John D. Bower School of Population Health
DOCUMENT TYPE: Policy
REVIEW PERIOD: 1
Year
TITLE: SOPH
Faculty Promotion for Tenure Track Faculty
PURPOSE: To establish
a standard for appointments and promotions for tenure track faculty in the John
D. Bower School of Population Health at the University of Mississippi Medical
Center.
POLICY: All
appointments and promotions of ranked faculty members of the John D. Bower School
of Population Health are made by the Board of Trustees of the University upon
the recommendation of the Dean of the John D. Bower School of Population
Health, the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs, and the Chancellor of the
University of Mississippi in conformity with the approved policies of the
University. No appointment is official until it is approved by the Board of
Trustees and announced by the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs.
PROCEDURE:
Introduction. Advancement
in academia depends on adequate qualification in three areas: education,
research, and service. Promotion in rank and the granting of tenure in any department
requires established excellence in at least two of the three areas and
competence in the third. The qualifications require documentation. The John D.
Bower School of Population Health’s (SOPH) Faculty Promotions for Tenure Track
Faculty Policy will assist the faculty member and the chair in preparing the
required documentation for the faculty member’s promotion and/or tenure
portfolio.
A. FACULTY TITLES, TRACKS, AND EMPHASIS
AREAS
- Faculty
Titles. The following titles will be used for
faculty members:
- Instructor: An
individual who has attained the minimal degree, training, and/or scholarly
productivity appropriate for the discipline. The individual may still be in training (e.g.,
senior post-doctoral fellow). Instructor is not a ranked faculty title.
- Assistant Professor: An
individual with a doctoral or other appropriate terminal degree who has potential in
education, research, and/or service missions of the SOPH and institution.
Assistant Professor is a ranked faculty title.
- Associate Professor: An
individual with a doctoral or other appropriate terminal degree who substantially
contributes to the education, research, and/or service missions of the
SOPH and institution. Associate Professor is a ranked faculty title.
- Professor: An
individual with a doctoral or other appropriate terminal degree who continually
contributes substantially to the education, research, and/or service missions of
the SOPH and institution and who has gained national and/or international recognition. Professor is a
ranked faculty title.
It is emphasized that "time in rank" is a consideration. Promotion is based on evidence of excellence or competence in education, research, and service, and it is based on evidence of commitment to the SOPH and institution. In the case of new faculty recruits to the SOPH, "time in rank" at other accredited academic institutions is not automatically awarded but may be considered on a case-by-case basis at the time of hire.
- Tracks. There are two tracks: tenure and non-tenure. Tenure exists
both for the protection of academic freedom of the faculty in institutions of
higher education and for the creation of a sufficient degree of economic
security to make the profession attractive to those of ability. Tenure may be
granted to members of the full-time faculty at the sole discretion of the Board
of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning (IHL) based upon the
nomination of the Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs. The award of tenure
policy is set by the Board of Trustees Policy §403 and is, thus, subject to
change by the Board. Tenure is conferred
by a single institution and is not automatically transferable, although upon
hire, tenure time credit can be given to the faculty member.Tenure track faculty must demonstrate effort in all three emphasis areas, to reflect the mission areas of the institution: education, research, and service. Non-tenure track faculty are required to demonstrate effort in two emphasis areas. This policy describes the tenure track process.
- Tenured staff can be dismissed for:
-
Financial exigencies; or
-
Termination or reduction of programs,
academic units, or administrative units; or
- Malfeasance, inefficiency, or
contumacious conduct; or
- Cause.
Promotion in the tenure track is a rigorous path with more stringent guidelines for faculty to transition from Assistant to Associate to full Professor. Tenure track faculty must be considered for tenure in the sixth year of their probationary period of service and must complete the process by the end of their sixth year. Faculty members, with concurrence of the SOPH department chair, may apply for movement from a tenure track to a non-tenure track position or vice versa but only if a position exists in the appropriate track and the faculty member qualifies and is accepted for such a position.
