The purpose of this document is to establish the criteria for promotion for full-time, non-tenure line faculty in the School of Public Affairs at Penn State Harrisburg, based on the Colleges’ respective guidelines.

  1. The Promotion Committee
    1. The Non-Tenure Line Promotion Committee shall consist of five members from the non-tenure-line faculty serving within the School. In the event that five Associate Teaching Professors or Teaching Professors are not available to serve on the committee, the committee may consist of three faculty members at the rank of Associate Teaching Professor or higher.
    2. Faculty serving on the committee should have attained at least the rank of Associate Teaching Professor, and only faculty of a higher rank than the candidate should make recommendations regarding promotion. If there is an insufficient number of higher ranking non-tenure-line faculty, exceptions may be permitted by the Executive Vice President and Provost of the University at the request of the College. 
    3. Faculty serving on the College-level committee cannot serve simultaneously on the School review committee.
    4. Three members of the committee will be elected by the School’s non-tenure-line faculty, and the remaining two will be appointed by the School Director. The School Director will appoint the committee chair. Each member will serve a two-year term and may serve one consecutive term. Non-tenure line faculty will also select an alternate committee member in a separate election.
    5. Reviews for promotions should be conducted solely with regard to the merit of the candidate
    6. Committee duties are: 
      1. Review School, College, and University guidelines regarding non-tenure line appointments and promotions. 
      2. Examine candidates’ dossiers and evaluate the contributions of the candidates in light of the guidelines.  
      3. Deliberate and submit recommendations.
  2. The School Director
    1. Eligible candidates who are seeking nomination will send to the School Director an accomplishment narrative and an up-to-date curriculum vitae.  
    2. The School Director in consultation with the Chancellor’s Office nominates candidates, based on eligibility and merit. So nominated candidates will be invited by the School Director to submit a dossier and supporting materials.
    3. After the School Committee completes its review, it forwards its findings to the School Director, who conducts an independent review of the candidate.
    4. The School Director makes his or her recommendation after thoroughly reviewing the candidate’s dossier and supporting materials, as well as the recommendations made by the School Committee. 
    5. The School Director transmits his or her recommendation regarding a candidate to the College Committee in the form of a memo addressed to the Chancellor.
    6. In this memo, the Director presents his or her evaluation of the candidate’s performance in each of the three criteria and his or her recommendation regarding promotion.
  3. Eligibility
    1. Positions above the rank of Lecturer should be considered for promotion opportunities. In accordance with University Policy AC21, all promotions will include a promotion raise. Promoted faculty members will be considered for multi- rather than single-year contracts. 
    2. Candidates are nominated for promotion by the School Director at his or her discretion. Becoming eligible for a promotion does not guarantee a nomination for promotion. 
    3. New non-tenure line faculty will become eligible for promotion to the next higher rank after five years in rank from the original date of hire. Candidates may compile their promotion dossier during the fifth year.
    4. Non-tenure line faculty who hold a terminal degree and whose title was changed from Lecturer to Assistant Teaching Professor during the 2017-2018 academic year will be eligible for promotion to the next higher rank five years from their original hire date. For example, someone hired as a Lecturer with a hire date of August 1, 2014, and whose title changed to Assistant Teaching Professor during the 2017-2018 academic year will be eligible for promotion to Associate Teaching Professor on August 1, 2019.
  4. Time Schedule and Procedures
    1. The schedule for the School of Public Affairs reviews for promotions will be determined by instructions from the School, College, and University administration.
    2. The School Director shall inform eligible candidates in writing about their eligibility. 
    3. All non-tenure line faculty promotions require the assembly of a non-tenure line promotion dossier. See Section VIII of Penn State Harrisburg’s Guidelines for Non-Tenure-Line Faculty Promotion for guidance on assembling the dossier.
  5. Criteria for Promotion
    1. The same general principles as those used for tenure-track or tenured faculty shall be used for evaluating qualifications for appointment and promotion of non-tenure line faculty members. These will pertain to the specific duties and responsibilities that have been assigned and will include one or more of the following, as defined in section II of University Policy AC 23, Promotion and Tenure Procedures and Regulations:
      1. The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning; 
      2. The Scholarship of Research and Creative Accomplishment; and 
      3. The Scholarship of Service to the University, Society, and Profession 
    2. Excellence in teaching- and learning-related activities: This is the most important category of evaluation. Evidence of demonstrated excellence in teaching should include, but is not limited to, Student Rating of Teaching Effectiveness (SRTE) and written student comments, peer evaluations, and other documentation of participation in curriculum support activities beyond teaching. The candidate’s supplemental dossier may also include sample teaching materials (syllabi, assignments, graded papers, etc.).
      1. Peer evaluations: Evidence of documented, recent peer evaluations should be presented (at least two reviews). Peer reviewers should be non-tenure line faculty of a higher rank. If there is not a sufficient number of higher-ranking non-tenure line faculty, the candidate may recommend to the School Director several tenure-track or tenured faculty to serve as peer evaluators and the School Director will choose the evaluators. The School Director will also write an evaluation.
      2. SRTE and written student comments: Because of limitations in the SRTE instrument, SRTEs should not be the sole indicator of excellence in teaching. Cumulative data that includes not only average SRTE scores but also specific student comments should be evaluated. A candidate may also include one or more letters of support from current or former students as part of the supplemental promotion dossier. 
