Factors for promotion and tenure
Sept. 6, 2024
The Promotion and Tenure Committee (as specified in the department’s bylaws) bases the decision to recommend tenure and promotion on a candidate’s performance in three areas: scholarship, teaching and service. As a department housed within a research university, the department places great emphasis on scholarship.
Scholarship
The publication of original research in refereed journals of high quality is the primary evidence of scholarship considered by the Promotion and Tenure Committee. Refereed books, refereed book chapters, monographs of recognized presses and prestigious edited volumes or handbooks are also considered. The quality, volume and rate of publication is important for the standard for tenure and promotion. Preference for publication quality will be given to publications in criminal justice/criminology-related refereed journals and high-impact journals in related fields. The Promotion and Tenure Committee also evaluates the quality of research reports and other non-refereed publications that contain significant original results. The Promotion and Tenure Committee also recognizes success in obtaining extramural research funding, with grants and contracts that are obtained through a rigorous peer review process as favorable. As papers presented to professional forums tend to find their way into refereed journals, paper presentations at professional forums are also considered for tenure.
The standard for scholarship for tenure and promotion to associate professor in the department will generally be as follows. On average, a tenure-track faculty member is expected to maintain an active research agenda centered on criminal justice/criminology issues. Productivity will be evaluated simultaneously with quality so that fewer articles may be required for tenure and promotion for a faculty member who is consistently publishing in top-tier journals. It is further expected that faculty seeking tenure and promotion to Associate will demonstrate evidence of capacity for independent scholarship, for example, by taking leadership in publication and presentation of research. Refereed books, book chapters, monographs, prestigious edited volumes or handbooks and peer-reviewed external grant proposals will also be recognized as scholarly activity. Tenure-track faculty are expected to present papers at regional, national and international forums regularly.
The standard for scholarship for promotion to full professor in the department will generally be as follows. A full professor is expected to make a significant contribution to the body of knowledge in the discipline of criminal justice/criminology. A faculty member seeking promotion to full professor is expected to maintain an active research agenda centered on criminal justice/criminology issues. Productivity will be evaluated simultaneously with quality so that fewer articles may be required for promotion for a faculty member who has consistently published in top-tier journals since the last promotion. Faculty seeking promotion to Full are expected to demonstrate evidence of general scholarly reputation, as indicated by reviews of work or other measures deemed appropriate. Refereed books and peer-reviewed external grant proposals will also be recognized as scholarly activity Tenured faculty are expected to present papers at regional, national and international forums regularly.
Teaching
The Promotion and Tenure Committee considers good teaching to be a necessary condition for tenure and promotion and it makes a conscientious effort to judge each faculty’s teaching ability. Consistent with University standards, student evaluations will be consulted. Good teaching involves more than good student evaluations; it also involves mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students, advising Masters essays and theses and involvement in committees dealing with the undergraduate and graduate programs in the department.
The standard for teaching for tenure and promotion to associate professor in the department will generally be as follows. A tenure-track faculty member should excel in teaching. A tenure-track faculty member should have excellent or high-quality teaching and receive overall positive student evaluations of classroom instruction. A tenure-track faculty member should demonstrate mentoring of students, such as directing undergraduate Honors theses, supporting undergraduate student research programs and being a master's essay advisor or a Masters thesis committee member. A tenure-track faculty member should also demonstrate involvement in committees dealing with the undergraduate and graduate programs in the department. In addition, a candidate for tenure and promotion must be able to teach graduate courses.
The standard for teaching for promotion to full professor in the department will generally be as follows. A faculty member seeking promotion to full professor should have excellent or high-quality teaching and receive overall positive student evaluations of classroom instruction. A faculty member seeking promotion to Full should demonstrate mentoring of students, such as directing undergraduate Honors theses, supporting undergraduate student research programs, advising graduate masters essays and/or theses, including undergraduate and/or graduate students in research grants and including students as co-authors on publications. A candidate for promotion to full professor should also demonstrate involvement in committees dealing with the undergraduate and graduate programs in the department.
Service
Members of the department are expected to participate on departmental, on college and on university committees when they are asked. The Promotion and Tenure Committee takes account of this and other service. However, service cannot substitute for research and teaching. Service is a necessary but not sufficient condition for tenure.
The standard for service for tenure and promotion to associate professor in the department will generally be as follows. A tenure-track faculty member should regularly serve on department committees, with little to no involvement in service during the first one to two years of the typical six-year tenure-track term. Candidates for tenure and promotion to associate professor should seek service on college and/or university committees but are not expected to be elected or appointed to such committees. Candidates are also encouraged to participate in service to the profession, such as involvement on professional academy committees/panels, being a reviewer for refereed journals, serving on editorial boards of journals and serving on a federal grant review panel. In addition, candidates may demonstrate service to the community.
The standard for service for promotion to full professor in the department will generally be as follows. A faculty member seeking promotion to full professor is expected to show commitment to service at whatever levels of opportunity has been provided to the individual and should seek to take on leadership roles. A full professor is expected to make a significant contribution to the profession and discipline of criminal justice/criminology. Therefore, candidates seeking promotion to full professor should demonstrate involvement in committees or elected or appointed positions in international, national or regional professional societies. Further, candidates for full professor should demonstrate participation in additional service to the profession such as journal editorial board membership, advisory board membership, reviewing for refereed journals and/or involvement on federal grant review panels.
Revised on Feb. 2, 2024
Approved on Apr. 9, 2024
Approved by CLAS Dean’s Office on Sept. 6, 2024