2.3.K. Specific/Supplementary Criteria for Assistant Professors
1. Appointment
Individuals appointed as Assistant Professors will have completed their house staff training and, where appropriate, postdoctoral fellowship training. They must demonstrate excellence or promise of excellence in the overall mix of contributions in clinical care, teaching and scholarly activity that advances clinical medicine appropriate to the programmatic need upon which the appointment will be based. There should be evidence that candidates have the promise to attain regional recognition for excellence in the overall mix of contributions. If these individuals have not had formal teaching experience, they should have demonstrated during their house staff and fellowship training a commitment to teaching, and they should have the potential to meet or exceed acceptable standards in teaching.
The initial term of appointment will generally be for four years.
2. Reappointment
Although term appointments are frequently made with the clear possibility of reappointment or promotion, there is no entitlement to such action at the end of the term, and it is not automatic. Given the structure of an Assistant Professor’s initial appointment (four years) and, if successful, reappointment (up to six years), the reappointment review represents a particularly pivotal milestone, both for the Assistant Professor and the department, and the performance of the candidate will be carefully measured against the criteria for reappointment.
Assistant Professors in the UML are assessed for reappointment on the basis of their performance and achievements in the areas of clinical care, teaching and scholarly activity that advances clinical medicine. They may be reappointed based on evidence of progress, high-level performance, and continuing programmatic need. Written scholarship that advances the field will nearly always be required for reappointment to the rank of Assistant Professor. There should be evidence that the candidate will continue to successfully fill the programmatic need for which the reappointment is made and to make meritorious contributions to their discipline and to the School. There should be evidence that candidates have the promise to attain regional recognition for excellence in the overall mix of contributions.
At the time of reappointment, it is expected that an Assistant Professor will be on a career trajectory consistent with both Stanford standards and the standards of their discipline in clinical care, teaching and scholarship. The reappointment process should include an evaluation of whether there is a realistic chance for promotion in the future on the basis of continuation of the candidate’s work.
The term of reappointment will generally be for six years.
During the seventh year in rank, the department chair (or designate) will prepare a written counseling memo, which will evaluate and document the Assistant Professor’s performance in light of the criteria for promotion.
Annual counseling will continue to be required to monitor progress toward reappointment, as well as the subsequent promotion review (which, under normal circumstances, will be initiated at the beginning of the tenth year). Serious concerns regarding the faculty member’s progress that could impede reappointment or promotion will need to be discussed with the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs as soon as they emerge.
For the timing of reappointment consideration, see Section 2.3.G.