Faculty Expectations
Reformed Christian Commitment: Faculty Expectations for Reappointment at Tenure/Five-Year Renewable Term
At times of reappointment and promotion, Calvin University faculty are evaluated in four categories:
- Reformed Christian Commitment,
- Teaching Effectiveness,
- Scholarship and Research,
- and Service,
using identified areas of evaluation in each category.
The category of Reformed Christian Commitment is a new category in Calvin University’s review of faculty. The expectations in this category make explicit was has long been implicit in Calvin’s review of faculty. At the time of review, faculty are expected to engage each evaluative area thoughtfully and asked to respond to a set of essay prompts that draw from the expectations. Their colleagues, students, alumni, and pastors are invited to reflect on the faculty member’s performance.
Calvin University equips faculty to be successfully reappointed through a range of opportunities for ongoing professional development. A faculty member’s active participation in these faculty development opportunities, either as a participant or a contributor, is one mark of success as a Calvin faculty member. Faculty development opportunities are offered through several offices on campus, including the Global Faculty Development Institute and the Teaching and Learning Network.
The expectations at tenure/five-year renewable term are rooted in Calvin University’s Statement of Identity and Mission: Believing and Belonging and From Every Nation.
The expectations for Reformed Christian Commitment, in summary form, are these (with more detailed policy language that follows):
| Evaluative Areas | Tenure and Five-year Renewable Expectations |
|---|---|
| Covenant for Faculty Members: 1 Calvin University faculty members are expected to understand and affirm the historical creeds and Reformed confessions contained in the Covenant for Faculty Members. | Articulate a Christian commitment and demonstrate an understanding and affirmation of essential Reformed Christian theological ideas by re-affirming their commitment to the Covenant for Faculty Members in writing |
| Church membership: Calvin University faculty members are expected to engage in Christian practices that are sustained by membership in a congregation of the CRCNA, a church in ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRCNA, or a Calvin University–supporting Protestant congregation. | Demonstrate membership and active participation in a congregation of the CRCNA, a church in ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRCNA, or a Calvin University-supporting Protestant congregation |
| Reformed Christian view of Christian education: Calvin University faculty members are expected to demonstrate their commitment to a Reformed Christian view of education. | Articulate a Reformed Christian view of education and describe how one actively supports Christian education. |
| Diversity and inclusion: Calvin University faculty members are expected to promote diversity and inclusion in ways consistent with Reformed Christian theological ideas. | Demonstrate an understanding of diversity and inclusion that is consistent with Reformed Christian theological ideas and contribute to the university’s diversity and inclusion goals |
| Dispositions: Calvin University faculty members are expected to demonstrate the dispositions that mark a life of Christian faith and service and support students and colleagues as they do the same. | Demonstrate dispositions that mark a life of Christian faith and service and support students and colleagues in doing the same |
| Integrate Reformed Christian perspectives into teaching, scholarship, and service: Calvin University faculty members are expected to integrate Reformed Christian perspectives into their teaching, scholarship, and service. | See specific category criteria for each |
A longer explanation of each evaluative area in the Reformed Christian Commitment category follows.
Reformed Christian Commitment
A central question in the evaluation of faculty is a colleague’s commitment to and enactment of the university’s Reformed Christian mission. Calvin’s mission is rooted in its identity as a confessional Christian institution in the Reformed tradition that is invigorated by a global vision of Reformed Christianity and welcomes dialogue with diverse trusted partners. Calvin University draws upon historic ecumenical creeds and Reformed confessions to understand and shape its participation in God's ongoing redemptive work. Because Reformed Christianity influences all aspects of the life and work of the university, faculty members affirm these creeds and confessions even as they continue to deepen their understanding of essential Reformed Christian theological ideas and values; they participate in a Calvin-supporting Christian congregation; and they demonstrate their commitment to a transformational vision of the world by integrating their Reformed Christian faith with their teaching, scholarship, service, and community life.
The evaluative areas are these:
- Calvin University faculty members are expected to understand and affirm the historical creeds and Reformed confessions contained in the Covenant for Faculty Members.
- Calvin University faculty members are expected to engage in Christian practices that are sustained by membership in a congregation of the CRCNA, a church in ecclesiastical fellowship with the CRCNA, or a Calvin University–supporting Protestant congregation.
- Calvin University faculty members are expected to demonstrate their commitment to a Reformed Christian view of education.
- Calvin University faculty members are expected to promote diversity and inclusion in ways consistent with Reformed Christian theological ideas.
- Calvin University faculty members are expected to demonstrate the dispositions that mark a life of Christian faith and service and support students and colleagues as they do the same.
- Calvin University faculty members are expected to integrate Reformed Christian perspectives into their teaching, scholarship, and service.
1 Because Calvin University is under the authority of the CRCNA, when confessional or controversial issues arise with respect to confessional matters, the CRCNA, Calvin’s Board of Trustees, administration, and faculty work collaboratively to adjudicate these within the context of the Handbook for Teaching Faculty and the university’s Confessional Commitment and Academic Freedom document. If faculty are members of churches where doctrinal differences exist from the CRCNA, faculty are expected to do their work in affirmation with the creeds and confessions identified in the Covenant for Faculty Members.