Tenure and promotion are two separate situations. I didn't realize this when I was at LargeU, mostly because there were not two separate committees to handle T&P.
Promotion is given based on what you've already done.
Tenure is (mostly) granted (if you ignore all the political BS) for what you will get done.
You can get tenure without being promoted. I am told that it happens, since the two situations are supposed to be considered independent of one other (in space but not necessarily in time).
....but does it actually happen?
If I got tenured but not promoted, I don't think I would stay around.
Still. I haven't heard of a case where someone gets tenured but doesn't becoming an associate prof. Have you?