      3. Teaching based on scholarship – A record of research and/or creative accomplishment, demonstrating active professional engagement in one’s field, is required for promotion at any level. The quality and the impact of a candidate’s work, and not simply the quantity, should guide decisions regarding promotion. To aid this process, a candidate should explain the intellectual framework that gives coherence to his or her research/creative agenda in his or her narrative statement, and demonstrate efforts to maintain currency in his or her field of teaching. 
      4. Teaching-related activities – evidence of participation in curriculum or teaching support activities that go beyond simply teaching assigned classes and labs. These activities may include (but are not limited to) course development or revision, program development or revision, course hybridization (developing part of the course for online delivery), course coordination, attending or presenting at teaching conferences, publishing articles on teaching, etc. 
      5. Academic Advising
    3. Excellence in engaged scholarship: Candidates for promotion must demonstrate an ability to stay current in their academic discipline of teaching through regular, active participation in professional development activities. These can be documented through a variety of scholarly activities such as those presented by the faculty member in the annual Faculty Activity Reports FARs).
      1. Those activities may include (but are not limited to):
        1. Active participation in University-sponsored workshops, presentations, or seminars
        2. Active participation in professional meetings, conferences or symposia
        3. Active participation in research activities that support teaching and learning, such as pedagogical research
        4. Active participation in scholarly research, including presentations, publications, or leadership roles in professional workshops or seminars
        5. Creative work and accomplishments, including patents, inventions, grants, or publications 
        6. Gaining and/or maintaining of certifications and earning of continuing education units (CEU) related to the candidate’s discipline of teaching
      2. Additionally, non-tenure line faculty are encouraged to make contributions in their academic discipline through research. These contributions should be viewed in light of the teaching load of non-tenure line faculty. The candidate’s supplemental dossier may include samples of published work
    4. Excellence in service: Service is valued and considered in the promotion review. Service requirements and opportunities for non-tenure line faculty are similar to those of tenure-track faculty
      Service can be evidenced in many ways, including but not limited to
      1. Participation in committees at the Program, School, College, or University level(s) 
      2. Part-time administrative assignments within the Program, School, or College 
      3. Curriculum assessment activities 
      4. Activities to support program accreditation 
      5. Judging of university-sponsored student competitions 
      6. Acting as an advisor for student organizations, publications, or honor societies 
      7. Coordination of speaking events, lecture series, or other activities on campus 
      8. Service roles within professional societies (not just membership) 
      9. Coordination and/or delivery of faculty seminars 
      10. Community, regional, national, or international service that brings value to the University and is representative of the University’s mission and values 
    5. In providing evidence of excellence in the above-mentioned categories, candidates should not just list the activities, but also provide a brief explanation of activities outlining the process and the implications, impact or potential impact of each activity. 
  6. Levels of Promotion
    1. For all levels of promotion, excellence in teaching should be the most important determinant. However, because the School of Public Affairs offers a wide range of courses in multiple disciplines, it is possible for faculty to demonstrate growth and progress in a variety of ways. Because of this, the dossiers of candidates for the same level of promotion may look quite different, as a candidate’s promotion dossier is meant to uniquely reflect his or her professional growth and accomplishments. 
    2. Evaluation for First Level of Promotion (Lecturer to Assistant Teaching Professor or Assistant Teaching Professor to Associate Teaching Professor) 
      1. Teaching: A candidate for a first level promotion must demonstrate excellence in teaching concepts, processes, skills, and information in the classroom, lab, studio, or performance setting; use appropriate pedagogical techniques; and create an environment that is conducive to learning.
      2. Research and Creative Accomplishments: Given the stronger emphasis on teaching for non-tenure line faculty, the scholarship and mastery of subject matter that a candidate provides may include a broad range of activities that require the use of scholarly expertise. While non-tenure line faculty are encouraged to publish or display their work professionally, it is not required for promotion.
      3. Service: Candidates must provide evidence of meaningful service to the Program, School, College, University, or profession. Service to the community that makes use of the candidate’s professional expertise will also be considered.  
    3. Evaluation for Second Level of Promotion (Assistant Teaching Professor to Associate Teaching Professor or Associate Teaching Professor to Teaching Professor):
      1. Teaching: Candidates for second level promotion must provide evidence of continued excellence as a teacher and a commitment to fostering growth in students.
      2. Research and Creative Accomplishments: Candidates for second level promotion must demonstrate professional development, mastery of subject matter, and research and creative accomplishments at a level of distinction beyond that of the lower rank.
      3. Service: Continued involvement in service is expected, and service should reflect a willingness to act as a leader and to serve in difficult roles.
      4. The criteria for Teaching Professor cover all of the same categories as for the associate level but at this level, in accordance with University Policy AC21, Definition of Academic Ranks, candidates are expected to show growth in all areas and demonstrate excellence beyond the level of the associate.
  7. Approval and Changes 

These guidelines and any changes to them shall be approved by vote of the non-tenure line faculty of the School.

 

Approved by a vote of the non-tenure-line faculty of the School of Public Affairs on September 28, 2019.
Approved by the Chancellor: September 29, 2018
Approved October 8, 2021