Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences
Tohoku University

FRIS Regulations pertaining to the tenure track system

Regulations pertaining to the tenure track system of the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University

Enacted May 14, 2019
Authorized by the Director
 
(Preamble)
Article1 These regulations stipulate the requirements of the tenure track system of the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tohoku University (hereafter “the Institute”), based on the “Establishment of promising youth researcher development system with the Frontier Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Sciences” (approved by the Departmental Liaison Committee and the Education and Research Council, September 18, 2018).
 
(Purpose)
Article 2  These regulations are intended to promote the employment of world-class young teaching staff reaching the end of their fixed term of employment at the Institute, or having reached the end of their fixed term of employment, at other departments of the University, to enable those staff to continue top-level research in the independent research environment of this University.
 
(Definition)
Article 3  The following terms used in these regulations are hereby defined:
  1. Tenure track system - The system whereby the research performance, etc. of teaching staff on fixed-term contracts is reviewed by the end of their contractual term and under which those deemed to have performed with excellence, and who meet the criteria of the recruitment plans of their mentor department as defined in (4) below or other relevant department, are re-employed by that department following the end of their contract or before their contract ends.
  2. Tenure track teaching staff – Teaching staff employed at the Institute through an international selection process.
  3. Mentor teaching staff – Teaching staff who support tenure track teaching staff employed at the Institute.
  4. Mentor department – the department to which the mentor teaching staff member is affiliated.
  5. Tenure track period – The period of the contract of teaching staff employed at the Institute through an international selection process.
  6. Tenure review – The review to determine whether a tenure track teaching staff member employed at the Institute will continue employment with the mentor department or other relevant department (hereafter “mentor department, etc.”) before or after the conclusion of their tenure track period.
 
(Post of tenure track teaching staff)
Article 4   Tenure track teaching staff shall be employed to the post of Associate Professor, Junior Associate Professor or Assistant Professor.
 
(Term of tenure track teaching staff)
Article 5  The term of tenure track teaching staff is set out separately in the regulations pertaining to term of contract of Tohoku University teaching staff (No. 72, 2004).
 
(Explanation of conditions and consent of staff member)
Article 6   In the case of employing a tenure track teaching staff member, the written consent of the staff member is required with regard to the form of employment, term of contract, etc.
 
(Liaison with the mentor department, etc.)
Article 7
  1. The Director must consult the head of the mentor department, etc. at the time of hiring a tenure track teaching staff member as to the possibility of hiring the tenure track teaching staff member. In addition to consultation at the time of hiring, the head of the mentor department, etc. must be consulted on the possibility of hiring a tenure track teaching staff member hired between April and September at the start of the financial year beginning in the third and fifth year of their tenure track period, or at the start of the financial year following the start of the third and fifth year of the tenure track period for a teaching staff member hired between October and March.
  2. In consulting as stipulated above, the Director must send the achievements list and other documentation for review of the tenure track teaching staff member to the head of the mentor department, etc.
  3. The head of the mentor department, etc. who is consulted as per (1) shall report back to the Director the results of their deliberation of the possibility of hiring the tenure track teaching staff member, based on the recruitment plan of that department.
  4. Regardless of the consultation as per (1), if there is the possibility of hiring the tenure track teaching staff member before the end of the tenure track period, the head of the mentor department, etc. shall report this to the Director.
 
(Performance review)
Article 8
  1. The Director must complete performance reviews of teaching staff hired between April and September by the end of the financial year that starts in the second and fourth year of their tenure track period, and of teaching staff hired between October and March by the end of the financial year that starts in the third and fifth year of their tenure track period.
  2. The Director must send the result of the above performance reviews to the head of the mentor department, etc. without delay.
 
(Tenure review)
Article 9   
  1. Where there is the possibility of hiring the tenure track teaching staff member as per Article 7, tenure review is to be undertaken by the head of the mentor department, etc., based on the results of the performance review as per Article 8 and the review standards of the mentor department, etc.
  2. The head of the mentor department, etc. shall report whether a tenure review has been conducted as per the clause above and the results of the tenure review without delay to the Director.
 
(Affiliation)
Article 10
  1. Tenure track teaching staff who pass their tenure review as per Article 9(1) shall be re-employed by their mentor department, etc. before or after the conclusion of their tenure track term.
  2. The hiring department shall set the employment conditions of the teaching staff re-employed as per the above clause in terms of post, term and other benefits.
 
(Salary costs)
Article 11  The salary costs of teaching staff employed in their mentor department, etc. as a result of the tenure review as per Article 9(1) shall in principle be borne by that department. However, this requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Institute.
 
(Treatment of those not re-employed by their mentor department, etc.)
Article 12
  1. The Institute, considering the purpose of these regulations as per Article 2, may stipulate the treatment of those whose mentor department, etc. has not conducted any tenure review or who did not pass their tenure review.
  2. In the case that a tenure review was not conducted as a result of deliberation of the possibility of hiring a tenure track teaching staff member in the mentor department, etc. as per Article 7(1), or in the case that a tenure track teaching staff member has not passed a tenure review as per Article 9(1), the Institute may employ the staff member for a maximum of two years at the conclusion of their tenure track period.
 
(Miscellaneous provision)
Article 13  In addition to these regulations, any other requirements related to the tenure track system may be stipulated separately by the Director.
 
Supplementary provision
These regulations shall enter into force on May 14, 2019 and are applicable as of September 18, 2018.
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