Tenure is designed to be a rigorous, objective, peer-driven process in which specific criteria regarding the performance of each candidate is considered to evaluate the capacity and likelihood for continued intellectual, scholarly and professional vitality — using methods customary in higher education outlined in the Faculty Handbook.

Each faculty member applying for tenure is evaluated in specific areas by colleagues at the department and school levels, and by a minimum of three reviewers outside of the institution qualified to review the faculty member’s qualifications. Peer and student evaluations of teaching are taken into consideration. Reviewers use criteria that have been agreed upon both by faculty and senior administrators in the documents governing promotion and tenure. Effectiveness is measured in at least two of the following areas: teaching; scholarly activities; and service activities (See Section 2.10 of the UAB Faculty Handbook):

• Effectiveness as a Teacher: Effectiveness as a teacher can be demonstrated by a review of the following considerations: the individual’s knowledge of a subject field, including current developments in that field, and the ability to develop effective curriculum materials, to organize and effectively present course work, to motivate student interest and participation, and to contribute significantly to the academic progress of students.
• Effectiveness in Scholarly Activities: Although scholarly work takes many forms, including design, basic and applied research, and other creative activities, a faculty member’s effectiveness can be demonstrated by such achievements as publications, fine arts creations, personal presentations of formal papers, artistic performances, patents, and the like. The quality of the individual’s scholarly work, capacity for independent thought, originality, and products of scholarship must be addressed.
• Effectiveness in Service Activities: Service functions can be those performed for UAB, the Birmingham community, the state of Alabama, and regional, national, or international groups. Service may include such activities as participation in committee work, fulfillment of administrative assignments, contributions to the improvement of student and faculty life, faculty consultation within or outside UAB, and professional service.

Faculty seeking tenure submit a detailed dossier providing documentation on how their teaching and scholarly activities and service meet the criteria for tenure. A review is provided within their school or college including the outside reviewers. Peer recommendations and feedback are sought because they are the subject matter experts and/or close to the actual performance of faculty members.

At a public university like UAB, faculty are entitled to academic freedom and constitutional rights to free speech and association, including in the review for purposes of promotion and tenure. The UAB Faculty Handbook provides that when exercising these rights, faculty should make it clear that they speak only for themselves and not for the institution. In the classroom, faculty are entitled to freedom in discussing their subject, but are cautioned not to introduce into their teaching controversial matter which has no relation to their subject.