Unit Standards
Unit standards, in conjunction with the applicable collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), define performance expectations for faculty evaluation, promotion, tenure, and salary. All academic units at the 猎奇重口 are required to maintain current unit standards.
Faculty at UM are covered by one of two collective bargaining agreements: the University Faculty Association (UFA) CBA for main campus units, or the Missoula College Faculty Association (MCFA) CBA for Missoula College units. The process for drafting, submitting, and approving unit standards differs by bargaining unit. Use the instructions for your unit below.
Current unit standards are posted on the Unit Standards SharePoint linked below. A valid UM Single Sign-On is required for access.
Overview
The following resources provide an overview of the process of creating, revising, and renewing unit standards.
Unit standards must be consistent with with University-wide standards established in the CBAs. University standards are the minimum; units may adopt more stringent standards but may not fall below them. Expectations not articulated in unit standards cannot be used in a faculty member's evaluation.
Unit standards must address all faculty appointments in the unit, including non-tenurable faculty. They must specify evaluation criteria for teaching, scholarship, and service; define what constitutes less than normal, normal, above normal, and outstanding performance; and guarantee peer review and faculty consultation.
Process and Timeline
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For Missoula College units, the Missoula College Dean serves as the primary institutional reviewer of unit standards before they are forwarded to the Provost. There is no separate standards committee for MCFA units.
The Dean evaluates submitted standards for consistency with the MCFA CBA and University Policy 350, and communicates any requested revisions to the unit. The Provost's Office will communicate when MCFA unit standards are due for review.
The first draft is due to the Dean by Spring Commencement (last day of the contract).
Step 1 — Unit approval. Tenured and tenure-track faculty draft and vote on proposed standards. The department chair or program director recommends before submission to the Dean.
Step 2 — Submit to the Missoula College Dean. Units submit an electronic draft to the Missoula College Dean by September 30. MCFA unit standards do not go through the University Standards Committee.
Step 3 — Dean's review. The Dean reviews standards and communicates any concerns or requested revisions. If the Dean does not act within 40 working days, standards are forwarded directly to the Provost.
Step 4 — Provost review. Following Dean approval, the unit submits a copy to the Provost, who has 15 working days to approve, reject, or request modifications.
Step 5 — Final signatures. Once approved at all levels, signatures are gathered by the Office of the Provost.
Approved standards are posted to the Unit Standards SharePoint. Changes do not take effect until 12 months after the final decision, unless all parties agree otherwise.
Contact the Missoula College Dean's Office with questions about the MCFA review process.
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The Unit Standards Committee (USC) is appointed by the Faculty Senate and is composed of bargaining unit members proportionately representative of the professional schools and colleges. The USC reviews UFA unit standards on a five-year cycle, taking approximately one-fifth of units each year.
The objective of the USC is to evaluate unit standards from the perspective of a newly hired faculty member, assessing clarity, consistency with the UFA CBA, and whether the standards give faculty a clear picture of what is required for promotion, tenure, merit, and outstanding performance awards. The USC makes recommendations but does not rewrite standards; revisions remain the work of the unit faculty.
Units may bypass the USC and submit standards directly to the Provost if needed. USC review is strongly encouraged, as it provides useful feedback and helps ensure compliance before standards reach the Provost.
The first draft is due to the Dean by Spring Commencement (last day of the contract).
Step 1 — Unit approval. Tenured and tenure-track faculty draft and vote on proposed standards. The department chair recommends and the Dean reviews before submission.
Step 2 — Submit to the Unit Standards Committee. Units submit an electronic draft to the USC at FacultySenate@mso.umt.edu by September 30.
Step 3 — USC review. The USC reviews standards and communicates any concerns or requested revisions. If the USC does not act within 90 working days, standards are forwarded directly to the Provost.
Step 4 — Provost review. Following USC approval, the unit submits a copy to the Provost, who has 15 working days to approve, reject, or request modifications.
Step 5 — Final signatures. Once approved at all levels, signatures are gathered by the Office of the Provost.
Approved standards are posted to the Unit Standards SharePoint. Changes do not take effect until 12 months after the final decision, unless all parties agree otherwise.
Contact the USC at FacultySenate@mso.umt.edu with questions about the UFA review process.
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Unit standards must address all faculty appointments in the unit, including non-tenurable faculty. Both CBAs require that non-tenurable faculty be evaluated proportionally to the scope of their appointment. Click this link for more information on non-tenurable appointment types as defined in UM Policy 350.
For UFA units, guidance on addressing non-tenurable faculty, including instructional faculty eligible for advancement under the September 2025 MOU, and research faculty on Letters of Appointment who are not members of the bargaining unit, is included in the UFA Unit Standards Instructions.
For MCFA units, promotion pathways for non-tenurable faculty are established directly in the MCFA CBA (Section 10.110). Guidance on implementing those provisions in unit standards is included in the MCFA Unit Standards Instructions.
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The Office of Research and Creative Scholarship has developed guidance to help units consider how to recognize faculty contributions to innovation and societal impact within their unit standards.
Including this language is entirely elective. Activities in this area may constitute evidence of scholarship, professional service, or teaching impact depending on how they are framed in unit standards, and must be evaluated consistent with existing CBA criteria for promotion, tenure, and merit.
Examples of innovation and societal impact activities that units may consider recognizing include:
- sponsored research with industry or community partners
- intellectual property development, including patent disclosures, filings, and licenses
- technology transfer and commercialization activity
- entity creation, including startup companies that advance the university's scholarly or public service mission
- preparation of students for innovation and entrepreneurship careers through coursework, certificates, or guided activities
- collaborative approaches to addressing complex public or applied problems
For reference, the recognizes a broad range of entrepreneurial, outreach, and creative activities in evaluating tenure and promotion, including creating startup companies that enhance the university's scholarly or public service mission, working with technology transfer offices to patent or license inventions, and developing collaborative approaches to solving complex problems. g similarly recognizes innovative and impactful research across the full spectrum from basic to applied, including intellectual property development and technology transfer to commercial entities.
Any revisions to unit standards to incorporate this language follow the standard approval process. For questions or guidance email the Office of Research and Creative Scholarship at vpr@umontana.edu.