Assistant Professor
Faculty are normally appointed to, rather than promoted to, the rank of assistant professor. Appointment to this rank normally requires the individual to have attained the terminal degree in the appropriate discipline and to show promise as a teacher and scholar.
Persons appointed to the faculty who are nearing completion of a terminal degree are usually given the rank of lecturer or instructor with a contingency clause in the appointment indicating that rank will be changed to assistant professor upon completion of the terminal degree. Such a change in rank does not constitute promotion under this policy.
Associate Professor
As an assistant professor, a faculty member is expected to advance in competency as a teacher, to engage in scholarly/creative activities which enhance competency as a teacher and which contribute to the publicly available knowledge in the candidate's academic field, and to exercise increasing participation and responsibility in collegial governance of the unit, school, and/or university and/or public service related to professional expertise or training.
After five years have been completed in the rank of Assistant Professor, a faculty member is expected to have developed the full range of capabilities of an Associate Professor. At this time (in the fall of the sixth year as an Assistant Professor) the faculty member must submit an application for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor, except as provided in Policy WC#5-91/92, Section VII, Paragraph C. An Assistant Professor with an outstanding record may apply earlier following consultation with the Chair and Dean. (WC #1-09/10, Promotion Policy and Guidelines, approved December 8, 2010 by Chancellor Vandegrift)
Professor
As an associate professor, a faculty member is expected to continue to grow in stature as a teacher and to assume greater responsibility in curricular matters. Before advancing to the rank of professor, the faculty member must have developed a scholarly record appropriate for his or her academic field which has received recognition in the broader academic community. In those disciplines in which it is appropriate, a faculty member could also be judged on their creative record in the broader professional community. As an associate professor, a faculty member is expected to have demonstrated substantial participation in collegial governance of the unit, school, and/or University, and/or public service related to professional expertise or training.
After a minimum of five years has been completed in the rank of Associate Professor, the faculty member is expected to have developed the full range of capabilities expected of a Professor. At this time (in the fall of the sixth year as an Associate Professor) or any time thereafter, the faculty member may submit an application for promotion to the rank of Professor. Although rare, an Associate Professor with an outstanding record may apply earlier following consultation with the Chair and Dean. (WC #1-09/10, Promotion Policy and Guidelines, approved December 8, 2010 by Chancellor Vandegrift)