Promotion and tenure are separate processes. The rank of Associate Professor is required for consideration of tenure. On occasion, one may be considered for promotion and tenure during the same academic cycle, but the two processes have different criteria and are considered independently by the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee. While being promoted is often an achievement that strengthens the tenure portfolio, it does not guarantee tenure.
-
Emphasis
Areas. The following three mission areas are
recognized as emphasis areas: education, research, and service. At the time of
promotion evaluation, contributions in all three mission areas will be
considered; however, primary consideration for granting promotion should be
based on the primary emphasis area. At the time of initial employment, the SOPH
department chair with the input of the faculty member will determine a faculty
rank, track, and emphasis areas for the faculty member. Ranked faculty members
will be evaluated for promotion according to faculty title, track, emphasis
areas, and guidelines established by the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee. Criteria
are provided as reference standards on which to evaluate faculty. Faculty members with the concurrence of the SOPH
department chair may change emphasis areas.
B. APPOINTMENT OF INSTRUCTOR AND APPOINTMENT/PROMOTION
TO ASSISTANT PROFESSOR
Initial
appointment immediately out of training would be expected to be at the Instructor
level unless a faculty member has completed extra training and scholarly
productivity beyond that which is expected. Neither the appointment of an Instructor
nor the appointment or promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor require
action of the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee. The SOPH department
requesting the appointment of an Instructor or the appointment or promotion of
a faculty to the rank of Assistant Professor must ensure that the faculty
member’s CV and portfolio have been updated in the institutional repository,
which is currently MySite, and complete the steps for an Off-Cycle Faculty
Promotion request process with the UMMC Office of Faculty Affairs.
C. APPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION TO
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR AND PROFESSOR
Appointment
or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor does require
action of the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee. The faculty member will be
considered for a faculty rank, track, and emphasis area.
D. SECONDARY APPOINTMENTS
A faculty
member who significantly contributes to the SOPH in a manner that is not
directly and explicitly a part of the primary appointment in another UMMC
school may be considered for a secondary appointment in the SOPH. A secondary
appointment may occur upon recommendation by the secondary department chair and
primary department chair to the SOPH dean. Secondary appointments do not
require action of the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee. A secondary
appointment is usually appointed at a similar rank as the primary appointment.
E. TIMING FOR CONSIDERATION OF PROMOTION
AND TENURE
To be
nominated for promotion from one faculty rank to another, the faculty member
must have completed at least five (5) full fiscal years in the lower rank using
the calendar of July 1 to June 30 beginning after placement in at least an
Assistant Professor level position. Part-time faculty are subject to meeting
the guidelines with depth and breadth. Only in exceptional circumstances, will nomination
for promotion be considered sooner than five (5) full fiscal years in rank.
UMMC does not support “skipping rank” for promotion. Except in unusual
circumstances to be determined by the dean, the faculty member shall not be
promoted to associate professor or professor except at the beginning of the
fiscal year. Reconsideration or a passed over promotion or consideration for
higher promotion will require a new nominating letter from the department chair
along with new supporting documentation.
F. THIRD
YEAR REVIEW
A Third
Year Review of tenure track faculty who are yet to be promoted from Assistant
Professor to Associate Professor will be conducted by the department chairs for
Data Science, Population Health Science, and Preventive Medicine. Additional
committee members may be assigned by the dean. The Third Year Review affords
these faculty the opportunity to document their achievements, prepare their
documentation for review, and prepare for the promotion and/or tenure process.
This review is not intended to provide an unequivocal signal of the likelihood
of earning a promotion and/or tenure. It is meant to assess the individual’s progress
toward reaching the standards needed for promotion and/or tenure. If the
faculty member is not reaching the expected level of productivity, a one year
terminal contract could be issued. More information is available in the Third year Review Guidelines.
G. DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED FOR PROMOTION
Before
a promotion can be considered, there must be adequate documentation from both
internal and external sources.
