University of Virginia Library

Department Recommendations

The manner by which a department
as a whole decides to
recommend a person is the decision
of the department itself or its
chairman. There are no rules set
forth by the administration concerning
departmental recommendations.

Along with a recommendation, a
biographical sketch, a publication
list, and reasons why promotion is
merited, a departmental "estimate
(based on ascertained concrete
evidence) of the candidate's teaching
as well as scholarly abilities,
with an analysis of the quality of
his work" is submitted. Other
aspects of merit concerning the
candidate which are not clearly
evident are usually provided by the
Department.

Both Mr. Shannon and Mr.
Bowers contend that there is
sufficient means for a faculty
member who does not get along
with his department chairman to be
considered for promotion. Mr.
Bowers indicated that he knew of
no situation ever occurring at the
University in which a faculty
member related so poorly to his
chairman that the chairman would
not recommend him. However, Mr.
Shannon stated that such a situation,
if it did arise, would not
necessarily hurt the candidate, she
and an advisory committee would
certainly investigate the source of
conflict.