Academic & Student Affairs Handbook

Academics Affairs Division

4.6 Award of Promotion

(Last Modified February 9, 2022)   Report a broken link

SOURCES:
BoR POLICY 8.3.6, CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION

All criteria and expectations for faculty performance, including the criteria for promotion to each rank, should be stated in writing and available in a faculty handbook posted on an institution’s website. The BOR has set minimum criteria for promotion that must be met by all institutions. These minimum criteria, including specific degree requirements, vary across institutional sectors (see BoR Policy 8.3.6). Institutions can set additional standards and requirements above these minimum criteria but they must be approved by the Board. Any BOR-approved changes to promotion criteria at an institution must be updated annually in the faculty handbook on the institution’s website and a summary of the changes made must be submitted to the Office of Academic Affairs.

The institutional timeline for the review of faculty for promotion must be completed by early February of a given academic year in order to meet the data entry deadline of the end of February for the annual report to the Board of Regents.

Faculty are eligible for and may be reviewed for promotion in rank during their fifth year of service in their current rank. If recommended for promotion, the new rank will go into effect at the beginning of their next contract period. Recommendations for promotion are not normally considered for individuals who are currently on leaves of absence.

Under special circumstances, faculty who are performing significantly above the expectations for their current rank may be considered for “early” promotion. At state universities and state colleges, “early” promotion may only be considered according to the following time table:

  • For early promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer, faculty must have served a minimum of three years as a Lecturer

  • For early promotion from Instructor to Assistant Professor, faculty must have served a minimum of three years as an Instructor

  • For early promotion from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, faculty must have served a minimum of four years as an Assistant Professor

  • For early promotion from Associate Professor to Full Professor, faculty must have served a minimum of four years as an Associate Professor

At research and comprehensive universities, faculty may be considered for “early” promotion with less than the required minimum years of service in rank listed above. However, these cases require strong justification and approval by the president.

4.6.1 Probationary Credit Towards Promotion

At the time of an individual’s initial appointment, a maximum of three years of probationary credit towards promotion may be awarded for service at other institutions or service in a faculty rank within the institution. In extraordinary cases, research and comprehensive universities may award more than three years of probationary credit at initial faculty appointments. Such awards require approval by the president and written notification to the USG Chief Academic Officer. Individuals serving in part-time, temporary, or limited term positions are not eligible for probationary credit towards promotion. Without the approval of the President, faculty given probationary credit towards promotion may not use their years of credit towards consideration for early promotion.

↑ Top