Pre-Tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program to support faculty promotion, advancement
From: Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, Faculty Affairs
The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost, in coordination with Faculty Affairs and the academic colleges, has created the Pre-Tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program. It is designed to help mitigate the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on faculty advancement by providing funding for course relief.
Pre-tenure, tenure track faculty impacted by pandemic-related factors, such as an increase in time devoted to instruction; unexpected care obligations; delays in research, scholarly, creative, or extension opportunities; changes in areas of research emphasis by federal agencies and other research sponsors; and damage to reputation building due to reduced professional opportunities are eligible to apply for a one-course buyout in one semester.
The Provost’s Office will provide up to $5,000 in matching funds to the faculty member’s college or department for a one-course buyout to be used prior to their mandatory promotion and tenure year. The goal of the program is to allow additional time for these faculty (hired prior to academic year 2022-23) to focus on their research programs as they prepare for promotion and tenure.
“This program is an investment in faculty scholarship and is critical to strengthening our academic mission,” said Provost Cyril Clarke. “It is important that we continue to be responsive to the needs of pre-tenure faculty so they can progress in their careers and advance Virginia Tech’s institutional goals and international impacts.”
Requests for spring 2023 course buyouts are due to Faculty Affairs by Oct. 15, 2022. Requests for fall 2023 or spring 2024 course buyouts are due to Faculty Affairs by Jan. 31, 2023. Applications require approval by the faculty member’s department head and dean.
For more information, eligibility criteria and the application form, please visit the Pre-Tenure Pandemic Course Relief Program webpage. Questions may be directed via email to Faculty Affairs.