This document was converted from WORD, here is the original.

Procedures for Retention and Promotion of Multi-Year Lecturers and Professors of Practice
School of Information Resources and Library Science
The University of Arizona
Final: Passed Unanimously by SIRLS Faculty, February 25, 2009
Approved by SBS February 27, 2009

Evaluation of nontenure eligible faculty in the School of Information Resources and Library Science (SIRLS) occurs in line with the guidelines set forth in the University Handbook for Appointed Personnel (UHAP), section 3.13 and the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Policy on Evaluations of Multi-Year Lecturers.  

Nontenure eligible faculty may be appointed for up to three years, with appointments subject to renewal indefinitely for up to three years on each occasion of reappointment.  After peer review at the department and college levels, Lecturers may be promoted to Senior Lecturers, Assistant Professors of Practice may be promoted to Associate Professors of Practice, and Associate Professors of Practice may be promoted to Full Professors of Practice.  The criteria and procedures for the renewal or promotion of Multi-Year Lecturers and Professors of Practice will largely follow those provided in SIRLS Criteria and Procedures for Faculty Promotion and Tenure, subject to the distinctions noted below.  

The evaluation of nontenure eligible faculty in SIRLS will occur during the first semester of the final year of their previous contract in order that adequate notice of adverse evaluations may be given as early as possible.  The evaluation process will begin with the appointment of a three-person Personnel Evaluation Committee (PEC).  The members of the PEC will be elected by the full-time faculty of SIRLS.  The PEC will include at least one nontenure eligible faculty member.  The PEC will include at least one tenured faculty member.  The PEC itself will elect a chair for each review.

Multi-Year Lecturers and Professors of Practice are normally hired as master teachers, who are expected to maintain sufficient familiarity with progress and issues in their fields to teach at the level of their assignment.  (For purposes of evaluation, mentoring and advising students shall count in the teaching category.)  However, nontenure eligible faculty may also be engaged in research and service.  Teaching, research, and service will be weighted for each candidate as determined in his/her workload assignment.  The standards for reappointment at the rank for nontenure eligible faculty are essentially the same as those for reappointment at the rank of Assistant Professor.  The criteria and evidence to be used in the evaluation are the same as those described in the SIRLS Criteria and Procedures for Faculty Promotion and Tenure.

Candidates for review must prepare the same sort of dossier as used in the Promotion and Tenure process.  Candidates should provide evidence that they are current with both knowledge and pedagogical methods in their fields.  The review shall be an intra-university review.  Outside references, while acceptable, are not required.  Letters of reference, student and peer evaluations, examination of syllabi, etc., will assume a major role in the evaluation process.

Prior to submitting their dossier, candidates should discuss with the SIRLS director whether it is appropriate to apply for promotion to a higher rank.  Promotion to the rank of Associate Professor of Practice or to the rank of Senior Lecturer requires evidence of an established and productive career and a state and national reputation for his or her expertise.  Promotion to the rank of Full Professor of Practice requires unique qualifications regarding expertise and experience and individuals considered for such promotions must have achieved national recognition through peer organizations and should bring distinction to the SIRLS program. 

The PEC makes the dossier available to all full-time faculty.  All full-time faculty are asked for feedback and to vote on each candidate.  The PEC writes a letter incorporating the full-time faculty’s recommendation to accompany the dossier.  The dossier and the recommendation of the full-time faculty will be forwarded to the SIRLS director.  The dossier and the recommendations of the full-time faculty and the SIRLS director will then be forwarded to the Dean’s Office.

Note: In addition to teaching, research, and/or service, some candidates for review may have significant administrative duties.  The SIRLS director, but not the PEC, will evaluate the performance of such duties.

Schedule

• by Feb 1st    A Personnel Evaluation Committee (PEC), consisting of three full-time faculty, and including at least one nontenure eligible faculty member and at least one tenured faculty member, is elected.  A chair is elected by the committee for each review taking place the next year.
• by March 1st    The PEC reviews the department’s retention and promotion criteria.  
• by April 15th    Candidates for retention or promotion meet with director and with the PEC to plan the individual timetable for the completion of the dossier.
• by Sept. 1st    Candidates for retention or promotion submit dossiers to the PEC.  The PEC makes the dossiers available to all full-time faculty. 
• by Sept. 15th    Full-time faculty meet to deliberate and vote on all candidates. A letter is written incorporating the full-time faculty’s recommendations to accompany the dossier.
• by Oct. 1st    The PEC sends the dossiers (which now include the recommendations of the full-time faculty) to the Director. The Director writes a letter incorporating his/her recommendations.
• by Oct. 12th    Director sends the dossiers (which now include the recommendations of the Director) to the Dean.