Academic Promotion at the University of Warwick A guide to the process of academic promotions

Academic Promotion Promotion to the following positions are considered by the Academic Staff Committee (ASC): Teaching Fellow, Senior Teaching Fellow and Principal Teaching Fellow Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow and Principal Research Fellow Associate Professor, Reader The Vice Chancellor’s Advisory Group (VCAG) considers promotion of the following levels: Professor, Professorial Fellow and Professorial Teaching Fellow

Process Timeline Summer term (June – Aug) A memo is sent out to HoDs in May/June detailing all necessary information about the forthcoming promotion year. Included in the paperwork is general information, the criteria for promotion to all levels, CV guidelines and supporting documents. The HoDs inform HR by the end of August of any promotion cases being put forward.

Process Timeline Autumn term (Sept) By the end of September HoDs submit a full promotion case for each supported promotion application. If a self proposed case the applicant also has to submit a full case. Depending on the level of promotion being requested a number of different documents are to be included in the case.

Process Timeline Autumn term continued (Sept – Oct) HR checks all necessary paperwork has been received in all cases. For non-professorial cases, all promotion paperwork is sent out to two selected members of the ASC to review the case and the list of referees provided (where applicable). HR will then approach referees for all Teaching, Research, Associate Professor and Reader cases where references are required. For Professorial cases referees will not be contacted until after the first VCAG meeting.

Process Timeline Autumn term continued (Oct – Dec) There are a number of ASC meetings in the Autumn term. The ASC decides whether to confirm promotion, ask for more information/further references or decline the promotion. If a case is approved HR send a letter out to the candidate confirming the promotion. A copy also goes to the HoD. If more information/further references are required HR will action accordingly. If the case is unsuccessful HR will send a memo to the HoD confirming this and feedback meetings are offered to the unsuccessful candidates.

Process Timeline Autumn term continued (Oct – Dec) VCAG also meets to discuss the professorial cases. VCAG determines whether or not a case can proceed to the next stage. Individual VCAG members are assigned to look at the submitted publications. If the VCAG allow a case to proceed HR will take up the relevant references. If a case is unsuccessful a memo will be sent to the HoD and feedback offered to unsuccessful candidates.

Process Timeline Spring term (Jan - March) At the second VCAG meeting all the received references are considered along with the promotion case paperwork and also citation reports prepared by the Strategic Planning and Analytics Office (SPAO). VCAG decide whether to confirm promotion, request more references or not support promotion. If a case is approved HR will send a letter out to the candidate confirming promotion. A copy also goes to the HoD. Any outstanding Teaching, Research, Reader or Associate Professor cases are considered at the Spring ASC meeting.