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Making the Leap to Making the Leap to ProfessorProfessor
Frances K. McSweeneyFrances K. McSweeney
Regents ProfessorRegents Professor
Vice Provost for Faculty AffairsVice Provost for Faculty Affairs
March 10, 2015March 10, 2015
Recording date of this workshop is Recording date of this workshop is
March 10, 2015March 10, 2015
Some of the rules and procedures Some of the rules and procedures discussed in this workshop are discussed in this workshop are
subject to change.subject to change.
Please check university resources Please check university resources
before relying exclusively before relying exclusively
on this recorded presentation.on this recorded presentation.
ThemesThemes The faculty review process is detailed The faculty review process is detailed
and thoughtful, not arbitrary and and thoughtful, not arbitrary and capricious.capricious.
No surprises – In most cases, No surprises – In most cases, promotion should follow from prior promotion should follow from prior annual reviews.annual reviews.
Probability of SuccessProbability of Success The probability of success is high.The probability of success is high.
• 94% of candidates over the years 2000 - 94% of candidates over the years 2000 - 2008 were promoted. 2008 were promoted.
• Some faculty members never stand for Some faculty members never stand for promotion.promotion.
ResourcesResources Faculty ManualFaculty Manual – University web – University web
pagepage Provost’s Instructions for Tenure and Provost’s Instructions for Tenure and
PromotionPromotion – Provost’s web page – Provost’s web page
More ResourcesMore Resources
Provost’s Provost’s Instructions for Instructions for Annual ReviewAnnual Review – – Provost’s web pageProvost’s web page
A Guide to WSU’s A Guide to WSU’s Policies and Policies and Procedures for Procedures for Evaluating Faculty Evaluating Faculty MembersMembers – – Provost’s web pageProvost’s web page
Still More ResourcesStill More Resources
Your department Your department chairchair
Your department & Your department & college guidelinescollege guidelines
Your mentorsYour mentors E-mail (E-mail (
[email protected]) or ) or call (5-5581) me.call (5-5581) me.
Key PointsKey Points Procedures and standards vary Procedures and standards vary
across departments, colleges. across departments, colleges. • Get the appropriate guidelines.Get the appropriate guidelines.
MentoringMentoring Having a mentor(s) aids success.Having a mentor(s) aids success. Number and function of mentors Number and function of mentors
depends on culture and your needsdepends on culture and your needs Work with your chair to appoint one Work with your chair to appoint one
or more.or more.
TimingTiming
Date for promotion Date for promotion is usually 6 years is usually 6 years after promotion to after promotion to associate associate professor.professor.
• That means that That means that consideration consideration occurs after 5 occurs after 5 years.years.
Responsibility Responsibility
““Candidacy for Candidacy for promotion to promotion to Professor may be Professor may be initiated by the initiated by the faculty member, faculty member, one or more one or more departmental departmental Professors, or the Professors, or the department chair.”department chair.”
Faculty ManualFaculty Manual
Responsibility (continued)Responsibility (continued) In an ideal world, the In an ideal world, the
chair would contact chair would contact you when you’re you when you’re ready.ready.
Our world is not ideal.Our world is not ideal.
• You may have to ask You may have to ask your chair if you’re your chair if you’re ready.ready.
• You may need to bring You may need to bring your own case forward.your own case forward.
The Dean’s RoleThe Dean’s Role “…“…, the Academic , the Academic
Dean will decide which Dean will decide which promotion cases are promotion cases are to be forwarded to the to be forwarded to the Provost and Executive Provost and Executive Vice President [and] Vice President [and] will notify each will notify each candidate of the candidate of the decision, in writing, decision, in writing, within ten working within ten working days.” (days.” (Faculty Faculty ManualManual, p. 65), p. 65)
The Candidate’s RightsThe Candidate’s Rights “… “… the faculty the faculty
member will be given member will be given a minimum of five a minimum of five working days to working days to exercise the right to exercise the right to have the packet have the packet forwarded to the forwarded to the Provost and Executive Provost and Executive Vice President, Vice President, regardless of the regardless of the Dean’s decision.” Dean’s decision.” ((Faculty ManualFaculty Manual, p. , p. 65)65)
The ProcedureThe Procedure
Exact procedures Exact procedures vary by vary by department and department and collegecollege
Decision should be Decision should be consistent with consistent with prior reviews when prior reviews when possiblepossible
Procedure (continued)Procedure (continued) Faculty member assembles a file Faculty member assembles a file
(May?)(May?)• Curriculum vitaeCurriculum vitae• Teaching portfolio (limited to 5 pages)Teaching portfolio (limited to 5 pages)• Context statement (limited to 2 pages)Context statement (limited to 2 pages)• ExhibitsExhibits
External LettersExternal Letters
At least 4 external letters are At least 4 external letters are solicited (summer?)solicited (summer?)• The candidate submits a list.The candidate submits a list.• The chair adds names.The chair adds names.• The candidate cannot veto names.The candidate cannot veto names.• All letters received on time by the All letters received on time by the
department go forward.department go forward.
