1. Teaching. RC, as an undergraduate liberal arts college for women, considers excellence in teaching the primary concern and responsibility of the faculty, and the most important criterion for reappointment, tenure, and promotion. The central obligation of each faculty member is to the education of students, both in and out of the classroom. In making personnel decisions, the College must be satisfied that this obligation is being met with distinction. The identification and measurement of effective teaching in all of its aspects is complex. All relevant data may be employed, including colleague assessment and expression of student and alumnae opinion. Student evaluations contribute to the overall assessment made by professional peers and colleagues.

Academic advising is indispensable to the teaching function of a faculty member. Whatever the mechanics of the advising function (and these may change from time to time), the faculty member's responsibility for academic advising remains constant. Effective advising requires the faculty member to work actively with the student as she defines her educational objectives and plans her academic program.

2. Scholarly Activity. Members of the faculty shall demonstrate professional growth within their disciplines or programmatic areas through continued scholarly and/or artistic activity and through the making public of their competence in any number of ways. These may include preparation of articles, books, book reviews, performances, and exhibitions; the sharing of work in progress with one's professional peers; or presentations at professional conferences or symposia. Continuing scholarly or creative activity is of great importance to the continuing development of the faculty member and to the development and maintenance of excellent, effective teaching.

3. Institutional Service. It is essential that faculty at RC contribute to the intellectual life and to the effective functioning of the community. RC, like all small liberal arts colleges, relies heavily on faculty members for committee work and expects them to be involved in the governance and life of the College. Such involvement, whether at the departmental or all-college level, is an obligation of each faculty member.

4.  Special Notes. No reappointment, tenure, or promotion should be considered automatic by virtue of time in service. The only exceptions are the following:

a.  A person at the rank of Instructor will automatically be promoted to Assistant Professor upon completion of the highest expected terminal degree.

b. A person at the rank of Assistant Professor will automatically be promoted to Associate Professor on receipt of tenure.

It should be recognized that a faculty member whose performance is excellent may not be reappointed or granted tenure in cases in which financial reasons or major changes in departmental or college programs or course offerings make such reappointment or tenure inadvisable.