The Offer and Acceptance Clause Samples

The Offer and Acceptance. (a) The institution may wish to provide informal notification to the successful candidate of its intention to offer an appointment, but the formal offer itself should be an unequivocal letter offering appointment signed by the responsible institutional officer. “Oral offers” and “oral acceptances” should not be considered binding, but communications between the successful candidate and those representing the institution should be ▇▇▇▇▇ and accurate, for significant decisions are likely to be based on these exchanges. The written offer of appointment should be given to the candidate within ten (10) days of the institution’s having conveyed an intention to make the offer; a candidate should be informed promptly if the offer is not to be forthcoming within ten (10) days. (b) The terms of an offer to an individual should be consistent with the announcement of the position. Each of the following should be stated clearly in the letter offering an appointment: (i) the initial rank; (ii) the length of the appointment; (iii) conditions of renewal; (iv) the salary and benefits; (v) the duties of the position; (vi) as applicable, whether the appointment is with tenure, the amount of credit toward tenure for prior service, and the maximum length of the probationary period; (vii) as applicable, the institution’s “startup” commitments for the appointment (for example, equipment and laboratory space); (viii) the date when the appointment begins and the date when the candidate is expected to report; (ix) the date by which the candidate’s response to the offer is expected, which should not be less than two (2) weeks from the receipt of the offer; and (x) details of institutional policies and regulations that bear upon the appointment. Specific information on other relevant matters also should be conveyed in writing to the prospective appointee. (c) An offer of appointment to a faculty member serving at another institution should be made no later than May 1, consistent with the faculty member’s obligation to resign, in order to accept other employment, no later than May 15. It is recognized that, in special cases, it might be appropriate to make an offer after May 1, but in such cases there should be an agreement by all concerned parties. (d) The acceptance of a position is a candidate’s written affirmative and unconditional response sent by the candidate to the institution no later than the date stated in the offer of appointment. If the candidate wishes to accept the offe...