The Second Year Review

 

“For candidates on a four-year tenure-track appointment, an evaluation shall be conducted during the fall semester of the second year of teaching at Bates. This evaluation is not conducted by the Committee on Personnel.”

Article III Section 1a(iii) of the Faculty Handbook

The second year review, then, is a mentoring moment when the candidate gets to know the members of their evaluation committee, the evaluation committee gets to know the candidate, and the candidate learns about Bates’ reappointment and tenure processes.

Forming the Evaluation Committee

Article II Section 4a(ii)(a) details the selection of the candidates’ evaluators. Together, these evaluators are referred to as the candidates’ committee throughout this document. Before the beginning of the candidates’ initial tenure track contract, the Dean of the Faculty will work with the evaluation committee to identify a colleague who can organize the work of the group (i.e., a convenor of the committee) throughout the arc of the candidate’s review processes.

Information Produced by the Candidate

The candidate must provide adequate materials for the committee so that it can provide useful guidance to the candidate as they begin their career at Bates. A full dossier is not typically required during the second year review. Rather, candidates are asked to share an updated CV, scholarly products, and a narrative of up to 3 pages describing their current and planned approaches to teaching and scholarship. While committee members are not required to visit classes as part of the evaluative process, candidates may appreciate feedback regarding their in-class teaching. Each committee should discuss the role that class visits will play in the second year review, with input from the candidate. If it is decided all or some of the committee will provide feedback on in-class teaching, candidates will share a list of classes available for observation during the fall semester of their second year with the committee. All candidates will provide syllabi from courses they have taught in their first year at Bates.

Information Gathered by the Committee

The committee will review the candidate’s materials with the goal of providing guidance and feedback intended to help the candidate as they prepare for their third year review. The committee will receive from the Dean of the Faculty’s Office the candidate’s first-year activities report. Committee members will work with candidates to schedule class observations during the fall semester of their second year with a minimum of 2 weeks notice.

The Schedule and Process of the Second Year Review

As indicated above, the committee will be formed prior to the beginning of the candidate’s tenure track contract. The remaining steps follow the schedule described below:


  • Short Term of the Candidate’s First Year of Teaching: The committee will meet to discuss their expectations for the candidate and the advice they want to give the candidate as they look to prepare their second year review materials. These expectations and advice will be written down, kept by the convener of the committee, and produced at the request of the Dean of the Faculty.
  • Fall semester of the Candidate’s Second Year: The candidate will make the materials described above available to the committee by the 1st of Novemberof that calendar year.
  • Fall semester of the Candidate’s Second Year: The committee will meet with the candidate to discuss the review process and to arrange to visit classrooms during the fall semester.
  • Late Fall of the Candidate’s Second Year: By November 15 the committee will meet to discuss the feedback and advice they want to give the candidate as part of the review. This should occur after the committee has reviewed the materials provided by the candidate and the Dean of the Faculty’s Office as well as any observations of the candidate’s teaching, 
  • December 1 of the Candidate’s Second Year: By this date, the committee members submit their letters of assessment to the convener of the committee. The convenor shares the letters with the candidate and the chair of the academic unit.
  • December 20 of the Candidate’s Second Year:  By this date, the convener meets with the candidate to discuss the feedback from the committee. The convener then writes a letter to the Dean of the Faculty indicating that the candidate’s second year review is complete.