Overview 

Professional development at UF is a comprehensive, ongoing journey of workshops, certificate programs, personalized mentorship, and leadership training —all designed to strengthen your teaching, research, and service portfolio and connect you with peer networks. 

Building on these foundations, the Tenure and Promotion process is a supported, multi-level path to academic growth. By engaging in the OPT system, you’ll prepare and submit your dossier materials, adhere to key deadlines, and navigate relevant policies—with targeted consultations and resources guiding you toward a successful case for advancement. 

Professional Development Opportunities 

UF Training & Organizational Development also has a range of professional development offerings for faculty. We offer workshops on a variety of topics including supervisory skills, leadership, communication, productivity and teamwork, and a formal education program that provides funding for college-level courses for participating UF employees. Some programs that may be of interest to faculty include: 

• Managing at UF: The Supervisory Challenge 
• Thrive at UF 
• Leadership Programs 
• Compliance Training 

For more information on leadership programs, including our Leadership Competency  model, podcasts, job aids, and reading materials visit our Leadership Website. For more information about our training courses, visit our Training Programs website. For information on the Employee Education Program (EEP) visit the EEP site. 

Tenure and Promotion 

Tenure and Promotion at the University of Florida is best understood as a journey of professional growth, not merely a final goal. It reflects a faculty member’s sustained excellence in teaching, research, service, and other scholarly activities. 

The process is multi-tiered, involving evaluations at the department, college, and university levels. Each stage is designed to ensure fairness, rigor, and alignment with UF’s academic standards. Follow these steps to ease the tenure and promotion process: 

1. Understand the Process

• Familiarize yourself with the Faculty Excellence & Advancement (FEA) system. 
• Review the annual Promotion & Tenure Guidelines. 

2. Prepare Your Materials

• Use the  FEA Toolkit Guides. 
• Follow the correct templates and procedures based on your rank and faculty series. 

3. Key Documentation

• Include all required documentation as outlined in the guidelines. 
• Ensure materials are completed and submitted on time. 

4. Special Considerations

• Review policies on tenure upon hire. 
• Understand options for probationary period extensions. 

5. Seek Support

• Consult your department or college administrator. 
• Use the provided toolkit for detailed instructions and support. 

Important Contact Information: 

• Your Chair or College Associate Dean and College and Department Contacts 
• Ms. Colleen Gaddy, FEA Program Manager 
• Chris Flowers Hass, Associate Provost and Secretary to the APB 

 

Author: Zaina DeLaney, Ed.D. 

Last Reviewed/Updated: June 2025