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4.5 Promotion of Lecturers

The criteria for appointment to a rank are discussed for each non-tenure-track appointment in Section 4.2. Annual performance reviews form the basis of a cumulative record that prepares non-tenure-track faculty for promotion.

4.5.1 Eligibility

After serving at the rank of lecturer or assistant professor, typically for a minimum of five years, a faculty member who has satisfied the criteria described in Section 4.5.2, immediately below, may apply for promotion to the rank of senior lecturer or associate professor, respectively. Senior lecturers and NTT associate professors will have the possibility of reappointment for up to three years from each reappointment date, contingent upon funding, and may be recognized by a base salary adjustment. After serving at the rank of senior lecturer or associate professor, typically for a period of three to five years, a faculty member who has satisfied the criteria described in Section 4.5.2, immediately below, may apply for promotion to the rank of distinguished lecturer or professor, respectively. Distinguished lecturers and NTT professors will have the possibility of reappointment for up to five years from each reappointment date, contingent upon funding and may be recognized by a base salary adjustment.

Like all academic appointments, these multi-year appointments consist of annual appointments that are automatically renewed for the specified term, unless terminated for cause, or by operation of some other provision in this handbook (such as relinquishment, forfeiture, or other extraordinary circumstances, as those terms are defined in Board Policies Governing Academic Freedom, Responsibility, and Tenure and in this handbook).

4.5.2 NTT Promotion Criteria

The criterion for promotion of NTTF is excellence in performing the primary responsibilities established in the initial appointment document and recorded in the annual performance and planning reviews. Promotion criteria are to be weighted in relation to the faculty member’s assigned responsibilities. It is the responsibility of departments and colleges to define excellence in terms of their respective disciplines. Each college may establish a statement of criteria and expectations, which elaborates on the general criteria found in this handbook and is consistent with the mission of the college and the professional responsibilities normally carried out by non-tenure-track faculty members in the college. Each department shall establish more detailed criteria for promotion in that unit that are consistent with but may be more specific than the criteria stated in this handbook and any criteria established by the college and campus. Departmental criteria for promotion shall not be required if more specific criteria have been established by the applicable college, and the dean and chief academic officer have approved application of the college criteria in lieu of departmental criteria. College criteria for promotion shall be effective upon approval by the chief academic officer and will be published in the bylaws of the college. Departmental criteria for promotion shall be effective upon approval by the dean and chief academic officer and will be published in the bylaws of the department.

4.5.3 NTT Promotion Process

Non-tenure-track faculty should consult with their department heads before initiating promotion procedures. The final decision on proceeding rests with the faculty member. However, if denied promotion after completion of the process described in the next paragraph, the faculty member remains at rank and must forgo at least one full promotion cycle before again initiating promotion procedures.

Department and college bylaws should establish standards and procedures relating to promotion of non-tenure-track faculty consistent with this handbook. The process begins with submission of dossier materials by the candidate and may include departmental solicitation of external letters assessing the record of scholarship and/or creative activity (if required by departmental bylaws). Departmental faculty at or above the rank to which promotion is sought review these materials and vote on promotion. Recommendation for promotion to higher rank is based on departmental/college bylaws.

The NTT promotion process begins when the candidate submits a dossier for consideration. Review occurs in turn at the departmental, college, and campus levels; the candidate shall be notified in writing of the decision at each level. For colleges without departments, the review should follow the same procedure used for the promotion and tenure process. Candidates denied promotion at the departmental level may appeal the decision to the college. Candidates denied promotion at the college level may appeal the decision to the chief academic officer.

4.5.4 Contents of the dossier

A cover sheet that records the decisions at the various levels of review must accompany the dossier. The appropriate appendix to this handbook specifies in detail the required contents of the dossier, which should not exceed 50 pages, excluding the cover sheet and the candidate’s curriculum vitae.