External Letters (continued)External Letters (continued) External letter writers are External letter writers are
distinguished professors (e.g., distinguished professors (e.g., editors, chairs of study sections).editors, chairs of study sections).• No personal relationship with the No personal relationship with the
candidate.candidate.• Writers receive the file prepared by the Writers receive the file prepared by the
candidate.candidate.
External Letters (continued)External Letters (continued)
External reviewers:External reviewers:• Evaluate the quality Evaluate the quality
and quantity of the and quantity of the candidate’s workcandidate’s work
• Compare the Compare the candidate’s work to candidate’s work to the unit’s the unit’s requirements requirements
• State whether the State whether the candidate would be candidate would be promoted at his promoted at his (her) institution(her) institution
The Department Considers the File The Department Considers the File (August – September?)(August – September?)
The file now contains:The file now contains:• The candidate’s curriculum vitaeThe candidate’s curriculum vitae• Teaching portfolioTeaching portfolio• Context statementContext statement• External letters External letters • Annual reviews since the last promotion Annual reviews since the last promotion • ExhibitsExhibits
Faculty Recommendations Faculty Recommendations
Each professor makes Each professor makes a recommendation. a recommendation. • This is part of shared This is part of shared
governance.governance.
• Recommendations Recommendations should be consistent should be consistent with past reviews when with past reviews when possible.possible.
• At least 5 faculty At least 5 faculty recommendationsrecommendations
Exceptions to Recommendations:Exceptions to Recommendations:
Anyone who will Anyone who will participate later in participate later in the process (e.g., the process (e.g., chair, dean, chair, dean, chancellor).chancellor).
Anyone who has a Anyone who has a personal personal relationship with relationship with the candidate.the candidate.
The Chair’s SummaryThe Chair’s Summary Interprets the case for those outside the field.Interprets the case for those outside the field.
Addresses disagreements in the faculty Addresses disagreements in the faculty recommendations.recommendations.
Consults the branch campus if needed.Consults the branch campus if needed.
Makes a personsal recommendation on Makes a personsal recommendation on promotion.promotion.• A recommendation that is inconsistent with the faculty A recommendation that is inconsistent with the faculty
should be explained.should be explained.
The Dean’s Summary (October – The Dean’s Summary (October – November?) November?)
The Dean consults his (her) Advisory The Dean consults his (her) Advisory Committee (and the Regional Campus Committee (and the Regional Campus Chancellor).Chancellor).
The Dean makes a recommendation and The Dean makes a recommendation and interprets the case for those outside of the interprets the case for those outside of the college.college.• A recommendation that is inconsistent with the A recommendation that is inconsistent with the
department should be explained.department should be explained.
The Provost Considers the FileThe Provost Considers the File(December – January?)(December – January?)
Consults Vice Consults Vice ProvostsProvosts
May ask the Deans May ask the Deans for additional for additional informationinformation
Can disagree with Can disagree with the prior decisions, the prior decisions, but rarely doesbut rarely does
If Promotion is GrantedIf Promotion is Granted The candidate receives a letter and a The candidate receives a letter and a
10% raise effective in the fall. 10% raise effective in the fall. The candidate is recognized at the The candidate is recognized at the
Celebration of Excellence Banquet.Celebration of Excellence Banquet.
If Promotion is DeniedIf Promotion is Denied Appeal to the Faculty Status Appeal to the Faculty Status
Committee (FSC) within 30 days.Committee (FSC) within 30 days.• Inadequate considerationInadequate consideration• Violations of academic freedomViolations of academic freedom• Substantial procedural irregularitiesSubstantial procedural irregularities• Not: Merits of the caseNot: Merits of the case
Appeal to FSCAppeal to FSC
A subcommittee investigates.A subcommittee investigates.
FSC makes a recommendation to the FSC makes a recommendation to the President.President.
