2.4.H. Criteria

The University recognizes that there are significant variations in how candidates qualify for and secure initial appointment, reappointment and promotion, according to field or discipline.  Scholars come from different backgrounds and receive different educational training.  Nevertheless, all faculty appointments have in common the requirement of excellence, however measured.

Excellence in scholarship and teaching (and clinical care, if applicable) is an important prerequisite for a tenured appointment at Stanford because the University is dedicated to outstanding achievement in both.  The purpose of the appointment, reappointment or promotion evaluation is to appraise, on the basis of the record to date, the candidate’s standing in and impact on their scholarly discipline (broadly defined) and the candidate’s quality as a teacher (and as a clinician, if applicable).

The criteria detailed below should be considered in concert with Sections 2.4.I. (Application of the Criteria) and 2.4.J., 2.4.K. and 2.4.L, which address specific criteria for the ranks of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor, respectively.

1. Scholarship

The first criterion for a UTL appointment at Stanford is that the candidate must have achieved (or, in the case of Assistant Professors, have the promise to achieve) true distinction in  scholarship.  For the Associate Professor rank, the scholarship must reveal that the candidate is not only among the best in their experience cohort in a broadly defined field, but is also likely to become one of the very best in that field.  At the rank of Professor, the scholarship must reveal that the candidate is one of the very best in the broadly defined field.   In short, the judgment is comparative and (for the Assistant and Associate Professor ranks) predictive.

For further information regarding the application of criteria for scholarship, see Section 2.4.I.

2. Teaching

The second criterion for a UTL appointment is promise – or a record demonstrating – that the candidate is capable of sustaining a first-rate teaching program during their career at Stanford.

For further information regarding the application of criteria for teaching, see Section 2.4.I.

3. Clinical Care

Excellence in clinical practice or clinical care is a requirement for those candidates whose duties include such practice.

For further information regarding the application of criteria for clinical care, see Section 2.4.I.

4. Institutional Service

UTL candidates for appointment, reappointment or promotion are primarily assessed on the basis of their achievements in the areas of scholarship, teaching and, if relevant, clinical care, as noted above.  Service (including what might be called institutional citizenship), although relevant, is not a primary criterion.

The quality of the institutional service, however, may be considered in the appointment, reappointment or promotion process; in most cases, this will be at the rank of Professor and, less frequently, Associate Professor. Since a major commitment to service activities detracts from the time available for the primary areas of scholarship, teaching and, if relevant, clinical care, Assistant Professors are discouraged from significant administrative commitment and departments are discouraged from requiring such.