employment and is granted only in the VTCSOM to individuals who are not employed by Virginia Tech.

Once conferred, tenure-to-title is subject to review by the department and school committees on appointment, retention, promotion and tenure (to title) and can be rescinded for imposition of a severe sanction or dismissal for cause.

Each VTCSOM department shall establish and communicate written guidelines for promotion and tenure- to-title for all applicable categories of appointment. Departmental guidelines must be consistent with VTCSOM and all relevant university promotion guidelines.

12.3 Department and College Evaluation for Promotions (Including Tenure-To-Title)

The tenure-to-title and/or promotion in rank dossier is reviewed at three levels: (1) by an appropriately charged departmental committee and the department head or chair, (2) by an appropriately charged college-level committee and the dean, and (3) by the provost. The department head or chair and dean make separate recommendations to the subsequent review levels. The provost reviews college and dean recommendations and makes recommendations to the president. The Board of Visitors grants final approval.

Each department will establish a committee and process with appropriate faculty representation to evaluate candidates for promotion and/or tenure-to-title sent by the chair of the department. The department chair may chair the committee or remains separate from the committee’s deliberations and subsequently receive its recommendations. A faculty member may not participate in the evaluation of a spouse, family member, or other individual with who the faculty member has a close personal relationship.

The college committee reviews the candidates recommended by the departmental committee and/or chair. The college committee makes a recommendation on each candidate to the dean. The division of the vote at both the departmental and college levels is conveyed to the provost and remains confidential.

If requested by the dean, the college committee reviews cases receiving negative recommendations by both the departmental committee and the head or chair. The purposes of the review are to verify that the recommendations are consistent with the evidence, reflect college standards, and consider the goals, objectives, and programmatic priorities of the college as components of the university’s mission.

12.4 Conflicts of Commitment and Interest

In addition to university policies, VTCSOM faculty members are, as appropriate, subject to the Standards for Commercial Support as promulgated by the Accrediting Council for Continuing Medical Education (AACME).

12.5 Additional Policy Obligations

Individuals with appointment to the VTCSOM faculty are subject to all relevant and appropriate sections of the Virginia Tech Faculty Handbook and university policies. Including Faculty Handbook section 2.11, Professional Responsibilities and Conduct; and section 3.6, “Imposition of a Severe Sanction or Dismissal for Cause”.