1.0 Purpose
Multi-year appointments reward eligible faculty members for meritorious service to Germanna Community College. This policy establishes the criteria and procedural process for awarding three- and five-year multi-year appointment contracts to full-time teaching faculty, counselors, and librarians. The policy is in full compliance with VCCS policies Section 3.04: Faculty Appointments and Section 3.06: Faculty Evaluations.
2.0 Policy
2.1 Eligibility. Teaching faculty, counselors, and librarians, who are employed in unrestricted full-time appointments are eligible for multi-year appointments. Administrators who hold faculty rank, faculty members with the rank of assistant instructor or lecturer, or those on restricted appointments are not eligible for multi-year appointments.
2.2 Appointments. Multi-year appointments are for three or five years in duration and are not affected by change in faculty rank. The effective date for all appointments is July 1 through June 30 irrespective of whether the faculty employment contract covers a nine- or twelve-month period. The faculty employment contract will specify the period of college service (July 1 – June 30 or August 16 – May 15), the faculty member’s rank, and annual salary amount.
2.3 Sequence of Appointments. The sequencing of multi-year appointments is typically as follows:
- Three (3) one-year appointments
- Three-year appointment.
- Five-year appointment.
2.4 Subsequent Appointments.
- There is no limit to the number of one- and three-year appointments, which may be granted.
- Once eligible for the first three- or five-year multi-year appointment, faculty members may elect to receive a shorter multi-year appointment contract.
- Once a faculty member has been granted a five-year appointment, subsequent three or five multi-year appointment require reapplication.
2.5 Years of Service.
- For purposes of eligibility for a multi-year appointment, a year of service isfull-time employment for two (2) academic semesters (fall/spring).
- Employment for less than one year does not constitute a year of full-timeemployment and will not count toward the time eligibility for multi-yearappointment.
2.6 Criteria. Multi-year appointment is neither automatic, nor the simple result of service years. A candidate for multi-year appointment must meet the criteria for multi-year appointment as delineated by the VCCS, as well as the College’s additional criteria.
- VCCS Requirements
- Competence of the faculty members as teachers or in their assignedfunctions.
- Effectiveness of faculty members in carrying out their functions andduties as prescribed in the college Faculty Handbook.
- Ability to establish and maintain positive professional relationships withcolleagues, supervisors, students, and the community.
- Extent and currency of professional qualifications.
- Adherence to all GCC and VCCS policies, procedures and regulations andthe laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
- Evaluation.
- GCC Requirements
- Overall rating of “Meets Expectations” on faculty evaluation(s):
- New faculty on all completed evaluations during the first three (3)years of employment.
- Senior faculty on the most recent evaluation prior to the end of thecurrent appointment.
- Active committee service.
- Submission of all review package materials by deadline.
- Overall rating of “Meets Expectations” on faculty evaluation(s):
3.0 Procedures
3.1 A complete Multi-Year Appointment review package includes the following components:
- Portfolio or Support Documentation | Responsibility: Faculty Member
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume | Responsibility: Faculty Member
- Copy of most recent evaluation(s) | Responsibility: Faculty Member
- Letter of Recommendation | Responsibility: Faculty Member
- Copies of transcript(s) | Responsibility: Faculty Member
- Multi-Year Appointment Recommendation | Responsibility: Dean/Supervisor; Vice President
- Recommendation Letter | Responsibility: Dean/Supervisor
3.2 Role of the Faculty Member.
- Notify their Dean in writing that they wish to be considered for a multi-year appointment and request a letter of recommendation.
- Ensure all requirements of the faculty evaluation process are completed.
- Submit to their Dean/Supervisor a complete review package including:
- Teaching Faculty Portfolio or Professional Faculty Portfolio and/or Support Documentation not to exceed a total of 10 pages.
- An up-to-date Curriculum Vitae/Resume.
- Copies of most recent evaluation(s). Faculty seeking an initial 3-year appointment must submit past three evaluations. Faculty completing a multi-year appointment submit only the most recent evaluation.
