Handbook of Operating Procedures

Guidelines for Faculty Promotion

The following guidelines are intended to clarify expectations for, and differences in, the academic ranks of associate professor and professor. General guidelines for each rank are specified, whether for initial appointment or promotion.

Examples of activities that may be used to evaluate contributions in these core areas include, but are not limited to, those indicated below.  These criteria are not intended as minimum standards, nor is it necessary that an individual contribute to all of the listed activities. Appointment as or promotion to senior faculty ranks will be based on demonstrated accomplishments. The distinctions between the associate professor and professor ranks are based on degree of accomplishments, and therefore, are more quantitative than qualitative.

Departments and schools may consider additional factors in evaluating candidates, but the primary emphasis at all levels should be on contributions to the university’s core missions.

CONTACT

For questions regarding these guidelines, contact the Office of the Executive Vice President & Chief Academic Officer.

I. Associate Professor

General Guidelines for Consideration

1. A minimum of three years in the rank of assistant professor.
2. Academic credentials congruent with the expectations of the school and department.
3. Developing peer recognition that is reflected by an emerging national reputation.
4. Evidence of scholarly achievement reflected in peer recognition of works from original research, clinical observations, educational programs, etc.
5. Significant scholarly accomplishments in at least two of the three academic activities: teaching, research and service.
6. Board certification or its equivalent, if pertinent.

Evaluation for promotion will be on the basis of an individual’s contributions in each mission area of teaching, research, and service. Contributions within teaching, research, and service may come from one or more of the activities corresponding to these missions (listed below). Assessment for promotion does not require that an individual contribute in every activity listed within a mission area. For example, assessment for teaching for Associate Professors does not require contributions from all activities listed below for promotion to be considered. Flexibility should be maintained in balancing significant contributions in one area against less meritorious accomplishments in another, and the quality as well as the quantity of contributions should be considered. In all cases, the emphasis should be on the overall value of the contributions and the effectiveness and productivity of the individual. 

A. Teaching

1. Teaches effectively, evidenced by mastery of both content and method and documented by student and faculty evaluation. All teaching activities should receive consideration.
2. Takes responsibility for the design, organization, coordination and evaluation of a course or series of educational activities within a course.
3. Receives recognition as an exemplary scientist or clinician whose teaching activities can be documented as providing an outstanding role model for students.
4. Develops and/or presents effective continuing education or other professional programs, including invited presentations.
5. Provides effective supervision to graduate students.
6. Participates in student guidance and counseling regarding program planning and general curricular activities, as well as consultation to student organizations and groups within and outside of the university.
7. Demonstrates innovation in teaching methods and production of texts, educational software or courseware.
8. Publishes educational innovations and scholarly papers related to teaching in professional journals or books, with heavier weight given to publications in refereed journals as opposed to non-refereed publications.
9. Presents educationally relevant findings at professional meetings.

B. Research

1. Demonstrates initiative, independence and sustained activity in basic, clinical, translational outcomes or population research.
2. Publishes research findings and scholarly papers in scientific or professional journals or books; publications in refereed journals are weighted more heavily than non-refereed publications.
3. Presents research and scholarly findings at scientific and professional meetings.
4. Obtains grants or contracts for research or other scholarly activities.
5. Serves on thesis or dissertation committees.
6. Generates intellectual property (IP) as evidenced by patents, licensing agreements, and commercialization of discoveries; patents and licenses awarded are weighted more heavily than patents submitted. Commercialization of products is weighted more heavily than licenses or patents awarded.

C. Service

1. Provides exemplary patient care that augments the educational and research missions of the university.
2. Provides staff responsibility for a service or specific area of patient care or clinical teaching for which peer recognition can be documented.
3. Serves on committees within the department, school, university and/or affiliated institutions.
4. Provides consultation or service to other departments or schools within the university and to local, state, regional, national, or international organizations that seek or benefit from the candidate's expertise.
5. Serves on extramural review committees or editorial boards of scientific or professional journals.
6. Performs a key administrative role in patient care, research or teaching activities within a department or division.
7. Provides service to the professional or lay community through education, consultations or other roles.
8. Engages in mentoring junior faculty colleagues.
9. Serves in faculty governance organizations or on their standing committees or subcommittees.
10. Participates actively in school or university accreditation activities.

II. Professor

General Guidelines

1. Distinguished performance and maturity as an associate professor, generally at least 3-5 years at this rank.
2. Academic credentials congruent with the expectations of the school or department.
3. An established reputation that is derived from national or international peer recognition.
4. Sustained scholarly productivity usually in the form of peer-reviewed publications in teaching, research and service.
5. Sustained scholarly achievement reflected in peer recognition of works from original research, clinical observations, educational programs, etc.
6. Board certification or its equivalent, if pertinent.

Examples of the types of activities that are consistent with the general guidelines follow for the three academic activities essential to the mission of the university (teaching, research and service).

A. Teaching

1. Demonstrates sustained and outstanding performance of the examples cited for the associate professor level.
2. Provides leadership through design, organization, coordination and evaluation of a course or courses (undergraduate, graduate or continuing education); demonstrates administrative responsibility at the school or departmental level for curriculum; provides supervision of staff teaching within a course, department, school or the university.
3. Accepts invitations as visiting professor at other institutions.
4. Takes responsibility for student guidance and counseling regarding program planning and general curricular activities, as well as consultation to student organizations and groups within and outside of the university.
5. Receives sustained recognition as an exemplary scientist, teacher or clinician whose activities can be documented as providing an outstanding role model for students.
6. Publishes educational works in relevant journals.

B. Research

1. Publishes as senior or responsible author in refereed scientific or professional journals, book chapters and other scholarly works.
2. Obtains grants or contracts as a principal investigator for research.
3. Accepts invitations to participate at national or international professional or scientific meetings.
4. Accepts invitations to preside over sessions at national or international professional or scientific meetings.
5. Receives recognition for excellence in research from professional or scientific institutions or organizations.
6. Serves as chair of thesis or dissertation committees.
7. Generates intellectual property (IP) as evidenced by patents, licensing agreements, and commercialization of discoveries; patents and licenses awarded are weighted more heavily than patents submitted. Commercialization of products is weighted more heavily than licenses or patents awarded.

C. Service

1. Serves in responsible positions within the institution or its affiliates (chairs a committee, department or division; membership on major university committees).
2. Receives recognition as an authority by other schools and departments within the university and by local, state, regional or national organizations or institutions.
3. Has senior staff responsibility for a service or specific area of patient care or clinical teaching.
4. Acts as a consultant to, or serves on, government review committees, study sections or other national review panels.
5. Serves as an officer or committee chair in professional or scientific organizations.
6. Serves on editorial boards of professional or scientific journals.
7. Holds responsible positions on civic boards or organizations concerned with health care issues at the local, state, regional, national or international levels.
8. Engages in mentoring faculty colleagues.
9. Serves or provides leadership in faculty governance organizations or on their standing committees or subcommittees.
10. Participates or provides leadership in school or university accreditation activities.

III. Guidelines for the Initial Appointment or Promotion to the Ranks of Associate Professor and Professor, Non-tenure Track

The criteria for initial appointment as, or promotion to, associate professor or professor on a non-tenure track are qualitatively identical to those for the tenure track. However, faculty members with non-tenure-track appointments are permitted to concentrate their efforts in the clinical service, research or teaching areas, as appropriate. The same guidelines should be considered for appointment or promotion as for faculty on the tenure track.

Updated 7/99, 08/07, 05/08, 09/16, 03/19