Initial Appointment Letter. For Faculty Members hired as an Assistant Professor, the initial contract letter should indicate the applicant's rank, years of service granted by the University (if any), special circumstances (i.e. release time granted to serve as a Program Director, years of service at other institutions, etc.), Academic Year of the third-year review (Pre-Tenure Review) and the latest date the tenure application must be submitted in accordance with Section 11.2. For applicants hired as Associate Professor and Professor, the initial appointment letter is similar to that of the Assistant Professor except the date for Pre-Tenure Review is omitted.