FAQ
Who decides what my area of excellence
will be?
The area of excellence is selected by the department head (or his/her designee)
in consultation with the candidate. The area of excellence should represent
the candidate's major area of achievement and impact, including a consideration
of the quantity as well as quality of contribution.
Who will know what my area of excellence
and significant supporting activities are?
No one but you and those directly involved
in processing your promotion need be aware of your selected area of
excellence and significant supporting activities.
Will the area of excellence by which
I am promoted affect my title?
No. Titles for all individuals at a
given rank are identical regardless of their area of excellence. The
only titles that differ are those for faculty promoted by Academic Part-time
Criteria, whose titles include the modifier clinical?
Can my area of excellence and significant
supporting activities change in a subsequent promotion?
Yes. Although in most cases an individual
will maintain a consistent academic focus over time, occasionally the
activities of a faculty member may change. If a change in activities
occurs, the area of excellence and supporting activities selected for
subsequent promotions may change as well. It should be noted that the
individual must meet the standards for promotion in the new area of
excellence.
Can more than one area of excellence
be selected?
Almost all candidates will be evaluated
in a single area of excellence. Only rarely, when both the impact and
quantity of contribution are comparable in two areas of excellence and
each independently would meet the standard for promotion to the next
rank, should two areas of excellence be proposed. Such exceptions must
be discussed in advance with the Office for Faculty Affairs.
What if my primary academic activities
are not in one of the three areas of excellence?
Almost all candidates will be evaluated
for their contributions in one of the three areas of excellence. Only
in rare cases will the achievements of an individual in a significant
supporting activity be so exceptional that they are sufficient to serve
as the basis for promotion. In such extraordinary cases, the requirements
for both recognition and scholarship will be applied as for other areas
of excellence. Such exceptions must be discussed in advance with the
Office for Faculty Affairs.
How should the decision be made
about whether an activity should be specified as a significant supporting
activity?
Candidates should report only those
areas to which they have made significant contributions and devote substantial
effort.
Will I be penalized if I do not
specify significant supporting activities?
There is no requirement that candidates
for promotion specify significant supporting activities. Some faculty
who are primarily focused in a single area will not have significant
supporting activities and this will not be considered a deficit.
What constitutes scholarship?
The specific types of scholarship are
likely to differ according to the area of excellence and are described
in the metrics for each. Scholarship is explicitly defined broadly to
include not only peer-reviewed publications but also educational materials,
policy statements, assessment tools, and guidelines for patient care.
Scholarship may be in print or alternative media.
Is principal investigator NIH funding
required for faculty with Investigation as their area of excellence?
No. The new guidelines for promotion
recognize that funding to conduct research may come from a variety of
sources and that, depending on their field, individuals may be more
or less likely to serve as principal investigator. A key element in
the evaluation will be the documentation of the candidate's intellectual
contributions to the original ideas, design, and analysis of a project.
In addition to providing resources
for conducting research, obtaining competitive, peer-reviewed funding
is also an important marker of a candidate's reputation and recognition.
At senior levels, the presence of sustained funding over time is an
important factor in the evaluation for promotion.
What if there are no opportunities
for me to teach?
Given the broad definition of teaching
and educational activities, most faculty should be able to identify
opportunities to contribute to educational activities at HMS, HSDM,
and/or their affiliated institutions. There will be rare cases, most
often related to the candidate's field, in which the opportunities
for junior faculty to teach are limited. While promotion to Assistant
Professor is possible in such cases, the department head will be expected
to explain the absence of educational contributions.
What should I do if I believe I
am ready for promotion?
Your department head is responsible
for determining when you are proposed for promotion. If you believe
that your achievements may warrant promotion to the next rank, you should
discuss your status with your department head, division chief or mentor.
Questions
For questions about promotion criteria or more general questions about promotion
and appointments at HMS/HSDM, contact the Office for Faculty Affairs by email
at