- Internal Documentation. The
internal documentation for promotion of a faculty member will be the
responsibility of the faculty member and respective department chair and shall
consist of the following items:
- Faculty member:
- The faculty member’s complete and
updated curriculum vitae (CV) (in MySite);
- The faculty member’s complete and
updated portfolio (in MySite);
- Department Chair:
- A summary recommendation from the departmental
promotion and tenure committee.
- A letter from the department chair in
support of the candidate.
- External Documentation. As
much information as possible about the candidate and the candidate’s national
stature should be obtained from a good cross-section of external sources. Three
external to UMMC reviewers should be chosen carefully by the candidate and the chair
to provide a fair and impartial evaluation of the candidate’s achievements in
comparison to faculty of a similar rank at comparable universities or health
science centers. In extenuating circumstances, two external reviewers may be
allowed with approval of the dean and department chair. The External Reviewer Relationship to Candidate
Recommendation and Evaluation Form should only be requested from external
reviewers by the department chair or the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee chair.
Furthermore, it should be stipulated that the information is confidential.
H. CHAIR RECOMMENDATION
Both
the primary responsibility for the initiation of the process for promotion
and/or tenure rests with the candidate, and the primary responsibility for
assembling the CV and portfolio documentation rests with the candidate. Primary
responsibility for the required letter from the chair rests with the chair. The
chair can best interpret individual efforts in terms of overall departmental
goals and objectives. In a cohesive and well-integrated unit, individual
members assume responsibilities on the basis of the interest, capabilities, and
requirements of the group. Thus, it is incumbent upon the department chair to
collect all the relevant data and prepare a letter of recommendation to be
addressed to the dean of the SOPH. The chair should provide a letter with
complete documentation (i.e., the CV and portfolio) as to why the candidate is
being recommended for promotion and/or tenure. It should be specific in that
examples of the candidate's accomplishments should be included in every section
dealing with the three areas under consideration. It should explicitly state
the areas in which the candidate's record is considered excellent and
competent. The letter should highlight accomplishments of the faculty in the
emphasis area(s), the faculty member’s value to the department, school, and
institution, and the rationale to support the faculty for promotion.
I. DEPARTMENTAL PROMOTION AND TENURE
COMMITTEE
Each
department should have a promotion and tenure committee that conducts a review
of the faculty member(s) being considered for promotion. The format of the
review is determined by the individual departments, but should involve senior
faculty when possible. The departmental
promotion and tenure committee shall be appointed by the department chair. The
candidate should provide the committee with a complete curriculum vitae and
portfolio. The committee will review
the documentation provided for each candidate, vote, and make recommendations
to the SOPH Promotions and Tenure Committee.
J. SOPH PROMOTION AND TENURE COMMITTEE
The SOPH
Promotion and Tenure Committee shall be appointed by the SOPH dean. A duty of
the committee shall be to determine that appropriate documentation has been
collected for each respective candidate prior to review. The committee will
review, vote, and make recommendations to the SOPH dean. Any member of the
committee who has a conflict of interest with a candidate shall not be privy to
the discussion of the candidate. After discussion is complete on each
candidate, a secret ballot shall be taken, committee members will vote yes or
no to recommend the candidate for promotion and/or tenure, and the results of
this shall be known only to the Dean. The secret ballot that comes from the SOPH
Promotions and Tenure Committee shall be considered to be advice to the SOPH dean.
- Membership:
- Primary Associate Professor or
Professor rank in the SOPH. When possible, the committee will include at least
two members who have attained tenure.
- The appointment to serve as chair of
the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee shall be made by the dean of the SOPH
or dean’s designee. The chair of the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee will
serve for one year, but can be appointed for additional terms as chair by the dean
or dean’s designee.
- The dean, or the dean’s designee,
will appoint a minimum of five (5) regular members, three (3) of whom are
primary faculty in the SOPH, and two (2) from other UMMC schools. If there are
not a sufficient number of eligible faculty members, additional committee
members may be included from other UMMC schools.
