Policy Number: E6.0

Policy Name: Policy on Faculty Rank and Promotion

Scope: All RIT Faculty

1. Faculty Responsibilities, Classifications and Ranks

Faculty responsibilities are divided into the following three categories: (a) teaching; (b) scholarship; and (c) service, as defined in E4.0 Faculty Employment Policies. The balance among these responsibilities varies by classification and rank. The table below lists all faculty classifications and ranks that may exist at the university.  In certain, very unusual circumstances approved by the Provost, a faculty rank may be preceded by “distinguished” for a person widely recognized for his/her knowledge and expertise.

Classification

Ranks

Tenure-track faculty

Instructor*, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor

Non-tenure track: Lecturers

Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, and Principal Lecturer

Non-tenure track: Research faculty

Assistant Research Professor, Associate Research Professor, and Research Professor

Non-tenure track: Visiting faculty

Visiting Lecturer, Visiting Assistant Professor, Visiting Associate Professor, and Visiting Professor

Non-tenure track: Clinical faculty

Clinical Instructor, Assistant Clinical Professor, Associate Clinical Professor, and Clinical Professor

Non-tenure track (temporary): Adjunct faculty

Adjunct Professor

Non-tenure track: Emeritus/emerita faculty

Title granted to permanent faculty at time of retirement if awarded emeritus status

*No new tenure-track faculty will be hired into the rank of instructor.

2. Promotion of Tenure-track Faculty

a. General Guidelines

Each college faculty shall develop, approve, and publish its own promotion policy and criteria, including qualities and achievements as well as acceptable forms of evidence and documentation based on the general criteria in E4.0 and this policy.  College-level policies and criteria may be more but not less stringent than, and must be consistent with this policy and E4.0. In addition, the college's schedule for promotion must be consistent with the schedule in E6.2.c.(5)., and the “Dates for Faculty Actions and Academic Ceremonies” as distributed by the Provost’s Office.

b. Instructor to Assistant Professor

3. Rank and Responsibilities of Non-Tenure-Track Faculty

a. Definition of Non-Tenure Track

A non-tenure-track faculty member is an employee of the university engaged in research or in teaching credit courses, non-credit courses, or special courses typically under the auspices of one of the colleges, whether full-time or less than full-time. A non-tenure-track faculty member is employed for a specific period of time and the university is not committed to provide employment beyond the time specified. Appointment to any of the non-tenure-track classifications presented in this policy does not qualify a person for consideration for tenure or other privileges accorded to tenure-track faculty.

b. Non-Tenure-track Teaching - Lecturer Ranks

4. Promotion Process for Non-Tenure-Track Lecturers and Senior Lecturers

a. Nominations

Nominations for promotion of a candidate to senior or principal lecturer may be initiated by the department chair, tenured faculty, non-tenure-track faculty senior to the candidate’s present rank, or by the candidate.  Moving the nomination forward is based upon departmental needs and available resources. 

b. Promotion Committee 

The Promotion Committee described for tenure-track faculty (E6.2.c(3)) will also deliberate on non-tenure-track promotion decisions. The Promotion Committee will review the candidate based on the promotion criteria of the university as outlined in this policy and those of the college; the candidate’s documentation; and all written letters of review or evaluation.  The Promotion Committee shall follow the voting guidelines set forth in E6.2.c and shall forward its recommendation to the dean of the college.

c. Promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer

 d. Promotion from Senior Lecturer to Principal Lecturer

1. Criteria

Promotion to principal lecturer is based on meeting promotion criteria and on demonstrated evidence of outstanding teaching, service, and successful performance of other duties as assigned and where appropriate. Department- and college-level service is expected.  Additional service to the candidate’s professional community and the community at large is also considered.

