Promotion

1. Associate Professor to Professor & Assistant Professor to Associate Professor (for already tenured or special-status assistant professors) The material herein is to be viewed as supplemental and in no way is to be construed as superseding the PAcs. Updated 10/16/07 Promotion

2. Promotion Process &Standards • Relevant Academic Policies: • PAc-2 on Promotion • PAc-1 on Definition of Academic Titles • PAc-27 on Tenure (promotion from assistant professor to associate professor) • Department Faculty Evaluation Plan (FEP) • That portion of the FEP dealing with promotion • That portion of the FEP dealing with tenure(promotion from rank of assistant professor to associate professor)

3. Promotion from Assistant Professorto Associate Professor Standards for promotion from assistant professor to associate professor are essentially the same as those for tenure. To support a bid for promotion from assistant professor to associate professor, the promotion portfolio, like the tenure portfolio, must demonstrate both • Accomplishment to date sufficient for the awarding of tenure and promotion to associate professor • As well as the potential for continued development in the three areas: teaching, professional achievement, and professional service

4. PAc-1 specifies that . . . • “The Associate Professor shall possess the terminal degree in the teaching field.” [PAc-1] • “The faculty member must have been an Assistant Professor for a minimum of five years, three of which must have been at Morehead State University.” [PAc-1] • If a faculty member applies previous service at another institution to the time in rank requirement, the previous service must be documented with respect to teaching excellence, professional achievement, and service to that institution and community.” [PAc-2]

5. Promotion from Associate Professor to Professor • Whereas PAc-27 makes it clear that tenure and promotion to associate professor are largely granted on the basis of potential as evidenced by achievements to date, by contrast, promotion to professor requires the demonstration of superior achievements in all of the 3 areas of teaching, professional achievement, and service.

6. PAc-1 states that . . . • The rank of professor “should be reserved for persons of proven stature in their fields.” [PAc-1] • The candidate “must show evidence of outstanding teaching, professional achievement, and service to the University” during the relevant period (i.e., since the last promotion and in particular in the most recent 5 years). [PAc-1]

7. Promotion Standards • At all levels of review “Evaluations will be guided by promotion standards contained in the departmental FEP” (PAc-2). • “At each level, the review process will reflect the perspective of the reviewing body as well as the principles of the Mission Statement” (PAc-2).

8. Annual Reviews &Promotion PAc-2 on Promotion contains the following proviso: “Performance-based salary increase (PBSI) and promotion evaluations are separate processes, and consequently, meeting or exceeding PBSI criteria does not automatically ensure a favorable promotion decision. PBSI evaluations are based on annual performance whereas promotion evaluations are based on cumulative performance” (PAc-2). PAc-27 on Tenure contains a similar statement.

9. Essential Elements of the Promotion Portfolio • The essential elements are the letter of intent, the c.v., and department FEPs. • “Documentation” for the areas of teaching, professional achievement, and service is essential, but what to include, and how much, is left up to the individual. • The failure to include certain items may result in a portfolio that gives an incomplete picture of one’s record. • BUT, the failure to be selective or to present materials in an organized fashion may result in a portfolio that obscures a candidate’s strengths.

10. Major Divisions of the Promotion Portfolio • Introductory Section • Teaching Documents “teaching excellence” [PAc-2] & “outstanding” teaching [PAc-1]) • Professional Achievement Documents “outstanding” professional achievement [PAc-1]) • Service Documents “outstanding” service [PAc-1]) • FEPs (for relevant years)

11. Introductory Section of the Promotion Portfolio • Formal letter of intent • Portfolio Summary / Extended Curriculum Vitae (following guidelines in PAc-2) • Documentation of years in rank- years at MSU as well as service at other institutions in the relevant time period

12. Formal Letter of Intent(addressed to chair of academic department) • States desire to be considered for promotion • Notes current rank and time in rank • Contains summary of major responsibilities and activities during time in rank, BUT is not a list repeating what is on the c.v. • reflective statement 1 to 2 pages long (3 pages maximum)

13. TEACHING(“Teaching Excellence” / “Outstanding Teaching”) • First, provide a full picture of your teaching with documentation that supports solid competence in all aspects of teaching • Second, document and highlight your special strengths as a teacher • Testimonials, letters of support, and teaching evaluations do not make a case for teaching excellence

14. Teaching Statement (a good idea) Course Materials A developed, thoughtful statement of teaching philosophy placed at front of section on teaching (1 to 2 pages maximum) Supporting evidence may include such things as sample syllabi, assignments, and exams from a range of courses; sample graded papers, outstanding student work; and, evidence of innovative teaching methods, including the use of technology Teaching Section

15. Student Evaluations Teaching Observations IDEA, other normed forms, supplemental student evaluations (based on department requirements) By department chair and/or other faculty Teaching Evaluations . . .

16. PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENT • Offprints and/or photocopies of ALL articles published • Copies of books written or edited • Copies of book reviews, encyclopedia entries, etc. • Copies of papers presented and/or conference programs • Documentation of grants awarded • Depending on how many publications and presentations you have and how long you have been in rank, you may need to be selective. The most recent 5 years should be thoroughly documented

17. Distinguish Work Based OnTypes of Publications • Scholarly articles in peer-reviewed journals in your field • Articles in non-peer reviewed journals • Other types of works (e.g., book reviews, encyclopedia entries) • Works appearing in other venues (e.g., contributions to newsletters, publications geared professional or lay public)

18. Distinguish carefully between works in print, works accepted but not yet in print, works submitted but not accepted, and works in progress Provide offprints or photocopies for works in print If not in print yet, provide Letters of acceptance Copies of papers submitted and documentation of submission Copies of work in progress Documentation Continued

19. Accurately group and label materials on your c.v. and in the portfolio. • The nature and extent of your involvement in any joint venture should be made clear. • Provide names of co-authors. • Distinguish between primary, secondary, tertiary authors, etc.

20. For Presentations and Grants • Provide a copy of the paper and the conference program for a presentation already given, or • Provide a letter of acceptance for a proposal and a copy of the proposal and/or draft of the paper/presentation • Document the awarding of a grant if a proposal is funded, or • Provide a copy of the proposal (if submitted, document status)

21. Documenting an ongoing research agenda: • Work in progress • Proposals for papers not yet accepted • Proposals for grants not yet funded • Rejections can demonstrate scholarly activity—and sometimes even scholarly excellence

22. SERVICE • List service activities on the c.v., with beginning and ending dates of service • Distinguish Service Categories • university-level • college-level • department • professional organizations, and • community engagement in your capacity as a professional or expert in your field (e.g., P-12 service in the schools)

23. Documentation of service should be selective • DO document major contributions of service • Show evidence of the quality of a significant service contribution wherever possible. • Highlight leadership roles and distinctive contributions through service

24. Professional Service • Document service to professional organizations, including offices held and committee memberships. • Document involvement with local, regional, or national professional groups in “business, industry, trade, education, and government” (PAc-27). • Document other outside service “as a University representative” (PAc-27), including involvement with P-12 schools.

25. Things to Remember: • The key elements are organization, selectivity, and relative proportioning among the sections. • Your portfolio should fill no more than two 2-inch notebooks • Be scrupulous about categories and claims, particularly in the area of professional achievement • Additional documentation should be organized and kept in your office to be accessed if necessary

26. Quality versus Quantity • The portfolio is to support a claim to teaching excellence. • Provide evidence to support a claim to significant professional achievement and an ongoing commitment to the profession or discipline itself. • Remember that membership on a committee does not by itself give an indication of the extent or nature of one’s contribution.