Minutes of a Regular Meeting, June 22-23, 2004 - Digital Collections

REGENTS’ POLICY MANUALSECTION 2—ACADEMICSADVANCEMENT IN RANKAdvancement in rank is a major way in which the University recognizes a faculty member'sachievements. A promotion is not a routine reward for satisfactory service but reflects a positiveappraisal of high professional competence and accomplishment as judged and evaluated by individuals inthe faculty member's profession, at the local regional and national or international level as appropriate tothe rank being sought, and by individuals within the University. Promotion decisions are to be madeindependent from tenure decisions.Criteria for PromotionDecisions to promote a faculty member must be made in light of a thorough evaluation of his or herperformance in all the areas of faculty activity as specified in the department and college promotion andtenure criteria and procedures. Promotion criteria for tenure-track faculty will mirror those criteria fortenure contained in Section 3.9.4.Each college and department must have a document that sets forth the standards and proceduresgoverning promotion and tenure of faculty within that college and department. The college anddepartment documents may specify standards that are more specific than those of the University, providedthey do not conflict with the standards of the University, and the procedures must be consistent with theprocedures described herein. The document must be approved by the faculty of the college, by the dean,and the Senior Vice President and Provost. The document must be distributed to the faculty of theacademic unit.The candidate's performance should be measured against the following institutional criteria, in addition tothe criteria defined in the college and department promotion documents:Promotion to assistant professor is usually based on an advanced degree, and/or certifications(s) that arestandard prerequisites for an academic appointment in their discipline, appropriate experience, andpromise for academic accomplishment;(a) Promotion to associate professor usually is based on five (5) or more years as an assistant professor,a sustained record of academic accomplishment in teaching, research/scholarly achievement, andprofessional service, strong academic performance and promise. This record of accomplishmentmust document an emerging reputation of regional or national scope in the candidate's academicfield. Professional publications will be an important element in assessing regional or nationalrecognition, although other factors will also be considered.(b) Promotion to professor is a high honor, and usually is based on five (5) or more years as an associateprofessor and demonstration of superior achievements and continued excellence in their academicendeavors. Faculty at this rank should have fully achieved national or international recognition forwork in their respective disciplines as evidenced by major contributions to teaching,research/scholarly achievement, and service.(c) Length of time in a given rank is not in itself a sufficient reason for promotion.(d) Promotion should indicate that the faculty member is of comparable stature with others in the same(e) rank and discipline at peer institutions.THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA 33