2. Process and Schedule

a. Nomination: By May 1 of the academic year immediately prior to the academic year in which the faculty member will undergo consideration for promotion, nominations for promotion will be received by the department chair. 

b. Acknowledgement: By May 15 of the academic year immediately prior to academic year in which the faculty member will undergo consideration for promotion, the candidate for promotion will receive a written acknowledgement of the initiation of the promotion process and a request of materials by the department chair. The department chair will also inform the dean of the college about the nomination. The dean will ensure that a Promotion Committee with an elected chair is in place by September 15 to receive the promotion documentation from the candidate.

c. Submission: By September 15, the promotion candidate submits his or her documentation to the Promotion Committee chair for review.  The candidate for promotion to Principal Lecturer shall assemble a portfolio that documents his/her accomplishments for the most recent five-year period of full-time employment following promotion to senior lecturer. The portfolio shall focus primarily on the candidate’s teaching expertise with examples of pedagogical approach and student and peer evaluations. The portfolio will also include documentation of the candidate’s efforts to develop professionally as well as evidence of other areas of activity, such as advising and service, where these have been included in the candidate’s plan of work and as required for eligibility for promotion. The portfolio shall include all administrative reviews for the specified time period.

d. Request for Reviews and Letters for Support: By September 30, the Promotion Committee chair will solicit letters of recommendation for or against promotion from the candidate’s department chair, and from the tenured faculty members and principal lecturers from within the candidate’s department.

e. Review Begins: By January 1, all materials, including all letters, should be made available for review by the Promotion Committee.

f. Review Completion: By February 1, members of the Promotion Committee will complete the review of all promotion materials and the Promotion Committee chair will submit a letter of recommendation for or against promotion to the college dean, including the tally of votes from members of the committee. This letter will be accompanied by all other letters and documentation.

g. College Dean: By March 1, the college dean will submit his or her letter of recommendation for or against promotion to the provost. This letter will be accompanied by all other letters and documentation.

h. Provost: All promotion decisions in the lecturer ranks are made by the provost. By April 1, the provost forwards to the president a decision for or against promotion. The promotion committee vote will also be forwarded.

i. Final Decision: Notification regarding the promotion decision will be sent by the provost to the candidate by April 15.

e. Granting or Denial of Promotion

The granting or denial of promotion shall follow the same process outlined for promotion to Professor found in E6.2.c(6).

5. Rank and Responsibilities for Non-Tenure-Track Research Faculty

a. Definition of Non-Tenure-Track Research Faculty

6.   Definitions for Other Non-Tenure-Track Faculty Ranks

a. Visiting Faculty(instructor, assistant professor, associate professor or professor)

b.  Clinical Faculty (instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, or professor)

This title is usually limited to practitioners who are assigned regular and continuing responsibilities in a clinical setting in institutions with a formal affiliate relationship with the University.

c.  Adjunct Faculty (adjunct professor)

This is a category of temporary, part-time employment as defined in E1.0 Employee Classification and Status.  This title may be assigned to those with significant experience in a field that qualifies them to teach specific course(s).

d.  Emeritus/Emerita Faculty

This title recognizes meritorious service to the university by an individual professor in terms of teaching, scholarship, and service to the university.  A tenured Professor or associate professor who retires in good standing or who retires in good standing but continues to teach may be granted the title of professor emeritus/emerita. The title may also be given to Professors who have left for another institution but are still working full time. Recommendation as to the award of the emeritus/emerita title are initiated by the dean and directed to the provost and to the president for final action. In special circumstances, the provost may ask the college (of the candidate) promotion committee to evaluate the request to award the title of “emeritus/emerita” to the faculty member.  Professors emeriti/emerita may retain privileges as agreed upon by the college and the university.

Responsible Office: Academic Senate and Office of the Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs.  Inquires may be directed to:
Academic Senate – asenate@rit.edu
Office of the Provost – stp1031@rit.edu

Effective Date: Approved June 22, 1959

Policy History:
Revised May 2008
Revised May 2009
Revised May 2010
Last Revised April 5, 2012