Subject: Committee report by the PTRAC
To: gsayre@uoregon.edu, paulvd@uoregon.edu, gwens@uoregon.edu
Cc: grierm@uoregon.edu, akwok@uoregon.edu, markj@uoregon.edu
From: Peter Gilkey
Date: Mon, 12 May 2008 15:39:53 -0700

Dear Gordon, Paul, and Gwen.

Faculty legislation mandates that the chairs of all University Committees that report to the Senate make at least one annual report every year. I had the high honor and privilege to chair the PTRAC (Promotion, Tenure, Retention, Appeal Committee) during academic 2007-8. This committee is mandated by OAR-571-003 and meets only when needed. This email will serve as our annual report.

The committee dealt with one appeal during fall 2008. Alison Kwok and Mark Johnson were the other two members of the committee who dealt with the appeal and Gwen Steigelman served as the secretary of the committee. The process is a time consuming one and Alison, Mark, and Gwen gave generously of their time in this regard. Since PTRAC appeals are confidential personnel processes, it would be inappropriate for me to divulge any details of the case we considered.

The PTRAC made recommendations to the administration concerning "peer evaluation of teaching" in regards to the promotion and tenure process. I am delighted to report that the Provost's office took those recommendations seriously and is implementing relevant previous faculty legislation on the subject.

Let me close by noting, as the chair of the PTRAC ALWAYS does, that the election procedures concerning the PTRAC are mandated by OAR-571-003 which has the force of law. And that the University of Oregon does not follow those election procedures. And that eventually that is going to get us into trouble. It is recommend therefore that either the OAR's be amended, or our election procedures be amended. Given past practice, the chair expects no action in this regard. Let me also note that Alison Kwok is the convenor of the PTRAC for 2008/9 -- the PTRAC elects its chair at the first meeting. I respectfully request that this report be posted on the Senate Web Pages.

Respectfully submitted

Peter B Gilkey Chair of the PTRAC 2007/8


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