Article 9.1.2.4 of the 2021-2026 AAUP Master Agreement

9.1.2.4 Merit Awards

9.1.2.4.1     Merit awards may be distributed by the PVPAA. These awards will be made according to the criteria published by the PVPAA. Nominations for the awards can be made by an individual faculty member, the departmental faculty, or the department head to the dean of the faculty member’s college. The Association will be notified in writing of merit awards. The Board’s decisions in making these individual merit awards shall not be grievable.

9.1.2.4.2     Faculty who have held the rank of Professor for at least nine (9) fall and winter semesters may apply for merit awards in the amount of $5,000 not to base. Faculty are eligible to receive merit awards once every five (5) years. Criteria for such an award are the same as those required to earn promotion to the rank of Professor as specified in Article V of this agreement and departmental bylaws using an evaluation period that begins at the time of successful application for promotion to the rank of Professor, or since the last successful application for this type of merit. The application will consist of the regular five-(5)-year evaluation materials and a current curriculum vitae. If more than five (5) years have passed since a successful application for promotion to Professor or the last application for a merit award, the faculty member may include in their application all years since their successful application for promotion to Professor or their previous merit award.

Faculty will submit applications to their departmental evaluation committee by February 1. The evaluation committee will deliver its evaluations of proposals to the FRC by April 1. The FRC will make a recommendation for merit awards to the PVPAA by April 15. Merit awards will be announced by the PVPAA by April 25 and will appear in the last paycheck of the winter semester.

No provision of this Article shall be interpreted so as to compel the University to make more than 8 merit awards per year.

Timeline

Due date to department evaluation committees: February 1

Due date of evaluations of proposals to Faculty Review Committee (FRC): April 1

FRC recommendations to the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs: April 15

Awards announced by the Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs: April 25

 

Questions?

Contact the AAUP at 227-1602 or by visiting their website.

Eligibility

Faculty who have held the rank of Professor for five years may apply for the Merit Award. Faculty can reapply every year if unsuccessful but must wait five years to reapply after a successful application. Criteria for the Merit Award are the same as those required to earn a promotion to the rank of Professor.

Award Information

  1. Applicants must be in rank of Professor for a minimum of five years.
  2. Faculty are eligible to receive merit awards once every five years.
  3. Applicants must have met the criteria for promotion to the rank of Professor during the evaluation period, as specified in the Agreement and department bylaws. The evaluation period begins at the time of successful application for promotion to the rank of Professor, or since the last successful application for this type of merit.

Application Instructions

Applications for the Merit Award consists of the regular 5-year faculty evaluation materials (eight-page limit) and a current curriculum vitae. Applications must be submitted to the department no later than February 1. Department evaluation committees must submit recommendations to the Faculty Review Committee by April 1.