The President accepts or rejects the The President accepts or rejects the recommendation.recommendation.
Standards for PromotionStandards for Promotion Standards must be Standards must be
met in teaching, met in teaching, scholarship, and scholarship, and service.service.• Weight depends on Weight depends on
job descriptionjob description
Judgment of Judgment of professors is professors is important.important.
Faculty ManualFaculty Manual ““Attainment of the rank of Professor is an Attainment of the rank of Professor is an
indication that, in the opinion of colleagues, an indication that, in the opinion of colleagues, an individual has made, and continues to make, individual has made, and continues to make, outstanding contributions to a major area of outstanding contributions to a major area of the individual’s work assignmentthe individual’s work assignment.” (p. 66) .” (p. 66)
Faculty ManualFaculty Manual (continued) (continued)
““Satisfaction of minimum criteria Satisfaction of minimum criteria at the unit level is not sufficientat the unit level is not sufficient to ensure promotion.” to ensure promotion.”
“…“…some successful faculty members some successful faculty members will complete their careers without will complete their careers without being promoted to the rank of being promoted to the rank of Professor.” (p. 66)Professor.” (p. 66)
Faculty ManualFaculty Manual (continued) (continued)
““Candidates for promotion to Candidates for promotion to Professor must show clear and Professor must show clear and convincing evidence of convincing evidence of persistent persistent high levels of attainment in the high levels of attainment in the criteria appropriate to their workcriteria appropriate to their work assignment and to the mission of assignment and to the mission of their units, including increasing their units, including increasing service to the institution, service to the institution, professional organizations, and/or professional organizations, and/or society.” (p. 66)society.” (p. 66)
Faculty ManualFaculty Manual (continued) (continued) ““Documented evidence that the Documented evidence that the
quality and quantity of the quality and quantity of the accomplishments of the candidate accomplishments of the candidate are at a are at a significantly higher level significantly higher level than that expected of an than that expected of an Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor is required.” is required.” (p. 66)(p. 66)
Faculty ManualFaculty Manual (continued) (continued) ““National, and preferably National, and preferably
international, prominence must international, prominence must be demonstrated through some be demonstrated through some form of recognized achievement form of recognized achievement reviewed by appropriate reviewed by appropriate professionals for promotion to professionals for promotion to Professor.” (p. 66)Professor.” (p. 66)
Standards (continued)Standards (continued)
““Criteria for promotion Criteria for promotion to … Professor are to to … Professor are to be articulated and be articulated and supplemented by supplemented by criteria developed at criteria developed at the department, the department, school, and/or college school, and/or college level to emphasize level to emphasize goals and objectives.” goals and objectives.” ((Faculty ManualFaculty Manual, p. , p. 65)65)
Standards (continued)Standards (continued)
Time in rank is not Time in rank is not sufficient.sufficient.
Administrative service Administrative service is not sufficient.is not sufficient.
National or National or international international prominence is prominence is required.required.
Standards for Regents ProfessorStandards for Regents Professor
Tenured full professorTenured full professor Served WSU for at least the Served WSU for at least the
preceding 7 yearspreceding 7 years National or international prominenceNational or international prominence No more than 30.No more than 30. No more than 2 nominations per year No more than 2 nominations per year
per Collegeper College
Promotion Myth 1Promotion Myth 1 Promotion is a right. I Promotion is a right. I
will be promoted if I will be promoted if I do a reasonable job.do a reasonable job.
• “…“…some successful some successful faculty members faculty members will complete their will complete their careers without careers without being promoted to being promoted to the rank of the rank of Professor.” (Professor.” (Faculty Faculty ManualManual, p. 66), p. 66)
Promotion Myth 2Promotion Myth 2 Getting promoted is tough. Most Getting promoted is tough. Most
faculty will never be full professors.faculty will never be full professors.
• Faculty are hired on the assumption that Faculty are hired on the assumption that they will become full professors.they will become full professors.
• 94% of candidates over the years 2000 - 94% of candidates over the years 2000 - 2008 were promoted. 2008 were promoted.
Some faculty members never stand for Some faculty members never stand for promotion.promotion.
Promotion Myth 3Promotion Myth 3 Only research and Only research and
grant funding grant funding count.count.• Performance in Performance in
teaching, teaching, scholarship, and scholarship, and service all count.service all count.
• The exact factors The exact factors and their weights and their weights vary by department.vary by department.
Learn about your Learn about your department.department.