K.
PROMOTION PROCESS
- On or after July 1st, SOPH
department chairs will be notified about faculty eligible to apply for
promotion and/or tenure. SOPH department chairs will notify department
promotion and tenure committee chairs and faculty.
- By August 31, faculty should meet
with their chair and/or departmental promotion and tenure committee chair to
discuss the eligibility criteria, review the promotion and tenure policy and
procedure, and initiate the promotion and/or tenure process.
- By October 1, faculty must submit an
updated CV and an updated Portfolio in the institutional repository, which is
currently MySite.
- The department chair or department
promotion and tenure committee chair should request External Reviewer Relationship to Candidate Recommendation and
Evaluation Forms by October 31.
- External
Reviewer Relationship to Candidate Recommendation and Evaluation Forms must
be received by January 31.
- Department chair letters must be
submitted to the SOPH dean by January 31.
- The SOPH departmental promotion and
tenure committee will review the completed applications, vote, and submit recommendations
to the SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee for consideration by February 28.
- SOPH Promotion and Tenure Committee
will review the applications and recommendations from the departmental
promotion and tenure committee, vote, and submit recommendations to the SOPH
dean for consideration by March 31.
- SOPH dean will be the final authority
for promotion recommendations.
SCOPE: SOPH
Faculty
REFERENCES: John D. Bower School of Population Health
[Internet]. Third Year Review Guidelines.
APPENDIX
REFERENCE
STANDARDS FOR PROMOTION IN THE
JOHN D. BOWER SCHOOL OF POPULATION HEALTH
Reference
Standards for Promotion to Associate Professor
Tenure
Track - Research Emphasis*
Faculty members must meet the
majority (at least 4 of 7) of the standards in the following primary emphasis
area:
Research
- Evidence of being a recognized,
independent investigator (track record of non-mentored funded
grants/contracts).
-
Publication of original research in a
reputable, peer-reviewed journals (including review articles and meta-analyses)
(typically a minimum of 15 publications and at least 5 as first or senior
author).
- Active participation in national
professional societies and related organizations.
- Delivery of invited scientific seminars
or lectures at local, state, regional, national or international scientific
meetings.
- Ad hoc reviewer or editorial board
member of scientific journals.
- Active participation in graduate
training programs, post-doctoral training, training grants, or program project
grants.
- Active participation as a standing
member of a research-related committee or other administrative activity.
Faculty members must meet several
of the standards in both of the following secondary emphasis areas:
Education
- Participation in the education of
students or trainees through teaching courses, a formal role in research
mentoring programs, documentation of guest lectures, etc.
- Active participation in external
continuing education programs.
- Participation in educational programs
at UMMC.
- Special awards and nominations for
teaching efforts.
- Published manuscripts in
peer-reviewed, education-related journals.
- Evidence that the faculty member
serves as a mentor for graduate students and/or early career faculty members.
NOTE: Documentation should include: trainee achievement, number of
trainees taught, hours of trainee contact, summaries of surveys, evaluations,
and/or ratings by trainees and fellows.
Service
- Significant participation in:
- Departmental, school, health science
center or hospital committees;
-
Professional organization or society
committees and/or governing boards at a local, regional, state, or national
level; and
- Community service in support of the
missions of the institution.
- Active
roles in local, regional or national organizations and/or societies.
- Published
articles in clinical practice or service related scientific journals.
- Service
in administrative roles in the institution and the general community.
Reference
Standards for Promotion to Associate Professor
Tenure Track
- Education Emphasis*
Faculty members must meet the
majority of the standards in the following primary emphasis area:
Education
- Significant participation in:
-
The education of students, continuing
education, educational programs.
- Development and implementation of
curricular initiatives and/or teaching materials.
-
Special awards and nominations for
teaching efforts.
- Program leadership role.
- Director of an externally funded
educational grant.
- Evidence that the faculty member
serves as a role model or mentor.
