Factors for promotion and tenure

Criteria for tenure and promotion were established by the Personnel Committee of the Department of African American Studies. In the absence of a Promotion and Tenure Committee (P&T), promotion and tenure decisions are made by the chair in consultation with the tenured faculty in accordance with the AAUP contract. Each candidate for tenure and/or promotion is evaluated on her/his record of achievement in terms of:

• Scholarly and creative excellence
• Teaching effectiveness and instructional competence
• Relevant service

Factors related to these criteria are delineated below.

Criteria

1) Scholarly and creative excellence and achievement

Evaluative factors

a) Record of discipline-related research and publication

Evidenced by:

• Books and monographs by reputable presses; articles published in refereed journals; and chapters in edited volumes published by university presses
• Chapters in edited volumes, non-refereed journals, and encyclopedic entries
• Edited volumes
• Papers and creative performances presented at scholarly and professional meetings
• Creative productions (film, fiction, poetry, plays, etc.)
• Research grants and fellowships
• Research reports and policy studies
• Translation of other scholarly and creative works

b) Quality of research and publications

Evidenced by:

• Quality and standing of journals and presses published in
• Evaluations rendered in book reviews and review essays
• Citations found in the works of other scholars
• Awards
• Evaluations by external references/referees

Scholarly potential and contribution to the intellectual climate of the department

Evidenced by:

• Research and creative works in progress
• Grand submission and fellowship applications
• Assessment by external references
• Assessments by departmental colleagues and/or tenured adjunct faculty

2) Teaching effectiveness and instructional competence

Evaluative factors

a) Teaching skills

Evidenced by:

• Student evaluations
• Unsolicited student assessment
• Assessments by colleagues
• Course syllabi
• Awards

b) Responsiveness

Evidenced by:

• Availability to meet students and advising activities
• Independent studies and internships supervised
• Student evaluations
• Assessments by colleagues

c) Competence in light of departmental needs

Evidenced by:

• Number and type of courses taught
• Assessments by colleagues
• Efforts to retrain or upgrade skills
• Development of new courses, programs and approaches
• Number and quality of Masters and Ph.D. students trained

3) Service

Evaluative factors

a) Department service

Evidenced by:

• Membership on and contribution to work of committees
• Departmental offices held
• Assistance to colleagues
• Teaching of required or core courses and general willingness to service department's course needs
• Support for graduate students

b) Service to the field

Evidenced by:

• Organizing and/or coordinating scholarly conferences
• Participation in scholarly and creative meetings and conferences
• Participation in the governance of professional associations and service on association committees
• Book reviews
• Editorship of professional journals
• Refereeing for journals and for grant-giving agencies
• External examining for faculty, programs, dissertations
• Evaluating manuscripts for university and commercial presses

c) Service to the university

Evidenced by:

• Membership on and contribution to work of college and university committees
• College and university offices held
• Participation in college and university programs

d) Public service

Evidenced by:

• Participation in public forums
• Non-compensated or nominally compensated consulting
• Expert testimony
• Other non-compensated professional services to the community

Additional criteria

Candidates for tenure and promotion are evaluated in terms of their overall contribution and promise with respect to these factors. Outstanding achievements or promise with respect to some may offset weaknesses with respect to others. However, all candidates must at a minimum provide evidence of:

• Substantial scholarly and (where appropriate) creative achievement
• Substantial teaching competence
• Considerable service

Reviewed and accepted Jan. 18, 2018
Drafted and adopted by the Department Personnel Committee, Oct. 5, 1995