Understanding Ranks & Tracks    

   "Mentoring Towards Promotion"

Ranks

Every faculty member is assigned to an academic track with a title as defined in the Guidelines for Academic Promotion and the Award of Tenure and the  Handbook for Faculty and Unclassified Staff (see page 33).  .  The principal titles, granted by the University to academic faculty are instructor, assistant professor, associate professor and professor.  Ranks or titles can be “modified” or “unmodified”.  Modified titles are those in which a descriptor precedes the faculty title, i.e. the modifier might be clinical or research, in which case the faculty title would be Clinical Assistant Professor or Research Assistant Professor. With an unmodified title, there is no descriptor and is therefore Assistant Professor.   The decision regarding track (tenure or non-tenure) and rank (modified or unmodified title) is made by the Chair and requires the approval of the Executive Dean and the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

Academic Tracks

Faculty tracks are academic tracks which describe not only the faculty member’s job responsibilities but also the criteria for promotion and in some instances tenure. Each track has specific professional and academic expectations unique to that track. 

Essentially there are two tracks: tenure track and non-tenure track.  Tenure track appointments have a probationary period of 7 years (less if prior credit was given) and are renewed annually during this period unless timely non-reappointment notice is issued.  The expectations for promotion include achievements in professional (clinical) service, academic service, teaching, and scholarly activities.  For promotion to Associate Professor with tenure, tenure track faculty are expected to reach or exceed mid-level productivity by the time of their mandatory tenure date (approximately 5 years and 3 months in rank).  Failure of a tenure track assistant professor to achieve tenure status within the probationary time line can result in dismissal from the University.

Non-tenure tracks have no specific time line for applying for promotion, and since tenure is not an issue, there is no consequence of dismissal if promotion does not occur. 

The Clinical Scholar Track, which is the only non-tenure track with unmodified titles, is designed to provide a career pathway for full-time clinical faculty (physicians, nurses, or allied health professionals) whose primary responsibilities involve patient care, clinical education and related scholarship. The definition of "Scholarship" is broad. It is understood that Scholarship is expected on all tracks for promotion. As clinical scholar faculty members are viewed as key to the governance and other organizational activities in the School of Medicine, academic service is not only expected, but is a criterion for promotion on the clinical scholar track.  The Clinical Scholar Track has ladders, or career “paths”:  Clinician-Educator and Clinician Investigator.  Significant contributions in professional and academic service are required for both paths.

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Am I ready to apply for promotion?  What do I have to do?

To learn what is expected to achieve promotion from your Rank and Track, visit the Abridged Version for Guidelines for Promotion and Tenure in the School of Medicine.        

REFERENCES

SOM Faculty Ranks & Tracks Website

More details about the Clinical Scholar track

5.18.2010