Promotion Information Session New faculty 1/26/16

Topics Promotion from Assistant to Associate Professor – Tenure Track vs. Non-tenure track – The basic process is the same but the timing may be different, and the consequences are different Criteria – what counts the most? – Scholarship and/or Creative work – Teaching – Service Process – Review in department, school/college APT, Dean, UAPT, Provost, President – Life after positive review or negative review

Tenure Track: Probationary Period (Tenure Clock) Limited period of time before tenure review is set at the initial appointment The maximum normal period at BU is 7 years Extensions (max of 2 are allowed for all reasons) – Situations that severely hamper your ability to fulfill all of your University obligations to conduct scholarly/creative work and/or teach – Your Dean must request on your behalf – Extension is automatic for Childbirth Leave, Workload Reduction – You can always ask for review at the original time, or earlier

NTT Timeline – When Should You Apply? Most initial appointments are for 3 years, sometimes longer or shorter The time of reappointment is a perfect time to discuss promotion expectations If you are not in a position to go up for promotion within 10 years, something is not as it should be…. You need the support of your Chair and Dean Apply from a position of strength

Scholarship/Creative Work: what counts the most? Quality, Impact, Independence, Quantity How to measure quality? – What are disciplinary expectations? – Department/school expectations? How to measure impact? – External recognition through prizes, grants, letters How much is enough? What is the trajectory of your productivity?

Teaching: what counts the most? Student evaluations Peer evaluations Efforts to improve New courses, innovation in teaching are always a positive; textbooks count as “teaching” Teaching cannot compensate for significant weakness in Scholarship/Creative work for promotion at Boston University, regardless of tenure status NTT may take longer, but the quality we expect is the same as TT – we do not have a double standard

Service: what counts the most? Professional Service – because it is evidence of impact as well as service Internal service expectations vary widely among departments and schools If you think you may be doing too much internal service, you very likely are Don’t be seduced by the rewards of service Make your service do at least double duty

Years 1-3 Research and Teaching – which one takes more of your effort depends on conditions and discipline Start keeping meticulous track of everything you do professionally Push yourself to become better known Try to make your (limited) service do at least double duty

Mid-Tenure or Re-appointment Review Formal assessment of progress May be helpful to fill out Promotion Application Part II as discussion aid/reality check Each school crafts its own process but it is intended to be constructive, including a chance to discuss what you need to make even better progress Usually tied in time to appointment renewal If successful and on TT, you may be eligible for a semester of Junior Scholar Leave

Junior Scholar Leave (from Faculty Handbook) Tenure -track Assistant Professors (or Associate Professors in the Law School) who have undergone a formal mid-tenure review and are deemed to be making good progress towards achieving tenure, are eligible to apply to the Dean of the school or college for one semester of paid Junior Scholar Leave, to concentrate solely on scholarly and/or creative work in the final years before tenure review. The leave will be granted if, in the Dean’s estimation, it is likely to strengthen the candidate’s overall application for tenure at Boston University.

Promotion Review Year with or without Tenure You complete the Promotion Application Part II and provide any additional materials required by your school – usually in the late Spring or early Summer before the academic year in which your tenure/promotion decision will be made Part II is available in our Forms Library: -library/ -library/ Dean will solicit external evaluations

External Letters Solicited by the Dean and/or Chair – you have no role in this – you may suggest up to 3 names in Part II, but they will be automatically considered “not arm’s length,” so proceed with caution letters will be needed for your case, predominantly arm’s length All evaluators are asked the same questions about all candidates We seek evaluations from people at peer+ institutions for your discipline, “un-solicited” letters have no place in our process All levels see the same letters

External Letters – What We Ask We ask that you begin by describing any relationship you might have with Professor XXXX 1. What is the scholarly and/or creative work that has earned him/her national or international recognition? 2. How does s/he compare to others at similar stages in their careers and to the best [researchers/scholars/artists] in the field when they were at a comparable stage? Specific comparisons are often helpful. 3. How would you rate her/his future promise? 4. We would appreciate your comments on the candidate’s service to the profession at the local, national or international level. 5. Do you have first hand knowledge of the candidate’s effectiveness as a teacher or mentor? If so, we would appreciate your insights on those activities as well. 6. Finally, we would greatly appreciate your candid opinion as to whether Professor XX would be promoted to Associate Professor at your institution.

Process once Dossier is Complete Department faculty at rank and above Chair School APT Dean UAPT (cases due by February 1) Provost President Decision by May 15 – how will you hear?

Updates Send in new information any time during the review year – please let us know if you have a new acceptance, grant, honor of any kind Contact your Dean’s Office if your update is before Feb 1, or the Provost’s Office (Steve Marois or me) if after Feb 1

Negative Decisions and Appeals Dean recommends AGAINST promotion Candidate appeals to the Provost within 10 days Provost supports appeal, sends case to UAPT Provost denies appeal Candidate does not appeal Terminal Year contract if TT; if NTT you stay in rank

Negative Decisions and Appeals Provost decides AGAINST promotion Candidate appeals to the President within 10 days President supports appeal, promotion is made President denies appeal Candidate does not appeal Terminal Year contract if TT; if NTT you stay in rank

Positive Decision You will hear by May 15; all decisions (positive and negative) are transmitted at the same time – We contact your Dean and send a certified letter to your home address Depending on your full semesters of full-time service, you may be eligible for a sabbatical leave as early as the next Fall You will receive an automatic promotion raise of 10%, effective in September (the beginning of the next academic year, when all raises are effective). This is in addition to a normal merit raise.

Questions? Suggestions? Julie Sandell