Promotion Myth 4Promotion Myth 4
Being promoted to Being promoted to professor is a professor is a license to retire.license to retire.• Regents professorRegents professor• Professors can be Professors can be
fired. fired. • Raises are based on Raises are based on
performance.performance.
Promotion Myth 5Promotion Myth 5 A majority “vote” leads to promotion.A majority “vote” leads to promotion.
• Faculty recommendations are advice, not really votes.Faculty recommendations are advice, not really votes.
• Promotion is based on many factors (e.g., external Promotion is based on many factors (e.g., external letters, summaries of dean and chair).letters, summaries of dean and chair).
• A simple majority does not yield promotion.A simple majority does not yield promotion. Thoughtful recommendations carry more weight.Thoughtful recommendations carry more weight. Some faculty recommendations count more than others. Some faculty recommendations count more than others. Faculty members may write negative recommendations Faculty members may write negative recommendations
while “voting” positively. These recommendations are while “voting” positively. These recommendations are counted as negative. counted as negative.
Promotion Myth 6Promotion Myth 6 If one professor “votes” against me, I If one professor “votes” against me, I
won’t be promoted.won’t be promoted.• Negative recommendations may not be Negative recommendations may not be
decisive.decisive.• Many successful faculty members Many successful faculty members
receive negative “votes”.receive negative “votes”.
Promotion Myth 7Promotion Myth 7
If you’re well liked, you’ll be If you’re well liked, you’ll be promoted; if not, you won’t.promoted; if not, you won’t.• Academics tolerate eccentric behavior.Academics tolerate eccentric behavior.• You will not be promoted if your You will not be promoted if your
behavior interferes with the functioning behavior interferes with the functioning of your unit. of your unit.
• Faculty members who are well-liked Faculty members who are well-liked may have an easier time.may have an easier time.
Promotion Myth 8 Promotion Myth 8 I’ll be promoted if I I’ll be promoted if I
have x papers.have x papers.• Teaching and Teaching and
service count.service count.• Quality counts.Quality counts.• Level of Level of
contribution counts.contribution counts.• Other factors Other factors
contribute to contribute to scholarship (e.g., scholarship (e.g., grant funding).grant funding).
Promotion Myth 9Promotion Myth 9
If Professor X was promoted, I’ll be If Professor X was promoted, I’ll be promoted.promoted.
• Cases are judged on their merits relative to Cases are judged on their merits relative to standards, not in comparison to others.standards, not in comparison to others.
• You do not know everything about Professor X. You do not know everything about Professor X.
• Standards change over time, etc.Standards change over time, etc.
Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions Can a candidate withdraw his (her) Can a candidate withdraw his (her)
case?case?• Candidates for promotion may withdraw Candidates for promotion may withdraw
at any time.at any time.
FAQs (continued)FAQs (continued) What should be in the context What should be in the context
statement?statement?• Explanations of any unusual challenges Explanations of any unusual challenges
or opportunitiesor opportunities
FAQsFAQs Is early promotion Is early promotion
permitted?permitted?
• ““Only under Only under extraordinary extraordinary circumstances will a circumstances will a person be person be recommended for recommended for promotion to Professor promotion to Professor when he or she has when he or she has served as Associate served as Associate Professor for fewer than Professor for fewer than 6 years.” 6 years.” Faculty Faculty ManualManual (p. 66). (p. 66).
• Only with the Provost’s Only with the Provost’s prior approvalprior approval
FAQs (continued)FAQs (continued) Can excellence in one area mitigate Can excellence in one area mitigate
lesser performance in another area?lesser performance in another area?• Yes, but no faculty member can omit Yes, but no faculty member can omit
one of the areas teaching, scholarship, one of the areas teaching, scholarship, and service. and service.
FAQs (continued)FAQs (continued) Can a candidate add to his (her) file Can a candidate add to his (her) file
after the file leaves the department?after the file leaves the department?• Only minor modifications are allowed Only minor modifications are allowed
(e.g., full citation of a paper listed as in (e.g., full citation of a paper listed as in press). press).
• If a submitted paper (grant) is accepted, If a submitted paper (grant) is accepted, the candidate can request the candidate can request reconsideration of the file by the reconsideration of the file by the department. department.
The EndThe End
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attendance documented in your attendance documented in your training history, training history,
please notify Human Resource please notify Human Resource ServicesServices
within 24 hours of today's date: within 24 hours of today's date:
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