Abstract
This article delineates a department chair perspective on promotion and tenure deliberations in communication studies, portraying the evaluation process as a rhetorical practice that reconciles honest appraisal with institutional advocacy. It presents three essential steps. First, chairs conduct comprehensive annual reviews of untenured faculty, producing documented feedback that clarifies expectations for teaching, research, advising, and service. Second, accumulated reports demonstrate sustained professional growth, justifying future institutional investment. Third, when recommending promotion and tenure, chairs craft a strategic cover letter that foregrounds departmental needs and candidate strengths while addressing weaknesses with balanced argument. Drawing on administrative experience, the discussion stresses evidence based persuasion, audience adaptation, and clear prose as decisive factors in faculty advancement. By integrating performance review, leadership communication, and policy analysis, this article supplies practical guidance for chairs navigating complex academic governance.
Recommended Citation
Harper, Nancy L.
(1991)
"A Department Chair's Perspective: Promotion and Tenure,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 75, Article 4.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol75/iss1/4
