Office of the Provost

For Tenure-Track and Tenured Faculty

The tenured faculty of each academic unit shall formulate specific written criteria and procedures for tenure and promotion that are consistent with the University of South Carolina's commitment to achievement in research (including scholarship, creative activity in visual and performing arts), teaching, and service.

The criteria and procedures shall clearly communicate to faculty members the unit's expectations concerning scholarly productivity, including the nature and quality of scholarly activities necessary to attain tenure and promotion. These criteria and procedures must be consistent with the Faculty Manual and the guidelines established by the University Committee on Tenure and Promotions (UCTP). In the event of inconsistency between UCTP guidelines [pdf] and the Faculty Manual, the Faculty Manual is to be considered the final authority.

Proposed Unit Criteria

Academic units submitting proposed unit criteria may upload those documents for review on the Submit Unit Criteria submission portal.

Current Unit Criteria

Tenure and promotion and post-tenure criteria and procedures can be viewed below by each college and department. Please note that only current criteria are listed. Previous versions of unit criteria and procedures can be found in individual units and/or colleges and schools.

Academic Units Criteria and Procedures for Tenure-Track and Tenured Faculty

Expand the sections below to access unit criteria documents in PDF format.

• McCausland College of Arts and Sciences

  African American Studies

  January 2024 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (under development)

  Anthropology

  October 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  October 2005 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Art

  April 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 2004 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  February 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  1976 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Biological Sciences

  April 2015 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  December 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (2012)
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (1999)

  Chemistry and Biochemistry

  May 2017 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  November 2004 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Criminology and Criminal Justice

  April 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2007 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 2003 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1998 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (2016)
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (1999)

  Earth, Ocean and Environment (formerly Geological Sciences)

  February 2017 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  December 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (2018)
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (1999)

  English Language and Literature

  May 2016 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2005 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 1996 Criteria for Promotion to Professor
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  French and Classics

  January 1996 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Geography

  September 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2006 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 1996 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (2022)
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (1999)

  Germanic, Slavic and East Asian Languages and Literatures

  April 2001 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  February 1998 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  History

  March 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2011 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 2004 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

  December 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2003 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Mathematics

  May 2017 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2005 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  July 1990 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Philosophy

  October 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2004 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1993 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Physics and Astronomy

  October 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2000 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Political Science

  May 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Psychology

  November 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Religious Studies

  April 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2008 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2005 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Sociology

  March 2014 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 2003 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Spanish, Italian, and Portuguese

  January 1996 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Statistics

  December 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  November 2003 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Theater and Dance

  March 2003 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Women's and Gender Studies

  January 2024 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• Moore School of Business

  Accounting

  April 2014 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Economics

  April 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  December 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Finance

  May 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2006 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 2000 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  International Business

  March 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2000 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Management

  April 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2004 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Management Science

  April 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  December 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Marketing

  April 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2007 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 1998 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• College of Education

  Educational Leadership and Policies

  October 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2004 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Educational Studies

  October 2013 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  June 2001 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (approved Jan. 15, 1999)

  Instruction and Teacher Education

  March 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2017 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2007 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2000 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Physical Education

  March 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  December 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing

  Biomedical Engineering

  November 2024 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures
  

  Chemical Engineering

  December 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 2000 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Civil and Environmental Engineering

  March 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2000 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Computer Science and Engineering

  May 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  February 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Electrical Engineering

  February 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures 
  March 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Integrated Information Technology

  April 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Mechanical Engineering

  April 2025 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  December 2012 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 1996 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• College of Hospitality, Retail, and Sport Management

  Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management

  October 2007 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  October 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Hotel, Restaurant and Tourism Management

  March 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  HRTM Post-Tenure Review Criteria

  Retail Department

  April 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Sport and Entertainment Management

  March 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  SPTE Post-Tenure Review Criteria

• College of Information and Communications

  School of Information Science

  January 2025 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2011 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  November 1997 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  School of Journalism and Mass Communications

  April 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 2011 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 1991 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures (approved Jan. 9, 1999)

• Joseph F. Rice School of Law

  Clinical Legal Studies

  April 2001 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Law Library

  June 2017 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  January 2002 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Legal Studies

  November 2017 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2001 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• Floyd School of Medicine

  Clinical Unit

  April 2017 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  September 1982 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Basic Science

  April 2025 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  February 2018 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2009 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 2000 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  November 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  February 1992 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  September 1982 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Medical Library

  November 2024 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  October 2001 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  May 1981 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

• School of Medicine Greenville

  July 2014 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

• School of Music

  February 2016 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  July 2006 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  November 1974 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• College of Nursing

  April 2026 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2011 Tenure and Promotion Review, Post-Tenure Review, and Tenure Track/Tenured Faculty Annual Review Criteria and Procedures
  February 2003 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2001 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 1994 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• College of Pharmacy

  May 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2005 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 1991 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• Arnold School of Public Health

  April 2019 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2009 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 1999 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• College of Social Work

  November 2015 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  March 2010 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  April 2001 Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures
  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• University Libraries

  March 2026 Tenure Criteria and Procedures
  March 2012 Tenure Criteria and Procedures
  May 2001 Tenure Criteria and Procedures

System Campuses Criteria and Procedures

• Palmetto College Campuses

  For tenure and promotion and post-tenure review criteria and procedures, please see the current edition of thePalmetto College Campuses Faculty Manual.

• USC Aiken

  School of Business Administration

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  School of Education

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  School of Nursing

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Library

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Biology and Geology

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Chemistry and Physics

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Communications

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of English

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Exercise and Sports Science

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of History, Political Science and Philosophy

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Mathematical Sciences

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Psychology

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Sociology

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Department of Visual and Performing Arts

  Tenure and Promotion Criteria and Procedures

  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• USC Beaufort

  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures

• USC Upstate

  Post-Tenure Criteria and Procedures