University of Virginia Library

Efforts Made

Following the receipt of the
departmental recommendations, and
when it can be ascertained what
fields are going to be most in need
of consideration, the Dean of the
Faculty appoints the Faculty Advisory
Committee. There are no
rules delineating how or what fields
should be represented. The Committee
is composed of five to seven
Full Professors whose judgment and
experience is respected. Every effort,
says Mr. Bower's report, is

made to infuse new blood, and
change the membership to prevent
any elitism from developing. Names
of members are kept in secret, in
order to provide dispassionate judgment
free from pressure.

The committee serves in an
advisory capacity to the Dean of
the Faculty. However, by tradition,
if the Committee decides against
recommendation for promotion,
the administration abides by that
decision. In essence, the committee
possessed a full veto.

As with the recommendation
procedure, there is a great deal of
fluidity in the committee's selection
process. The dean's discretion
rules. Both the previous and present
Dean defend this procedure as the
right and best way.

Mr. Bowers felt he could tailor
the committee to the needs of each
year as well as choosing a "hardboiled"
committee not subject to
imprudent judgment. Defending the
selection process with equal vigor,
Mr. Shannon admitted that he will
have a more difficult time selecting
people this year inasmuch as he is
new at the University and not
completely familiar with the faculty.