- Service as reviewer or editor of
scientific educational publications.
- Regional contributions in educational
arenas.
- Published articles in education or
related fields in refereed journals (typically a minimum of 10 publications
and at least 3 as first or senior author).
NOTE: Documentation should include: trainee achievement, number of
trainees taught, hours of trainee contact, summaries of surveys, evaluations,
and/or ratings by trainees and fellows.
Faculty members must meet several
of the standards in both of the following secondary emphasis areas:
Service
- Significant participation in:
- Departmental, school, health science
center or hospital committees;
- Professional organization at a local,
regional, state, national level, or international level; or
- Community service in support of the
missions of the institution.
- Roles
in local, regional or national organizations, societies or specialty governing
boards.
- Scientific
journal manuscript reviewer.
- Author
of practical guideline articles published in scientific journals.
- Service
in administrative roles in the institution and the general community.
Research
- Publication of original research in
peer-reviewed scientific journals (typically a minimum of 10 publications).
-
Record of extramural grant and contract
support.
- Member of national professional
societies and related meetings.
- Invitations to deliver scientific
seminars or lectures at local, state, regional, national or international
scientific meetings.
- Ad hoc reviewer of scientific
journals.
- Participation in graduate programs,
post-doctoral training, training grants, or program project grants.
Reference
Standards for Promotion to Associate Professor
Tenure
Track - Service Emphasis*
Faculty members must meet the
majority of the standards in the following primary emphasis area:
Service
- Significant community engagement and
productivity consistent with percent effort as a population health practitioner
or population health management provider.
-
Participation in departmental,
school, health science center or hospital committees.
- Participation in professional
organizations or society committees at a local, regional, state, and national
level.
- Meritorious service in administrative
roles in the institution.
- Special competencies that enhance
population health education or training programs.
- Implementation of innovations that
enhance population health management in clinical or social service settings.
- Published articles in population
health management related journals.
Faculty members must meet several
of the standards in both of the following secondary emphasis areas:
Education
- Documented participation in the
education of students consistent with percent effort in educator role.
- Participation in continuing education
or other educational programs.
- Special awards and nominations for
teaching efforts.
- Evidence that the faculty member
serves as a role model or mentor.
- Published articles in education
related scientific journals.
NOTE: Documentation should include: trainee achievement, number of
trainees taught, hours of trainee contact, summaries of surveys, evaluations,
and/or ratings by trainees and fellows.
Research
- Participation in clinical trials,
cooperative groups or other types of research teams.
- Publication of original research in
peer-reviewed journals (typically a minimum of 10 publications).
- Record of extramural grant and
contract support as an investigator.
- Active participation in national
professional societies and related meetings.
- Delivery of invited scientific
seminars or lectures at regional or national scientific meetings.
- Ad hoc reviewer of scientific
journals.
- Participation in graduate training
programs, post-doctoral training, training grants, or program project grants.
Reference Standards for Promotion to Professor
Tenure
Track - Research Emphasis*
Faculty members must meet the
majority of the standards in the following primary emphasis area:
Research
- Reputation with national and
international peers as an independent investigator.
- Consistent publication of original
research in peer-reviewed journals (typically at least 40 publications and
at least 12 as first or senior author).
- Consistent record of national grant
and contract support as principal investigator or multiple principal
investigator, core director, or other leadership roles.
- Active member of national or
international professional societies and related meetings.
- Invitations to deliver scientific
seminars or lectures at local, state, regional, national, or international
scientific meetings.
- Other scholarly activities including
reviews, book chapters, books, and other forms of expansion or sharing of
knowledge and skills.
- Member of review panels or editorial
boards of scientific journals.
- Participation and leadership in
graduate programs, post-doctoral training, training grants, or program project
research grants.
- Participation and/or leadership in
research-related committees or director of a core laboratory.
- National or professional society
prizes or awards (including nominations).
Faculty members must meet several
of the standards in both of the following secondary emphasis areas:
Education
-
Participation or leadership role in
the education of students or trainees.
