RUL 05.67.807 - Department of History Professional Faculty Contract and Promotion Standards and Procedures

RUL 05.67.807 – Department of History Professional Faculty Contract and Promotion Standards and Procedures

History: First Issued: August 26, 2019. Last Revised: September 5, 2025

NCSU REG 05.20.34 – Professional Faculty Ranks and Appointments
NCSU REG05.20.05 – Consultation and Written Assessments, Recommendations and Responses in RPT Review
NCSU REG05.20.20 – Reappointment, Promotion, and Tenure Dossier Format Requirements

Additional References:
Office of the Provost RPT Website

Contact Info: Head, Department of History (919-515-2483)

1. INTRODUCTION

This rule provides the standards and procedures for contract and promotion of professional faculty with professorial rank in the Department of History at North Carolina State University. This rule is supplemental to university and college rules on the contract and promotion of professional faculty. Only faculty appointed at 0.75 FTE and above are eligible for promotion. Department standards for contract and promotion of Lecturers and Senior Lecturers are maintained at the department website. The Department recognizes that the specific activities upon which professional faculty are evaluated will vary.

Professional faculty with professorial ranks must be appointed in one of the tracks described in REG 05.20.34 – Professional Faculty Ranks and Appointments. These titles can also be modified by “adjunct.”

2. AREAS OF FACULTY RESPONSIBILITY

All professional faculty in the department are expected to engage in Teaching and Mentoring of Undergraduate and Graduate Students (teaching), Discovery of Knowledge through Discipline-Guided Inquiry (research), Service to Professional Societies and the Discipline and Service and Engagement within the University (service) or other responsibilities as determined by their Statements of Faculty Responsibilities (SFR) where realms of responsibility are greater than zero.

3. GENERAL STANDARDS

At the departmental level, the review of candidates will employ standards generally consonant with those of the College and University, while specifically suitable for faculty members in the Department. These standards are applied with the expectation that faculty who are appointed and promoted within the Department are highly qualified within their discipline, as demonstrated by their teaching, service, research and other relevant realms of responsibility, and that the effort in these realms are consistent with the needs and resources of the university. The merit of the faculty member’s performance, rather than time in rank, is the basic standard for all recommendations for promotion. However, the dossier must demonstrate that the faculty member has established a record of performance at NC State consistent with promotion criteria.

4. TITLE CHANGE FROM LECTURER TRACK TO ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN A PROFESSIONAL TRACK

4.1 A title change from Lecturer or Senior Lecturer to Assistant Professor in a Professional Track may be made when a faculty member on the Lecturer track acquires a new professional credential (e.g., PhD degree) and there are no substantive changes in duties and expectations.

4.2 In accordance with RUL 05.67.413 – College of Humanities and Social Sciences Appointment and Promotion of Professional Faculty Standards and Procedures, a title change from Lecturer to Assistant Professor in a Professional Track is solely a function of a change in credential. Title changes may be granted effective January 1 or July 1 following proof of credential attainment. The CHASS HR Services Team must be notified of any changes in title.

5. STANDARDS FOR INITIAL AND SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT AS ASSISTANT TEACHING PROFESSOR IN A PROFESSIONAL TRACK

For university criteria for qualifications of Assistant Teaching Professors, see NCSU R E G 05.20.34 – Professional Faculty Ranks and Appointments.

5.1 Realms of Responsibility (varies depending on track—teaching, clinical, extension, research, practice).

5.2 All faculty initially appointed to the rank of Assistant Teaching Professor must hold the terminal degree for their field.

5.3 Terms of service for professional faculty with 0.75 FTE or more must be a minimum of two years. Consistent with NCSU RUL 05.67.413, the Department Head may request an exception from the Dean where a shorter-term is needed and should provide justification (e.g., emergency, temporary appointment to assume duties of a faculty member on leave).

5.4 All faculty at .75 FTE or more holding Assistant Teaching Professor rank or higher must have a Statement of Faculty Responsibilities (SFR) defining their realms of faculty responsibilities.

5.5 To be appointed to Assistant Teaching Professor, an individual should demonstrate:

5.5.1 Ability or definite promise in the mutually agreed upon realms of responsibility

5.5.2 Potential for directing activities in the mutually agreed upon realms of responsibility

5.5.3 Ability and willingness to participate in department, college and university activities

5.6 Criteria for subsequent contracts for Assistant Teaching Professors

5.6.1 Assistant Teaching Professors under consideration for subsequent contracts at the same rank must demonstrate continued excellence in the realms specified in their SFR as outlined in the standards for initial contract in section 5.1. Evidence of continued excellence is outlined in the standards for promotion in Section 6.1.

6. STANDARDS FOR INITIAL CONTRACT, SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT, AND PROMOTION TO ASSOCIATE TEACHING PROFESSOR IN A PROFESSIONAL TRACK

6.1 Initial contracts or promotion to Associate Teaching Professor in the History Department is awarded to individuals who have achieved sufficient distinction to merit this status based on their efforts in the realms of faculty responsibility as specified in their SFR. The History Department does not apply fixed or quantitative standards for promotion to Associate Teaching Professor. Instead, the Department weighs qualitative contributions of candidates in the realms of faculty responsibility as specified in SFR. For university criteria for Associate Teaching Professors, see NCSU R EG 05.20.34.

6.2 Faculty must show a recognized ability for achievement in the realms of faculty responsibility as specified in their SFR.

