Faculty Promotion Materials

University Promotion Information

Office of the Provost: Faculty Promotion and Tenure

 

College of Science Promotion Information

These documents are a supplement, giving college-specific information regarding the tenure and promotion criteria. The relevant university-level documents are

  1. Academic Tenure and Promotion (I.B.2) and
  2. Criteria for tenure and promotion for the West Lafayette Campus.

Details regarding the documentation of material in support of a promotion are in Tenure and Promotion Policies and Procedures, Section X of the College of Science Policies and Procedures Manual. The criteria described here are general in nature reflecting the diversity of ways to provide evidence of scholarship in our college. They summarize the major items that are the focus of the discussions at the College of Science Area Committee when reviewing nominations for tenure and promotion. Detailed department-specific criteria are listed separately below.

 

Departmental Promotion Criteria

  • Biological Sciences (PDF)
  • Chemistry
    • Tenure/Tenure Track Criteria (PDF)
    • Professors of Practice
      • Promotion Criteria – Professors of Practice Department of Chemistry Promotion is based upon evidence of the candidate's distinction in performance of assigned duties, documentable impact of educational programs and/or applied research findings; and exemplary service in the activity areas defined in their position description (local, regional, university, professional, etc.). Ideally, four or more external letters of evaluation related to the candidate’s performance and impact should be part of the dossier evaluated by the primary and area committees. In general, the letters must be from individuals who hold a rank at or above the level for which the candidate is being considered, or an experience level equivalent to such a rank. Ability to objectively evaluate is the driver in selecting evaluators. The candidate must submit a list of evaluators to the department head who meet the criteria stated above. The other evaluators are to be selected by the head and PDC. The head will request the letters of evaluation, clarifying the nature of the appointment and its expectations for the letter writers.
  • Computer Science
    • Computer Science Criteria The university generally examines performance in three distinct areas in its consideration for promotion. These areas are: teaching, scholarly work and research, and service (to the department, university or community). Each individual case is considered in depth; there are no fixed criteria for evaluation or decision. Assistant Professors should note that it is unlikely they will be promoted if their performance in teaching is judged as being inadequate, or if their performance in scholarly work and research fails to show promise of achieving national distinction.
  • Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
    • EAPS Promotion Criteria Promotion can be proposed on the basis of accomplishment in three categories, Research, Teaching and Service. The majority of cases in EAPS are proposed on the basis of Research, but it is expected that the teaching and service records be acceptable. In the cases of promotion based on Research or Teaching it is expected that there is a strong record of creative accomplishment as evidenced by publications and invited talks. The funding and award record is also critical as is evidence of supervision of both graduate and undergraduate students in research, and such items as outreach, etc.
  • Mathematics
  • Physics and Astronomy (PDF)
  • Statistics (PDF)