Academic Promotion Preparation Guidelines at Macquarie University

1. Preparing for PromotionThursday 17 March 2011 Professor Judyth Sachs Professor Jim Piper Mr Tim Sprague

2. Principles Macquarie University: • is committed to recognising and rewarding sustained excellence in its staff • recognises the diversity of the institution • committed to principles of equity, equal opportunity, privacy and confidentiality

3. Policy Must demonstrate sustained achievement at your current level of appointment in the three areas of academic endeavour: • Teaching • Research • Community Engagement

4. For promotion • Demonstrate how you meet the criteria of the level to which you seek promotion and • Demonstrate that your all-round performance clearly exceeds the expectations and criteria of your current level.

5. Standards Levels B and C – excellence in at least one element Level D – excellence in at least two elements Level E – excellence in all three elements

6. Selection Criteria Indicative Minimum level of experience, skills and knowledge expected at each Level Separated into three elements: • Teaching • Research • Community Engagement

7. Planning • Time to put together application • (one month, one year, two years etc) • Profile for application • (criteria, profile myths) • Comfort level: risk taking • 10%, 50%, too early, too late, just right

8. Appraising • Aren’t you simply good at your current level? • Why is now the right time? • Rather than last year, or next year • Am I ramping or stepping? • Qualitative or quantitative • Not time served • What will I do if I am unsuccessful?

9. Packaging • The “I”s have it • Impact or influence • Innovation or initiative • International or invitation • Teaching • What got, what need, how package • Research • What got, what need, how package • Community Engagement • What got, what need, how package

10. Organising Others Head of Department • Involve early • Help them do their job • This is what I think I need to do … What do you think I need to do? • Be prepared to hear that the application might be premature

11. Organising Others Referees • Your responsibility • Involve early • Help them do their job • Be prepared to hear that improvements needed • Preferably not someone you have published or researched with in the last 5 years • Be strategic – appropriate to profile, knowledgeable of work, people of standing, preferably international

12. Preparing Paperwork • Information on the HR website: http://www.hr.mq.edu.au/PolicyForms/DevelopingatMacquarie/AcademicPromotion.html • Policy / Procedure on Policy Central • Contact HR for help • Ask previously successful colleagues if you can look at their applications • Accurate, simple, succinct • Help people on committees do their job

13. Application Draft 1: work up with “mentor” Draft 2: discuss with Head of Department Draft 3: discuss with Executive Dean Draft 4: three reads • Friend, foe, swinger Draft 5: almost there: let sit • Accurate simple, succinct Final

14. Discipline Report • Prepared by Head of Department • Opportunity for HoD to describe your discipline • Allows Promotion Committee members to interpret the significance of your achievements in relation to the discipline standards and the area of your work • Sight report yourself • Provide comments, if appropriate

15. Preparing for an interview • Head of Department: discuss, rehearse possible Q and A • Candidate nominee (friend): another academic who has expertise and in-depth knowledge of work • If called for interview – must attend

16. Preparing for the interview • No surprises • Make it a positive experience; interview should value add • Rehearse – accurate, simple, succinct, display discipline knowledge but don’t retreat into jargon • Be confident, competent and communicate clearly

17. Promotions Committees Faculty Committees for Level B University Committees for Levels C, D and E External Assessor – Level E only • nominated by HoD • application sent with 3 pieces you select from your research evidence • report included in Level E Committee considerations

18. Research Applicants required to address: • Research performance • Leadership in research • Research mentoring and research training (eg HDR supervision) • Research collaborations

19. Research • Important to demonstrate evidence • Include rankings of articles as per the ARC publication ratings • Citations (or equivalent recognition in their field)

20. Important to Note • There is application support with 4 templates (compulsory) • 3 rounds per year instead of 1 & Level E can be applied for in every round • Regular opportunities to reward and recognise academic staff for their achievements. • Applicants are notified just 4 months after submission • Promotion is effective just 1 month after notification • Applicant can add comments to Discipline Report irrespective of whether the Exec Dean has commented

21. Responsibilities of Applicant • No late applications accepted under any circumstances – must submit application by 5pm EST to C4B on the deadline date • Academic Promotion Policy and Procedure must be read prior to compiling an application • Must ensure referees submit their references directly to Lisa Warren in HR by the deadline • Must ensure that the Discipline Report is completed by the HOD and submitted with application by the deadline

22. Questions?