- Participation in continuing education
or other educational programs.
- Special awards or nominations for
teaching efforts.
- Published articles in peer-reviewed
education related journals.
NOTE: Documentation should include: trainee achievement, number of
trainees taught, hours of trainee contact, summaries of surveys, evaluations,
and/or ratings by trainees and fellows.
Service
-
Leadership roles in:
- Departmental, school, health science
center or hospital committees;
- Professional organization or society
committees and/or governing boards at a regional, state, national or
international level; and
- Community service in support of the
missions of the institution.
- Active
roles on local, regional or national organizations, societies or specialty
governing boards.
- Service
in administrative roles in the institution (e.g. Institutional Review Boards,
Research Council, etc.).
Reference
Standards for Promotion to Professor
Tenure
Track - Education Emphasis*
Faculty members must meet the
majority of the standards in the following primary emphasis area:
Education
- Significant participation and
leadership role in the education of students, continuing education, and other
educational programs.
- Published articles in education or
related fields in refereed journals (typically at least 30 publications and
at least 10 as first or senior author).
- Development and implementation of
curricular initiatives or teaching materials.
-
Special awards or nominations for
teaching efforts.
- Evidence that the faculty member
serves as a role model or mentor.
- Service on editorial boards or editor
of scientific educational journals.
- Regional and national contributions
in educational arenas.
NOTE: Documentation should include: trainee achievement, number of
trainees taught, hours of trainee contact, summaries of surveys, evaluations,
and/or ratings by trainees and fellows.
Faculty members must meet several
of the standards in both of the following secondary emphasis areas:
Service
- Participation in:
- Departmental, school, health science
center or hospital committees;
- Professional organization or society
committees and/or governing boards at a regional, state, national or
international level; and
- Community service in support of the
missions of the institution.
- Roles
on local, state, regional, national, or international organizations, societies
or specialty governing boards.
- Service
in administrative roles in the institution (e.g. Institutional Review Boards,
Research Councils, etc.).
Research
- Publication of original research in
peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Record of extramural research grant
and contract support as an investigator.
- Member of national or international
professional societies and related organizations.
-
Invitations to deliver presentations
at scientific seminars or lectures at local, state, regional, national, or
international scientific meetings.
- Ad hoc scientific journal reviewer.
- Participation in graduate programs,
post-doctoral training, training grants, or program project grants.
Reference
Standards for Promotion to Professor
Tenure
Track - Service Emphasis*
Faculty members must meet the
majority of the standards in the following primary emphasis area:
Service
- Superiority in population health
practice or population health management productivity.
- Leadership role in departmental,
school, health science center or hospital committees.
- Leadership role in professional
organization committees at a local, state, regional, national, or international
level.
-
Meritorious service as a leader in an
administrative role in the institution.
- Published articles in population
health management related journals.
- Implementation of innovations that enhance
population health and/or population health management.
- Special competencies that enhance
population health management training programs.
Faculty members must meet several
of the standards in both of the following secondary emphasis areas:
Education
- Leadership role in the
education of students or trainees.
- Leadership role in continuing
education or other educational programs.
- Published articles in education
related scientific journals.
- Special awards or nominations for
teaching efforts.
- Evidence that the faculty member
serves as a role model or mentor.
NOTE: Documentation should include: trainee achievement, number of
trainees taught, hours of trainee contact, summaries of surveys, evaluations,
and/or ratings by trainees and fellows.
Research
- Publication of original research in
peer-reviewed scientific journals.
- Consistent record of extramural grant
and contract support as an investigator.
- Active member of national
professional societies and related organizations.
- Participation in clinical trials,
cooperative groups or other research teams.
- Invitations to deliver seminars or
lectures at local, state, regional, national, or international scientific
meetings.
- Editorial board member of reviewer of
scientific journals.
- Participation and in graduate
training programs, post-doctoral training, training grants, or program project
grants.