Impacts on RSCA and RTP Concerns

Sent: September 3, 2025

From: Vincent J. Del Casino, Jr., Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Dear Colleagues,

As you are all very aware, changes in federal policy and funding commitments from the federal government are having an impact on the daily research work of numerous faculty at SJSU. Marc d’Alarcao and I have held a few open meetings for principal investigators and will hold another one soon to address the ongoing impact of these changes on sponsored research on the campus.

I am writing this note, however, to speak directly to the concerns raised by faculty that these changes may also impact on their retention, tenure, and promotion (RTP). I completely understand the anxiety these changes may cause. Fortunately, University Policy S15-8 contains language faculty may use if their RSCA is directly impacted by conditions outside of their control. For example, Provisions 2.3.7.1 through 2.3.7.4 provide guidance to candidates on how to document disruptions to their RSCA. These provisions also provide reminders to review committees that such disruptions must be accounted for in any evaluation of a candidate file. Let me flesh this out a bit further.

For candidates, RTP dossiers can provide a clear articulation of the resources needed to support their RSCA, a listing of those resources that were actually received, and an evaluative framework whereby faculty achievements are assessed in relation to available support. Faculty whose RSCA or professional activities have been affected by federal funding changes should explicitly describe in their Narrative Statement how those cuts have impacted their work, linking the loss of expected resources to their RSCA progress or productivity. Supporting documentation should be included in the dossier. Reviewers, you are expected to complete the appropriate training before you evaluate dossiers. That training will include specific guidance on RSCA disruptions. As you evaluate colleagues, you must determine if their achievements have been adversely affected by recent federal actions and include that in any assessment of achievements.

As the University officer delegated by the President to make final RTP decisions, I want to affirm my commitment to considering such cases with care and fairness. I will give full and open consideration to arguments concerning productivity relative to resource availability, particularly where those resources were diminished or withdrawn due to federal policy changes. While I am not issuing an official memo at this time, faculty can cite this message in their dossier if they so choose. Its inclusion may serve as a reminder to reviewers that they are expected to thoughtfully consider candidates’ explanations linking resource disruptions to professional achievements.

If candidates have further concerns, I strongly encourage you to reach out to the CFETI team for support and guidance as you pull your materials together this fall (cfeti@sjsu.edu).

Sincerely,
Vin