1. Career Trajectory

In order to be reappointed in the Teaching Line, Associate Professors should continue to make meritorious contributions to their discipline and to the School.  Reflecting an upward trajectory, candidates for promotion from Associate Professor (Teaching) to Professor (Teaching) should have compiled a significant record of accomplishment since the time of the initial appointment or last reappointment and met the criteria for promotion to the higher rank.

2. Timing of the Reappointment Review

Under normal circumstances, reappointment reviews for Associate Professors and Professors are initiated one year in advance of the appointment end date.  However, the timing of the initiation of the evaluation process at the departmental level is at the discretion of the department chair, taking into account factors including the end date of a current appointment, the possible start date for the reappointment if the outcome of the School and University process is favorable, and considerations relating to notice of non-renewal and possible terminal year requirements if the outcome is negative.  University policies regarding negative reappointment and promotion decisions and notice of non-renewal are found in the University Faculty Handbook at Chapter 2.8.3. and 4.4.5.

In cases where reappointment reviews are initiated more or less than one year in advance of the appointment end date, the department chair should inform the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs, who will then need to endorse the timing of the review.

3. Timing of the Promotion Review

Associate Professors (Teaching) are normally considered for promotion to Professor (Teaching) one year in advance of the appointment end date, that is, at the beginning of the fifth year of the appointment or reappointment term.  However, promotions may be initiated at any time when there evidence that the faculty member has compiled a significant record of accomplishment since the time of the initial appointment or last reappointment and that criteria for the higher rank have been met.

Consultation between the department chair and the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs is essential prior to initiating a review process leading toward early promotion. The process can only be initiated with the consent of the candidate and with the approval of the Vice Dean for Academic Affairs.

Unsuccessful candidates for early promotion may be proposed again at the normal time if that remains desirable to the candidate and the department.  However, in order to avoid potential awkwardness following a negative promotion decision, it is prudent to initiate an early promotion review only when a positive outcome can be anticipated with reasonable confidence based on the available evidence.