Decision-Maker Roles in the Process

Professoriate: Department, School, and University Review Committees and Decision-Makers

• Jump to Clinician Educator Content •

Role of the Department Chair

The department chair initiates the appointment, reappointment or promotion evaluation after making an appropriate assessment of the candidate’s credentials; in larger departments, the department chair may seek the advice of the candidate’s division regarding its assessment.

Role of the Departmental Evaluation Committee or Evaluation Unit

If the department chair decides to proceed with the full evaluation, they appoint a Departmental Evaluation Committee or Evaluation Unit to conduct the formal evaluation of the candidate’s qualifications and to prepare the long form. Committee members are selected for their ability to make a critical and objective appraisal of the candidate’s qualifications in relation to the academic standards and other criteria of the University and School. The use of an Evaluation Committee or Unit depends on the size of the department; larger departments use a larger Evaluation Unit.

Role of the Departmental Faculty

In smaller departments, the long form is circulated to all faculty members at or above the candidate’s proposed rank. In larger departments, a departmental A&P committee, consisting of a subset of department faculty members at or above the proposed rank, reviews the long form. In both cases these bodies vote on the action. The vote is advisory to the department chair, who determines and forwards to the next level the department’s recommendation for the action.  

Role of the Vice Dean

The Vice Dean approves submission of the long form for consideration by the School's review committees.

Role of the Assistant Professors Review Committee (APRC)

The APRC is a standing committee, advisory to the Vice Dean, appointed to review and assess the academic credentials for initial appointment or reappointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in the University Tenure Line, the University Medical Line and the Research Line. The Committee is composed of sixteen members of the Professoriate. All members of the Committee are at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Role of the Appointments and Promotions Committee (A&P)

The A&P Committee is a standing committee, advisory to the Vice Dean, appointed to review and assess the academic credentials for initial appointment, reappointment or promotion to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor in the University Tenure Line, the University Medical Line, the Research Line and the Teaching Line. The committee is composed of sixteen members of the Professoriate representing faculty lines in both the basic and clinical sciences; all members of the Committee are at the rank of Professor with tenure or continuing term.

Options of the Vice Dean

The APRC and the A&P Committee are advisory to the Vice Dean, who decides, in their judgment and discretion, whether to make a positive or negative recommendation to the Dean, whether to remand the file to the department with instructions, or whether to take such other action as deemed appropriate.

Role of the Dean

The Dean has authority to make the final decision on term reappointments at all ranks in all faculty lines. For all other actions, the Dean decides whether to forward the file with a positive recommendation to the Provost, whether to remand the file with further instructions, or whether to take such other action as deemed appropriate.

Role of the Provost

All actions are reviewed by the Provost in order to evaluate and confirm the School's judgment: that the recommendation action is a suitable one; that the documentation is complete; and that prescribed procedures have been followed. The Provost can obtain additional information to help assess the action. They can then make a favorable decision, a negative decision, or remand the case to the department or School for further information or consideration. The Provost makes the final decision on actions in the University Medical Line and promotion to Professor for faculty in the University Tenure Line who already have tenure. Other actions in the University Tenure Line, the Research Line and Teaching Line, if favorably reviewed by the Provost, are considered by the Advisory Board.

Role of the Advisory Board

The Advisory Board is a standing committee of the Academic Council whose seven members are elected to represent the Academic Council as a whole. The Advisory Board normally assigns at least two, and sometimes more, of its members to read each file. Cases are reviewed for adherence to procedural requirements, completeness of documentation, conformance with academic standards, and suitability. The Advisory Board’s recommendations are forwarded to the President for their final review and approval.

Role of the President

The President can choose to accept or not accept the recommendations of the Advisory Board. They can make a favorable decision, a negative decision, or remand the case to the department or school for further information or consideration. Approved actions are reported to the Board of Trustees.

Clinician Educators: Department and School Review Committees and Decision-Makers

• Back to Professoriate Content •

The reappointment and promotion review processes for the Clinician Educator Line differ among departments.

Role of the Department Chair

The department chair initiates the appointment, reappointment or promotion evaluation after making an appropriate assessment of the candidate’s credentials; the department chair may seek the advice of a departmental evaluation committee or the candidate’s division regarding its assessment.

Role of the Departmental Evaluation Committee

The candidate’s review file is submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs in FASA (Faculty Academic Staff Appointments). In some departments, the chair may engage a committee to conduct the formal evaluation of the candidate’s qualifications and to prepare the file.

Role of the Office of Academic Affairs

The Office of Academic Affairs reviews the submitted files. Clinical Instructor (including Affiliated) actions are approved by OAA. Other actions in this line are presented to Clinician Educator appointment and promotion committees for review.

Role of the Clinical Assistant Professors Review Committee

The Clinical Assistant Professors Review Committee is a standing committee, advisory to the Vice Dean, appointed to review and assess the academic credentials for initial appointment or reappointment at the rank of Clinical Assistant Professor (including Affiliated) in the Clinician Educator Line. The Committee is composed of nine members of the Clinician Educator Line. All members of the Committee are at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor.

Role of the Clinician Educator Appointments and Promotions Committee

The Clinician Educator A&P Committee is a standing committee, advisory to the Vice Dean, appointed to review and assess the academic credentials for initial appointment, reappointment or promotion to the rank of Clinical Associate Professor or Clinical Professor (including Affiliated) in the Clinician Educator Line. The committee is composed of nine members of the Clinician Educator Line; all members of the Committee are at the rank of Professor.

Options of the Vice Dean

The Vice Dean has authority to make the final decision on all appointments, reappointments and promotions in the Clinician Educator Line. The Vice Dean decides whether to approve the recommendation of the review committees, whether to remand the file with further instructions, or whether to take such other action as deemed appropriate.