RUL 05.67.706 – College of Sciences Standards and Procedures for Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure

Authority: Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

History: First Issued: October 2000. Last Revised: August 23, 2018.

Additional References:
Office of the Provost RPT Website

Contact Info: Dean of the College of Sciences, (919-515-7277)

1. Introduction

The departments and the college shall implement standards and procedures that are consistent with the following NC State documents:

NCSU POL05.20.01 – Appointment, Reappointment, Promotion and Permanent Tenure
NCSU REG05.20.27 – Statement of Faculty Responsibilities
NCSU REG05.20.34 – Non-Tenure Track Faculty Ranks and Appointments

This rule describes the procedures and standards used by the college for reappointment, promotion and tenure. The college guidelines are general in nature and are developed more specifically by each department within the college.

2. Tenure-Track Faculty General Standards

2.1 Initial appointments and reappointments as assistant professor are made on the basis of accomplishments, promise and ability in teaching, scholarly activity, and engagement and extension, as appropriate.

2.2 Initial appointment as associate professor, promotion to associate professor, and the conferral of tenure are based on demonstrated excellence in teaching, scholarly activity, and engagement and extension, as appropriate.

Excellent teaching is most apparent when high expectations are set and students meet these expectations, and when students demonstrate high levels of learning. Generally, this involves an instructional format that inspires students to participate and go beyond the minimal expectations for satisfactory performance.

Grant support is an important external recognition of a person’s research; it is an expression of confidence by experts in the field that the work is worthwhile. Likewise, peer reviewed publications attest to the quality and significance of an investigation. These accomplishments, along with invited talks and assessments by external experts, are among the measures of impact of a faculty member’s research.

2.3 Appointment as, or promotion to, the rank of professor is based on sustained excellence in teaching, scholarly productivity, and engagement and extension, as appropriate. All of the qualities that apply to the rank of associate professor should be present with more substantial expectations and evidence of major impact. It is important that external measures of the importance of current work be obtained, and in this sense all areas such as peer reviewed publications, talks, grants, teaching and departmental participation should be strong.

2.4 The merit of the faculty member’s program rather than time in rank is the basic standard for all recommendations for RPT. However, the dossier should demonstrate that the faculty member has established a record of performance at NC State.

3. Non-tenure Track Faculty General Standards

3.1 Title Change from Lecturer/Senior Lecturer to Teaching Assistant Professor

The change of a faculty member’s title from Lecturer or Senior Lecturer to a Non-tenure Track Assistant Professor is not considered a promotion. The College of Sciences follows NCSU REG 05.20.34, section 10.1.3, which reads in pertinent part:

If a Lecturer or Senior Lecturer attains the qualifications for the rank of Assistant Professor, a title change to a Non-tenure Track Assistant Professor may be made if supported by a positive DVF vote, a justification from the Department Head, and approval of the Dean. This applies only when the individual’s qualifications have changed and the job duties remain the same. If the job duties change, then it is considered a new position and appropriate procedures must be carried out to fill it.

These faculty members are eligible for promotions as described below in Section 3.3.

3.2 Lecturer to Senior Lecturer

Promotion to Senior Lecturer requires a minimum of 5 years of service within the college or in a comparable position in another NC State college or at another institution. The decision to promote a Lecturer to Senior Lecturer requires demonstrated excellence in teaching and successful fulfillment of other realms of responsibility, usually scholarship and service, as defined in the faculty member’s Statement of Faculty Responsibilities.

3.3 Promotion of Professorially Ranked Non-tenure Track

Promotion is based on the same evidence used to promote tenure track faculty in the proportions and quality as described in the Department’s RPT Rule and the faculty member’s Statement of Faculty Responsibilities.

4. Dossier Requirements

4.1 Requirement for External Evaluation Letters

In accordance with NCSU REG05.20.34 – Non-Tenure Track Faculty Ranks and Appointments Section 9.1.3 which requires each Dean to establish for the college for all the categories of full-time (> 0.75 FTE) NTT faculty with professorial rank whether to require external evaluation letters for the dossier, the Dean of the College of Sciences has decided the following:

Letters are required for Research Assistant/Associate/Full Professors.

Letters are not required for:
Clinical Assistant/Associate/Full Professors
Extension Assistant/Associate/Full Professors
Teaching Assistant/Associate/Full Professors
Assistant/Associate/Full Professors of the Practice

4.2 Documentation of External Funding

When documenting one’s external funding record in the reappointment, promotion and tenure dossier, in addition to the required RADAR report, when appropriate the faculty member should include an estimate of the portion of a shared grant for which they are responsible.

5. College Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee (CRPTC)

5.1. The twelve members will consist of two representatives from each department who are voted on by the department voting faculty. The department representatives must be tenured full professors.

5.2. The Chair will be elected annually by and from the committee members.

5.3. The term shall be three years. Appointments are to be staggered so that each year two members complete their three-year terms and are replaced by new members whose terms commence on July 1. Members are not allowed to serve successive terms. If a member relinquishes his or her position before the three-year term expires, a replacement shall be appointed by their department to serve out the remainder of the unexpired term. A member appointed to fill an unexpired term may be reappointed.

5.4. CPRTC members are allowed to provide input but are not allowed to vote as part of a departmental DVF. CRPTC members vote on all cases, including from their home departments, at the CRPTC meeting.

6. Department Heads and College Administrators

Department Heads are not included in the department voting faculty (DVF). Their written assessment and recommendation will serve as their input.

College administrators, who also hold tenured positions in departments, are not to vote in their home departments, but are to have input through consultation with the Dean. They are not to be accounted for in the vote tally of their home department DVF.