- One (1) letter of recommendation. The letter may be written by the faculty member’s department chair, supervisor, or a colleague.
- Copies of all transcripts.
Role of the Dean/Supervisor.
- Notify faculty eligible for a multi-year appointment.
- Ensure the criteria set by the VCCS and the College for multi-year appointment are fully met.
- Ensure all requirements of the faculty evaluation process are completed.
- Utilizing the faculty member’s official personnel file obtained from GCC’s Office of Human Resources, complete the Multi-Year Appointment Recommendation form. If needed, consult with Human Resources to complete the form accurately and thoroughly.
- Sign the form indicating either support or non-support of multi-year appointment.
- If Support Multi-Year Appointment. Prepare a one-page letter of recommendation addressing the criteria listed in section 2.6 of this policy and any special noteworthy items to support multi-year appointment.
- If Do Not Support Multi-Year Appointment. Provide a one-page letter of explanation for non-support using the criteria listed in section 2.6 of this policy.
- Submit the completed Multi-Year Appointment Recommendation form, along with the recommendation letter of support or non-support, to the respective Vice President for review.
3.3 Role of the Vice President.
- Review recommended faculty multi-year appointment requests.
- Sign each Multi-Year Appointment Recommendation form indicating either support or non-support.
- In the event a Dean/Supervisor supports multi-year appointment, but the Vice President does not, the Vice-President must provide a one-page letter of explanation for non-support using the criteria listed in section 2.6 of this policy.
- Forward the signed form, along with letter of recommendation if applicable, to Human Resources.
3.4 Role of Human Resources.
- Notify Dean/Supervisor of faculty eligible for a multi-year appointment.
- Assist the President with award and non-award letters.
- Generate appropriate multi-year appointment contracts.
- Send VCCS certification of process completion.
3.5 Role of the President.
- Review recommendations on multi-year appointments and make final decision.
- Notify Human Resources, the Vice Presidents and the Deans/Supervisors of the decision outcome.
- Send letters to faculty member regarding multi-year appointment award or non-award.
4.0 Process Timeline
Specific deadline dates will be incorporated annually into the GCC’s calendar.
| Due Date | Responsibility | Action |
|---|---|---|
| April 15 | Human Resources | Provide Deans/Supervisors and the President a report on faculty eligibility for 3- or 5-year appointments. |
| September 15 | Dean/Supervisor | Notify, in writing, each faculty member identified by Human Resources as eligible for a multi-year appointment. |
| October 1 | Faculty Member | Notify, in writing, the Dean/Supervisor if they want to be considered for a multi-year appointment. Ask for recommendation letter. |
| November 15 | Faculty Member | Submit a full multi-year appointment review package to Dean/Supervisor. |
| December 15 | Dean/Supervisor | Complete a Multi-Year Appointment Recommendation form for each candidate and submit to the respective VP along with a recommendation letter of support or non-support. |
| January 25 | Vice President | Review recommendations for multi-year appointment; sign form indicating support or non-support; provides recommendation letter incases of non-support; and submits to HR. |
| February 1 | Human Resources | Provide access to the multi-year appointment requests through Germanna Central for President or designee. |
| February 25 | President or designee | Review recommendations and acknowledges agreement or otherwise. Notify HR of final decisions. |
| March 1 | President | Send multi-year appointment decision letters. |
| March 15 | Human Resources | Send VCCS certification of process completion |
5.0 References
- VCCS Policy, Section 3.04: Faculty Appointment
- VCCS Policy, Section 3.06: Faculty Evaluations
- GCC Administrative and Professional Faculty Performance Evaluation Plan
- GCC Teaching Faculty Performance Evaluation Plan
6.0 Point of Contact
Associate Vice President of Human Resources
7.0 Forms
- Multi-Year Appointment Recommendation
- Multi-Year Appointment Criteria Rubric
8.0 Approval and Revision Dates
President’s Cabinet: Approved on October 23, 2019; July 22, 2025
Leadership Council: Approved on February 28, 2020; August 28, 2025
9.0 Effective Date
July 1, 2020