Promotion Clock Delays

Requesting Delays in the Promotion Process

The University Handbook for Appointed Personnel covers the policies and procedures for requesting delays in promotion reviews for tenure-track faculty in 3.3.01 and for continuing-status in 4A.3.01. Delays can be requested for the birth or adoption of a child, personal reasons such as a health problem for a candidate or family member, bereavement over the loss of a child or partner, adverse professional circumstances that are beyond a candidate’s control, or a prestigious external commitment that detracts from a candidate’s research.

"The Provost has the sole authority to grant requests to extend the promotion clock for tenure-eligible faculty and continuing-status eligible professionals, based upon good cause shown for either personal reasons or professional reasons..."

How to Request Clock Delays

1. The employee submits a written request for clock delay as early as possible, after the event or circumstance that forms the basis for the request.

• Personal reasons - a delay not involving a faculty member’s individual medical condition or disability can be sent directly to the Office of the Provost for review (email: rogan@arizona.edu). For personal reasons involving your own medical condition or disability, please contact the Office of the Provost for a referral to the Disability Resource Center (DRC). Faculty members will then be asked to provide their requests and any supporting documentation directly to the DRC.
• Professional reasons require the appropriate dean and the head or director to support the request. The dean will submit the request to the Provost for consideration (email: rogan@arizona.edu).
• For more information, see UHAP 3.3.01 or 4A.3.01 policies.

How to Calculate a Promotion Schedule with an Approved Delay

When calculating the promotion review schedule, please consider the following:

• Review schedule on letter of offer.
• Promotion clock begin every fall semester.
• Count is by academic year (Aug-May) 
  • Tenure-eligible or continuing-eligible faculty who start in the spring semester will have a clock that begins in the fall of the same calendar year.
  • Tenure-eligible or continuing-eligible faculty who start November 1 or later in a calendar year will have a clock that begins in the fall of the next calendar year.

The Human Resources' Tenure Eligible/Continuing Eligible Review Date Calculator can be found here.  

Example: A faculty member hired in January 2020 requested clock delays of one-year in August 2022 and December 2023; both were approved.  Below is the adjusted promotion review schedule with the approved clock delays.

VIEW THE GUIDE TO THE PROMOTION PROCESS