RANK & TENURE PROCESS

September 28, 2005

Elizabeth R. Jacobs, M.D.

Ex-Rank and Tenure Committee Member

Medical College of Wisconsin

Rank & Tenure at MCW

•What are the paths?

•What is the process?

•What should I do and NOT do to be promoted?

Rank & Tenure Committee – Composition

Eric Cohen, MD (Nephrology) *Julie Biller, MD (Pulmonary Medicine)Quinn Hogan, MD (Anesthesiology)John Klein, PhD (HPI-Biostatistics)Shi-Jiang Li, PhD (Biophysics)Dennis Maiman, MD (Neurosurgery)Karen Marcdante, MD (Pediatrics)Hershel Raff, PhD (Endocrine)Jeanne Seagaard, PhD (Anesthesiology)James Sebastian, MD (General Medicine)John Weigelt, MD (Trauma Surgery)

THE THREE TRACKS

TraditionalClinician-Educator

Research

Academic Clinical Teaching

Four Steps of the Promotion Process

Chairs nominate faculty

Office of Faculty Affairs prepares packet

R&T Committee reviews and votes

Final approval by the Dean and MCW Board of Directors

Promotion Process – New DeadlinesFor nominations to be effective July 1st of the next fiscal year.

• Nominations for promotion or appointment in the Traditional Path and all nominations for award of tenure (CE or Traditional path) must be submitted to the office of Faculty Affairs on of before October 1st.

• Nominations for promotion or appointment in the Clinician Educator or Research Pathways are due January 1st

Promotion Process – The Department Chair

Updated curriculum vitaevitae

- Detailed letter of support stating candidates merit for

proposed rank in a given track

- Names of at least 4 internal and 2-7 external referees (depends on rank/track)

- Reprints of two “representative” publications

Office of Faculty Affairs solicits letters from the referees. Referees are provided with the full packet and the MCW promotion criteria for the proposed rank and track.

When the reference letters are received, the packet is sent to the R&T Committee.

Promotion Process – The Dean’s Office

The R&T Committee reviews the packet, and may request further information

The Committee votes on the proposed promotion

A majority vote ( 6 of 11 votes) is required for a negative or positive action

Promotion Process – The R&T Committee

The Dean is notified (has the power to veto)

If the Dean approves, the promotion is

brought to the MCW Board of Directors

If the Board votes positively, the promotion

is approved (takes effect on July 1st)

Positive R&T Committee vote:

Promotion Process – The Dean & Board

Promotion Process – The Dean & Board

Negative R&T Committee vote:

The Chair is sent a letter by the R&T Chair outlining the reasons for the negative vote

A candidate must wait until the next academic year to be proposed for promotion again

Or an appeals process exists - the Chair may provide significant new information to the R&T Committee, or appear in person to appeal

THE THREE TRACKS

TraditionalClinician-Educator

Research

Academic Clinical Teaching

Promotion Criteria - Traditional Track

History of independent research funding (PI), and senior author publications

Excellence in research or clinical teaching

Service to the institution (committees, councils)

Regional reputation as an authority (Associate Professor)

National reputation as an authority (Professor)

THE THREE TRACKS

TraditionalClinician-Educator

Research

Academic Clinical Teaching

Promotion Criteria - Research Track

Independent funding and publications

Role in defined research of department (part of a program or supervise a core facility)

Role in research training in the laboratory

Service to the institution not required

Regional (Associate Professor) or national (Professor) reputation as an authority

THE THREE TRACKS

TraditionalClinician-Educator

Research

Academic Clinical Teaching

Promotion Criteria – Clinician Educator Track

Exceptional teaching of med students, residents, fellows Development of materials that uniquely contribute to

education at MCW

Excellence in clinical practice, and publication of clinical observations

Service to the institution (committees, councils)

Impact of teaching should be recognized at the regional (Associate Professor) or national level (Professor)

TENURE

Available in Traditional or Clinician-Educator track

Usually awarded at the Professor level

Criteria are the same for both tracks and are distinct from criteria used for promotion

Awarded to those individuals vital to the school’s missions: clinical, educational, and academic

Promotion & Tenure Policies at MCW are different than at State-Supported Universities

“Up or out policy” does not apply to clinical faculty

(promotion to Assoc Prof after 6 yrs as Asst Prof)

Positive: More career flexibility

Negative: Stagnation at Asst Prof level

Promotion & Tenure Policies at MCW are different than at State-Supported Universities

Tenure is not granted with promotion to Assoc Prof

(is granted at State-Supported Universities)

Positive: Less financial obligation for MCW

Negative: Chance of obtaining tenure at MCW is lower than in some institutions

Plan early, plan often!

Remember clinical service or teaching alone does not qualify you for promotion.

There is no substitute for liberal input from mentors, senior colleagues, and Chairs!

PROMOTION “HINTS”

PROMOTION “HINTS”

Provide an informative C.V. (R&T Committee members do not have ESP)

Organize your C.V. in the MCW format (MCW website, Office of Faculty Affairs)

Describe research, service and educational activities in detail (Educator’s portfolio, X4332)

PROMOTION “HINTS”

Send your best first or senior author publications

Choose your referees carefully, and provide more than the minimum number

- talk to them first- should know you well and positively- at or above the proposed rank- from an academic institution (not foreign)

Be certain your section chief (other supervisors) writes a letter in addition to the Chair

PROMOTION “DONT’S”

Procrastinate – maintain an updated C.V.

Make typos or grammatical errors on your C.V.

Include “wish lists”

- grants that are “approved” but not funded- publications “in progress” or “in review”

Mix abstracts, chapters & peer-reviewed articles

Summary

•The promotion process is neither unfathomable nor a ritual cloaked in secrecy, carried out by a group of malcontents delighting in foiling aspirations of the powerless masses.

•Promotion is recognition of your accomplishments by a group of your peers.

•Tempus fugit!

Ask for letters of support from “Harvard-types” unless you meet their criteria (referee must indicate if the candidate would be promoted at their institution)

Ask for letters of support from members of the R&T committee (if members write a letter, they must leave the room)

PROMOTION “DONT’S”

R&T Committee Actions (2001-2003)

Promotion to: Assoc Prof Full ProfPromotion to: Assoc Prof Full Prof

70/72 40/42

Tenure to:Tenure to: Assoc Prof Full ProfAssoc Prof Full Prof

0/0 17/17

Path Path Instr/Asst Assoc Full Instr/Asst Assoc Full

Traditional 2 19 43

Research 8 7 0

CE 0 1 2

Promotion paths for Basic Science Faculty

Path Path Instr/Asst Assoc Full Instr/Asst Assoc Full

Traditional 0 53 135

Research 10 9

4

CE 9 156 83

454 – no path selected!!

Promotion paths for Clinical Faculty

RANK AND TENURE CHANGES

1983 - Dept Chairs excluded from R&T

1984 - Clinician Educator & Research Tracks added

1993 - Uncoupling of Professorship and Tenure

1993 - Revocation of up-or-out for clinicians

1997 - Tenure for Clinical Educator Track

2000 - R&T expands from 7 to 11 members - Appeal process for negative R&T action