6.2.1 Examples of achievement in teaching include, but are not limited to, highly effective teaching as evidenced by student and peer evaluations, nominations for teaching awards, the development of new courses and other teaching and curricular innovations, mentorship of student learning and student research, the development and participation in study abroad programs, teaching workshops, and public and scholarly presentations or publications on the scholarship of teaching. Other examples include the use of research and scholarship in the classroom, including integrating department-, college-, or university-level research programs or the faculty member’s own current research reflecting curricular development and teaching into courses.

6.2.2 Examples of achievement in research include, but are not limited to, nominations for research awards and presentations or publications that further knowledge development and scholarship.

6.2.4 Examples of achievement in service within and to the department include, but are not limited to, dedicated participation in faculty meetings and departmental events, nominations for service awards, service on student honors and graduate committees, service on academic and professional committees, and other forms of service to the profession. Other examples include public and scholarly presentations, peer-review, service on editorial boards, engagement activities locally and globally, and the development, marketing, organization and operation of study abroad and other programs.

6.3 Associate Teaching Professors under consideration for subsequent contracts at the same rank must demonstrate continued excellence in the realms specified in their SFR as outlined in the standards for initial contract in section 6.1. Evidence of continued excellence is outlined in the standards for promotion in Section 6.1

6.4 At a minimum, standards for promotion will require significant accomplishments beyond those required for the previous rank and appropriate to appointment at the more advanced rank. That is, faculty seeking promotion from Assistant Teaching Professor to Associate Teaching Professor must show evidence qualifying for promotion accrued since their appointment to Assistant Teaching Professor, including:

6.4.1 Recognized ability and potential for distinction in the mutually agreed upon realms of responsibility

6.4.2 Demonstrated ability to direct activities in the mutually agreed upon realms of responsibility

6.4.3 Demonstrated ability and willingness to participate in department, college and university activities, as well as professional associations and parallel types of organizations including external engagement activities.

7. PROMOTION TO TEACHING PROFESSOR

7.1 Initial contracts or promotion to Teaching Professor in the History Department are awarded to faculty who have achieved sufficient distinction to merit this status based on their professional achievements in the realms of faculty responsibility as specified in their SFR. The History Department does not apply fixed or quantitative standards for promotion to Teaching Professor. Instead, the Department weighs qualitative contributions of candidates in the realms of faculty responsibility as specified in SFR. For university criteria for Teaching Professors, see NCSU R EG 05.20.34.

7.2 Realms of Responsibility:

7.2.1 Must show distinguished achievement in the realms of faculty responsibility as specified in their SFR.

7.2.2 Examples of distinction in teaching include, but are not limited to, highly effective teaching as evidenced by student and peer evaluations, nominations for teaching awards, the development of new courses and other teaching and curricular innovations, mentorship of student learning and student research, the development and participation in study abroad programs, teaching workshops, public and scholarly presentations or publications on the scholarship of teaching. Other examples include the use of research and scholarship in the classroom, including contributions to integrating Department-, College-, or University-level research programs or the faculty member’s own current research reflecting curricular development and teaching.

7.2.3 Examples of achievement in research include, but are not limited to, nominations for research awards and presentations or publications that further knowledge development and scholarship.

7.2.4 Examples of achievement in service include, but are not limited to, dedicated participation in faculty meetings and departmental events, nominations for service awards, service on student honors and graduate committees, and service on academic and professional committees, as well as professional associations and parallel types of organizations including external engagement activities. Other examples include public and scholarly presentations, service on editorial boards, and the development, marketing, organization and operation of study abroad and other programs.

7.3 All Teaching Professors shall meet the minimum qualifications for Associate Teaching (e.g., a terminal degree), be appointed for a minimum of two years, and have an SFR.

7.4 At a minimum, standards for promotion will require significant accomplishments beyond those required for the previous rank and appropriate to appointment at the more advanced rank. That is, faculty seeking promotion from Associate Teaching Professor to Teaching Professor must show evidence qualifying for promotion accrued since their appointment to Associate Teaching Professor.

8. RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR INITIAL CONTRACT, SUBSEQUENT CONTRACT, AND PROMOTION OF PROFESSIONAL TRACK FACULTY WITH PROFESSORIAL RANK

8.1 Departmental rules and procedures for the timetable and promotion process conform to those of the College, as outlined in NCSU RUL 05.67.413.

8.1.2 For purposes of departmental votes on professional faculty appointments, members of the Department Voting Faculty (DVF) follow the definition in university policy NCSU REG05.20.34 – Professional Faculty Ranks and Appointments.

8.1.3 In addition to the procedures mandated by the university and by the college, the History Department has the following procedures for considering professional faculty for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor:

8.1.4 Any Assistant or Associate Professor in a professional track appointment may nominate themselves for consideration of promotion by submitting a request in writing to the Department Head by April 1st in the year preceding consideration.

8.1.5 In consultation with the Department Head, the candidate selects one member of the DVF, as defined in 8.1.2, who advises and oversees the candidate in assembling the material for consideration for promotion and subsequent contract. The responsibility of the DVF representative is to assist the candidate and the Department Head in reviewing the material and dossier for completeness and appropriateness and in assembling all necessary documents and information.

8.1.6 At the beginning of the fall semester, the Department Head sets the dates for the meetings of the DVF to consider subsequent contracts and promotions and announces them to the DVF members.

8.1.7 The material will be ready for review by all members of the DVF at least two weeks before the meeting of the DVF to consider promotion or contract is held.

8.1.8 The discussion of any individual candidate for promotion or contract must be completed within a single meeting. The DVF may choose to discuss more than one candidate in a single meeting but must hold separate meetings to discuss different candidates should any DVF member so request. Votes on each candidate will be sealed until all candidates have been reviewed and all votes have been completed in the DVF meeting(s).