Purpose

The purpose of this document is to establish the criteria for promotion for full-time, non-tenure-line faculty in the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology at Penn State Harrisburg.

These criteria are intended to supplement Penn State Harrisburg’s guidelines and criteria as well as those of AC21 for promotion of Non-tenure line faculty.

Criteria for Promotion 

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 AC23, 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.

Criteria for Promotion 

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.

The following criteria are intended to supplement sections VI and VII in the “Guidelines for Non-Tenure Line Faculty Promotion” (Penn State Harrisburg).  Candidates for promotion are encouraged to read the campus level guidelines first.

The performance of the candidate for promotion must consistently demonstrate, as appropriate within his/her professional assignment: 
 

  1. Excellence in teaching and teaching-related activities: This is the most important category of the evaluation and should be weighted higher than service or professional development.  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.
    1. SRTE and written comments – cumulative data should be evaluated that includes not only average SRTE scores, but also specific student comments.  These data will be in the same format as is currently available for the full time promotion and tenure process.
    2. Peer evaluations – evidence of documented, multiple recent peer evaluations should be presented.  Peer reviewers must be above rank.
    3. Academic advising – if the academic program to which the candidate is assigned requires the candidate to participate in academic advising, evidence must be included to indicate the level of service to the students in this area.  Examples of evidence may include, but are not limited to, letters about advising performance from the program chair or comments from students about an adviser’s performance.
    4. Teaching-related activities – there must be 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, etc.

      In providing evidence of teaching-related activities, the candidate should not just list the activities, but explain the impact.  For example, if course coordination is used as evidence, the candidate should briefly describe the specific responsibilities and accomplishments over an appropriate period of time.
       
  2. Excellence in service:  Service is valued and considered in the promotion review.  Service requirements and opportunities for teaching professors 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, campus or university level
    2. Part-time administrative assignments within the program, school or campus
    3. Curriculum assessment activities
    4. Activities to support program accreditation
    5. Judging at university-sponsored, student competitions
    6. Service roles within professional societies (not mere membership)
    7. Coordination and/or delivery of faculty seminars
    8. Community, regional or national service that brings value to the University and is representative of the University’s mission and values

      In providing evidence of service, the candidate should not just list activities, but explain the impact.  For example, if membership on a program committee is used as evidence, the candidate should briefly describe the purpose of the committee, its specific accomplishments, and the contributions of the candidate to this effort over an appropriate period of time.
       
  3. Excellence in engaged scholarship:  Candidates for promotion must demonstrate an ability to stay abreast of their academic discipline and/or the art 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).  This documentation should be based on activities that 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, publication, and leadership roles in professional workshops or seminars
    5. Creative work and accomplishments, including patents, inventions, grants, and publications. 

In providing evidence of professional development, the candidate should not just list the activities, but also briefly explain the impact of each activity on the candidate’s growth in disciplinary knowledge or teaching skill.  For example, if participation in a campus-sponsored teaching workshop is used as evidence, the candidate should briefly describe the purpose of the workshop and how the candidate applied the skills obtained to improve his/her teaching.

Guidelines for Establishing School Review Committees

Promotion to Associate Professor:  

  1. The School Non-Tenure Line Promotion Committee consists of five members.  Three members will be elected by the non-tenure-line faculty and two members will be appointed to the Committee by the School Director.  
  2. All members of the Committee must be at the Associate Teaching Professor level or higher.  
  3. Service on the School Non-Tenure Line Promotion Committee is a two-year commitment for elected members. School Director appointees serve only one year. In order to help ensure continuity of membership on the Committee, individuals may be considered for re-election to additional two-year terms.
  4. The process for election will be as follows:
    1. The election will occur at the beginning of the academic year.
    2. All SSET non-tenure-line faculty members will be eligible to participate in the process of electing the three members.
    3. Non-tenure-line faculty members who are candidates for promotion to Teaching Professor will not be eligible to serve on this committee.
    4. Non-tenure-line faculty members who are selected to serve on the College committee will not be eligible for selection to the School’s Promotion Committee.
    5. The Director will make his or her appointments to the Committee after the election results.
    6.  In appointing committee members, the School Director will, whenever possible, appoint to the committee at least one member from each candidate’s discipline.  
    7. When an elected committee member is unable to serve part of his or her term for any reason, he or she will be replaced by another eligible faculty to serve out his or her term.  Election of this replacement will take place as described in (b) and (d) above. 
    8. When a member who is appointed by the Director is unable to serve part of his or her term for any reason, the Director will appoint a replacement to serve out the term of the member who is unable to serve.
  5. The School Director will select the Committee chairperson.
  6. In case there are not enough SSET faculty at the Associate Teaching Professor rank or higher to meet the minimum required number, the School Director will appoint members with the rank of Associate Teaching Professor of higher from outside the School.  Otherwise, any exception to the above, must receive approval from the Vice Provost of Faculty Affairs as indicated in AC21 and the Penn State Harrisburg college criteria.

Promotion to Teaching Professor

  1. A separate committee is formed in years when there is one or more candidates for promotion to Teaching Professor.   This committee consists of a minimum of three members.  All school non-tenure-line committee members (as described above) whose rank is teaching professor will serve on this committee.  In case the number is less than three, the School Director will appoint additional members whose rank is Teaching Professor.
  2. In case there are not enough SSET faculty at the Teaching Professor rank to meet the minimum required number, the School Director will appoint members to the committee from outside the School (Teaching professor rank) or from SSET (Full Professor rank).  
  3. The School Director will select the Committee chairperson.

This document was approved by the non-tenure-line faculty of the School of Science, Engineering, and Technology on September 27, 2018. 

Approved by the Chancellor: September 28, 2018
Approved October 8, 2021