ABD Policies
Office of the Provost
All But Dissertation (ABD) Hiring Policy
for Tenure-Track Positions
(Updated September 2007)
Outlined below are options for the hiring of ABD’s for tenure-track positions. The Office of the Provost will support all of these options; however, it is up to the Dean and Department Head to determine which to utilize. The Dean and Department Head must do some research and make an affirmative and explicit case that option three is appropriate, but otherwise the decision making should be within the college.
The university is willing to offer tenure track positions to ABD's. Normally the degree should be obtained before the person begins their contract. If the individual does not have the degree in hand there are three options:
1. The contract is null and void.
2. The individual can be hired as an instructor. When the individual receives their degree they receive a new contract as an assistant professor. The letter of offer should indicate the salary as instructor and the salary upon degree completion.
3. Where it can be clearly demonstrated that the person will complete their degree within the first semester of employment, such an individual may be hired as an assistant professor; the expectation of degree completion should be stated on the contract. The Provost can extend that opportunity to completion within the first year of employment. No further contracts will be issued if the degree is not completed before the second year of employment. There is no change in salary for degree completion for assistant professors.
Offers cannot be made to ABD's unless the position advertisement specifically indicates that ABD's will be given consideration. Offers to ABD's need to indicate which of the above options would be employed.