University Tenure Committee

The University Tenure Committee at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) is a vital pillar of academic integrity. It is responsible for guiding and advising on faculty tenure decisions across all six colleges. Comprised of experienced tenured faculty from diverse disciplines, the committee ensures that tenure recommendations align with the highest standards of academic excellence, fairness, and institutional values.

Tenure is more than a professional milestone. It's a long-term investment in the educators, researchers, and clinicians who power MUSC. This committee plays a crucial role in ensuring that those awarded tenure meet the rigorous expectations of MUSC and contribute meaningfully to its future.

What We Do

The University Tenure Committee is a university-level standing committee that operates in an advisory capacity to the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. Its core responsibilities include:

• Reviewing tenure recommendations submitted by each of MUSC's colleges.
• Evaluating university-wide criteria for tenure and recommending updates as needed to ensure alignment with evolving academic standards.
• Providing guidance on matters related to faculty rank when requested.
• Advising the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost on all tenure-related matters that impact the academic trajectory of the institution.

The committee meets approximately two weeks before each regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees and as needed throughout the academic year.

Membership

The committee comprises 13 tenured faculty members, each appointed to represent the diverse academic strengths of the university. At least one member is selected from each of the following:

• College of Dental Medicine
• College of Health Professions
• College of Medicine
  • Basic Sciences
  • Clinical Sciences
• College of Nursing
• College of Pharmacy

Members are appointed for three-year terms, with staggered rotation to maintain institutional memory. Appointments are made in writing by the Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost, who also serves as a non-voting Chair, except in the event of a tie.

Nominations for committee membership are sourced evenly from the Faculty Senate, Academic Deans Council, and the Office of the Provost. To maintain neutrality and objectivity, no college dean may serve on the committee.

Why It Matters

Tenure represents one of the most significant decisions in a faculty member's career and is one of the most enduring commitments made by a university. Through a consistent, objective, and equitable process, the University Tenure Committee safeguards the integrity of MUSC's academic standards.

The committee's work ensures that tenure is granted to individuals whose contributions support MUSC's mission to educate future health professionals, conduct groundbreaking research, and improve lives through innovation and service. This process also strengthens the university's reputation, promotes a culture of excellence, and enhances its ability to recruit and retain top-tier faculty.

By upholding these standards, the University Tenure Committee plays an essential role in shaping the academic legacy of MUSC and securing its future as a leader in health sciences education.