RUL 05.67.802 – College of Textiles Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Standards and Procedures

Authority: Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost

History: First Issued: September 30, 2003. Last Revised: October 31, 2012.

Additional References:
Office of the Provost RPT Website
Glassick Standards

Contact Info: Dean of College of Textiles (919-515-6500)

1. Introduction

This rule describes the standards and procedures for reappointment, promotion and tenure in the College of Textiles. It is supplemental to and consistent with the NC State University Academic Tenure Policy.

The College of Textiles is committed to providing the highest quality academic programs and services to students, to conducting leading research in a wide variety of areas supporting the fiber, textile, apparel and other fiber based products industries, and to providing outstanding extension and engagement activities in support of these industries.

The College of Textiles has faculty with backgrounds in a wide variety of academic disciplines and experience, and with different responsibilities. To be applicable to all faculty in both departments, the college-wide guidelines must, of necessity, be general. The two academic departments have developed specific guidelines appropriate to the types of academic activities and disciplines of the faculty in their departments. The College of Textiles recognizes the importance of these disciplines and the defined mix of activities leading to creative scholarship, teaching and service. The College of Textiles rule is intended to support the appropriate Realms of Faculty Responsibility. Further, the College recommends that the departments follow the guidelines for evaluation of scholarly accomplishments known as the Glassick Standards.

The standards used in evaluating performance of faculty members reflect an expectation of high standards in an appropriate mix of the specific Realms of Faculty Responsibility (job description and its evolution) as codified in the annual Statement of Faculty Responsibilities; Plans for Professional Development and Annual Reports of the individual. The faculty member must also have addressed the mission of the department and the college. This rule is intended to supplement other materials provided by the university and assist new faculty by describing what they need to do to make the case for reappointment, tenure and promotion. It is also meant to be helpful to associate professors in defining the standards on which they need to focus to be eligible for promotion.

In addition to providing guidance to the college faculty, this document is also intended to provide guidance to the College Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee when evaluating individual cases forwarded to the college level by the departments (Departmental Voting Faculty, Head). Each department in the College of Textiles has more specifics in their rule for evaluation by Department Voting Faculty at the departmental level.

The decisions relating to reappointment, promotion and tenure are second only to the initial decision to hire faculty. The College strives to create a process that encourages excellence through scholarly activities in the selected mix of Realms of Faculty Responsibility. We define scholarship as the process of systematically, continuously, and rigorously expanding the knowledge base of society. The process for reappointment, promotion and tenure, therefore, must continuously strive to assess whether the faculty members demonstrate the recognized ability and potential for excellence in the selected mix of Realms of Faculty Responsibility.

2. Areas of Faculty Responsibility

The College Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee will assure that all of the following four standards are considered in making reappointment, promotion and tenure decisions:

2.1. Teaching. Teaching will include classroom performance, advising of both undergraduate and graduate students, supervising dissertations, directing student projects, advising and supporting student groups in the college and university, developing new courses and labs, developing new materials that are shared throughout the college, and delivering courses to students in distance education programs and supporting these students. Student evaluations and peer evaluations are an important part of reviewing teaching performance.

2.2. Research, Publication and Scholarly Work. Faculty in the College work in a variety of research areas. The Departmental Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Standards provide more specific guidance for reviewing scholarly work and appropriate publications, and the College Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee takes into account the diversity of the research areas, the different standards applicable in different areas, and the importance of the various journals and media where faculty publish.

2.3. Professionalism and University Service. Each faculty member in the College is expected to serve at the departmental level, the college level and the university level. This includes membership and leadership on various committees, activities supporting student recruiting and development, work in developing new labs and other facilities, and development. Each faculty member is also expected to actively pursue his or her professional development through national and international committee and conference participation, workshops and courses, and membership in appropriate professional organizations.

2.4. Extension and Engagement. As a land-grant university, North Carolina State University has a long and distinguished tradition of extension and engagement. It is the obligation of all faculty to share their expertise in accordance with university rules with all who need it. Faculty demonstrate this commitment through teaching in extension courses, working with companies within our industry, supporting government agencies providing service to the industry, and preparing materials, methods and tools used by the industry.

3. General Standards

The College Committee also assures that the Departmental Voting Faculty have given consideration to a faculty member’s ability to function as part of the department, college, and university team. Individual accomplishments are of primary importance, but contributions to the success of the department, college, and university must be considered along with individual accomplishments.

4. Standards for Reappointment as Assistant Professor

Specific standards or standards required for reappointment as assistant professor are provided in the Departmental RPT Rules.

5. Standards for Associate Professor with Tenure

Specific standards or standards required for promotion to associate professor are provided in the Departmental RPT Rules.

6. Standards for Professor

Specific standards or standards required for promotion to professor are provided in the Departmental RPT Rules.

7. Procedures for RPT Review

7.1 In accordance with REG 05.20.34 Non-Tenure Track Faculty Ranks and Appointments Section 9.1.3 which requires that each Dean must 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 Textiles has decided the following:

Clinical Assistant/Associate/Full Professors:  Letters not required.
Extension Assistant/Associate/Full Professors:  Letters not required.
Research Assistant/Associate/Full Professors:  Letters not required.
Teaching  Assistant/Associate/Full Professors:  Letters not required.
Assistant/Associate/Full Professors of the Practice:  Letters not required.

7.2 The College Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee consists of two elected members from each department. Additional members may be appointed by the Dean at the Dean’s discretion. The Departmental Voting Faculty in each department elects two members for two-year terms. Members should be full professors. Each member may be reelected for a second consecutive term. The departments assure that the diversity of the people on the faculty of the college are represented, that as many as possible of the disciplinary and professional specialties of the college are covered, and that the areas of the faculty responsibility within the teaching, research and extension and engagement missions of the college are represented. The departmental representatives on the College Committee assure that the diversity of the research areas and knowledge of accepted practices in each discipline are shared with the College Committee.

7.3 In the College of Textiles the Dean chairs the College Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee. The College Committee assures that expectations have been clearly defined for each faculty member being reviewed and that the departmental committees have reviewed the candidate in regard to the expectations. The College Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee reviews the processes used by the Department, verifies that the dossiers prepared by the faculty and departments are complete and adhere to the required format, and documents the findings of its review.

7.4 The College Committee also assures that the processes outlined in the Departments’ Rule, the College Rule, and the University policies and regulations have been followed. The committee assures fairness and equitable treatment of all candidates. The committee also considers the strength of the departmental recommendations. Each member of the College Committee votes on the action required as a representative of the College Committee. The Dean does not vote as a member of the committee. One member of the College Committee prepares a summary document of the findings of the College Committee. The discussion summary and the vote of the College Committee members becomes a permanent record in the candidate’s dossier and is used as input by the Dean in preparing his or her recommendation letter to the Provost.