The following Frequently Asked Questions were gathered by the ADVANCE Program and are intended to address topics of general interest to faculty at the University of Maryland at College Park. For further information about the University of Maryland ADVANCE Program for Inclusive Excellence and our activities, please see www.advance.umd.edu. Click here to see information about tenure review dates for mid-year hires.
How long do I need to be employed at the institution in order to be eligible for tenure extension due to childbirth or adoption?
An extension of the tenure clock due to childbirth or adoption is available immediately upon employment with the University.
How do I receive an extension of the tenure clock for childbirth or adoption?
Any tenure-track faculty member who becomes the parent of a child by birth or adoption will automatically be granted a one-year extension of the deadline for tenure review, provided that they notify their unit head and complete the requisite paperwork.
What paperwork do I need to submit in order to obtain an extension for childbirth or adoption?
Faculty members must submit a Notification of Delay of Mandatory Tenure Review 
Due to Childbirth or Adoption, to the Office of Faculty Affairs. Normally this process should be initiated within a month of the expected arrival of the child.
How many times can I receive an automatic extension?
A second extension of the tenure clock due to the birth or adoption of another child will be granted automatically, so long as the faculty member receives no more than a total of two extensions (including those granted for reasons other than the birth or adoption of a child).
If my spouse/domestic partner is also a tenure-track faculty member at UMCP, does she/he also receive an automatic one-year extension of time for tenure for childbirth or adoption?
Yes.
Can I receive an extension of the tenure clock for situations OTHER than childbirth/adoption?
Yes, but the request is not automatically granted. Faculty members may request an extension of time for tenure consideration based on personal or professional circumstances that substantially impede normal professional development of the faculty member. These circumstances may include:
Note: requests for tenure extension under these circumstances must be made at the time the circumstance occurs.