coe-fac: COE Merit Policy Next Steps (vote results)

[Dianna Carrizales-Engelmann]

The following message is sent on behalf of Emily Tanner-Smith, PhD, Interim Dean:

Dear COE Faculty,

Thank you for taking the time to consider the two options I proposed in the email sent last week (included below) regarding the Merit Policy next steps. The survey has now closed with input from 28 faculty (9 career faculty and 19 TTF).

As a reminder, the options under consideration were:

  *   Option 1: Proceed with the 2023 Policy using the guidance provided in the email below, or
  *   Option 2: Engage in Merit Policy updates this Spring.

The feedback I received based on the survey of faculty was as follows:

  *   19 votes in favor of Option 1 (13 TTF, 6 Career faculty)
  *   9 votes in favor of Option 2  (6 TTF, 3 Career faculty)

I also read through all of the comments and am grateful for the thoughtful input that many faculty provided.

Based on this feedback, we will be proceeding with Option 1, and, as noted in my prior message, I am also proposing that we engage in a review of the policy as soon as possible to improve clarity and transparency in this process moving forward.

With gratitude,
Emily

Emily Tanner-Smith | Interim Dean & Thomson Professor (she/her)
University of Oregon | College of Education
230 HEDCO Education Building | Eugene, OR 97403-1215
https://education.uoregon.edu<https://education.uoregon.edu/> | https://hedcoinstitute.uoregon.edu/
[Logo for the University of Oregon's College of Education]<https://www.uoregon.edu/>





From: Dianna Carrizales-Engelmann
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 4:36 PM
To: 'coe-fac at lists.uoregon.edu' <coe-fac at lists.uoregon.edu<mailto:coe-fac at lists.uoregon.edu>>
Subject: COE Merit Policy Next Steps

The following message is sent on behalf of Emily Tanner-Smith, PhD, Interim Dean:

Dear COE faculty,

TL;DR: Please vote in this brief survey<https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qliNlZo2ryUdEO> by March 4th.

I have heard through your department heads that this year's merit process for TTF has become unclear based on the Office of the Provost's (OtP) edit to the COE's prior merit policy (to replace "Exceeds" with "Substantially Beyond Meets"), and then their reversal of this edit.

Based on the OtP's reversal of their recent merit policy edit, OtP is suggesting that for the spring 2026 TTF merit review, we revert to our existing merit policy that was developed by COE committee and approved by COE faculty in 2023. In light of faculty requests for more clarity following these recent changes and reversals, the dean's office has reviewed the existing COE policy (attached here) and the TTF merit review timeline and has identified two potential ways forward. I would like faculty input on these options before making a decision.

 Option 1: Proceed with the 2023 policy with clarified guidance: In COE's most recent implementation of the 2023 policy, any rating of 3 "Exceeds" was described as an indication of meritorious achievement, existing substantially beyond the rating of "meets" and exemplified by extreme accomplishments. The language of the 2023 policy does not specify the approach the COE must use to achieve merit allotments and distribution.

For the spring 2026 merit process, I propose clarifying the implementation guidance for the 2023 policy, such that an overall rating of 3 ("Exceeds") will be awarded for faculty who have achieved a score of "Exceeds" in all domains of evaluation (for TTF, these are the domains of Teaching, Research and Service). Via this guidance, and consistent with the 2023 policy, a rating of 1 ("Does Not Meet") in any domain will result in an overall rating of "Does Not Meet", and any other combinations of ratings will result in an overall rating of "Meets". This added specify to our implementation guidance will allow us to proceed in compliance with our 2023 policy and award merit in a timely manner consistently across all COE departments.

In this option, as with all merit awards, the final overall rating is calculated in the office of the dean based on the individual domain ratings provided by the Department Heads / Unit Directors based on their review of faculty promotion/performance materials and on any supplemental materials provided as described in the policy.

Option 2: Return the 2023 Merit Policy to faculty for updates and development this spring. The dean's office can initiate a request to the Office of the Provost to update our 2023 Merit Policy. Note that this would require the typical process of convening a committee of faculty to work together this spring to update the policy and to explicitly define an approach to update the merit rating system in a way that works for both TTF and Career Faculty merit reviews. We have not yet requested this from the OtP but would work with that office to determine if an expedited review could be achieved in advance of the TTF merit review window this spring.

Given the timeline and lift associated with updating the policy, Option 1 would be my preference. If we go with option 1, I would still propose that we initiate a merit policy review and update in the coming year. However, I am requesting input to assess faculty preferences and will explore next steps based on the outcome of that vote. Note that if OtP is unable to expedite a review (option 2), policy updates may inevitably be postponed to next academic year.

I apologize for making yet another ask during what I know is an incredibly busy time. Please take a moment to respond to this brief voting survey<https://oregon.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3qliNlZo2ryUdEO> no later than March 4th, 2026.





Emily Tanner-Smith | Interim Dean & Thomson Professor (she/her)
University of Oregon | College of Education
230 HEDCO Education Building | Eugene, OR 97403-1215
https://education.uoregon.edu<https://education.uoregon.edu/> | https://hedcoinstitute.uoregon.edu/
[Logo for the University of Oregon's College of Education]<https://www.uoregon.edu/>


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