Full-time, Non-tenure Track Teaching Faculty Policy
Posted – 5 May 2008
Effective – 1 September 2008
1. Overview
This document defines and presents policies regarding the appointment, promotion, and evaluation of full-time non-tenure track Teaching Faculty at Drexel University. Teaching Faculty are appointed to positions where their primary responsibilities are focused on teaching. These appointments are made without any expectation of tenure and years of service in these positions do not apply toward tenure if a Teaching Faculty member transitions to a tenure-track position.
Full-time non-tenure track Teaching Faculty can be appointed at one of the following ranks:
- Assistant Teaching (or Clinical) Professor
- Associate Teaching (or Clinical) Professor
- Teaching (or Clinical) Professor
The “clinical” title is intended for faculty in those academic units, e.g.; CNHP, who have specialized training and experience in a professional field and whose primary responsibility is teaching.
Full-time, non-tenure track Teaching or Clinical Faculty are hereafter referred to as “Teaching Faculty.”
2. Criteria for the Appointment of Teaching Faculty
These criteria for appointment of Teaching Faculty are to be used in conjunction with established procedures for Drexel University as set forth in University Academic Policies as well as with requirements and procedures for hiring as established in individual colleges and schools and any requirements set forth by accreditation organizations.
This section provides qualitative standards for appointments of Teaching Faculty. The varying degrees of competence expected at the various teaching academic ranks are presented, including sources of evidence to be sought in making decisions about appointment.
Teaching Faculty members are normally expected to teach 36 credits per academic year if on a 9-month appointment (48 credits on a 12-month appointment) or to complete equivalent duties as assigned by the department chair or Dean/Director. These equivalent duties may include service or other academic responsibilities.
The ranks for Teaching Faculty and descriptions of these positions are as follows:- Assistant Teaching (Clinical) Professor
Appointment as an Assistant Teaching (or Clinical) Professor requires an appropriate background as determined by the Department Head or Dean/Director. This background may include academic preparation, professional experience, professional development, teaching background, clinical background or some combination of these factors. However, the candidate should demonstrate the academic preparation, professional experience and/or development, and activity necessary for instructional duties in the department/unit. The candidate should display a commitment to, and philosophy of, education compatible with the goals and objectives of the university.
- Associate Teaching (Clinical) Professor
Basic criteria for appointment as an Associate Teaching (or Clinical) Professor are the same as for the Assistant Teaching (or Clinical) Professor level. In addition, candidates should have demonstrated excellence in teaching or have extensive professional expertise.
- Teaching (Clinical) Professor
Basic criteria for appointment as a Teaching (or Clinical) Professor are the same as for the Associate Teaching (or Clinical) Professor. In addition, candidates should have outstanding credentials, academic and/or professional.
3. Hiring and Promotion
Appointments of Teaching Faculty may be made with approval of the Dean/Director and the Provost. A review is required for re-appointment. Teaching Faculty appointments and promotions must be made in compliance with all university policies.
3.1 Hiring
A Teaching Faculty member may be hired by a college/school Dean/Director at an appropriate rank, based on criteria at the discretion of the hiring unit (but always subject to university requirements and policies) with the approval of the Provost.
The following items may be considered for the initial appointment to a Teaching Faculty position: 1) candidate’s resume or curriculum vitae; 2) copies of course materials used; 3) data on the number of courses taught and students completing these courses; 4) systematic collection of comments from students who have taken courses from the candidate; 5) evidence of methods of presentation used; 6) observation of class sessions; 7) lists of continuing education activities; 8) involvement in ongoing curriculum development; 9) publications/creative scholarship on pedagogy; 10) teaching awards; and 11) professional background.
3.2 Annual Review
The Department Head or program Director will review Teaching Faculty as part of the annual review process. The review is intended to determine the fulfillment of teaching duties, service to the hiring unit and other units, and continued professional activities and development. Publications/creative scholarship/research can be taken into consideration for the review.
3.3 Promotion
Teaching Faculty are eligible to apply for promotion after having served five years in a given rank. For promotion, Teaching Faculty shall undergo a formal review as set out below.
NOTE: For Teaching Faculty whose appointment is not associated with a particular department or program, the Office of the Dean/Director shall oversee the application for promotion.
Promotion to the Rank of Associate Teaching Professor
Candidates for promotion to the rank of Associate Teaching Professor should have:
- Demonstrated excellence in teaching and shown visible and durable initiatives in improving their teaching skills, teaching materials, and curriculum development. There should be evidence that class work is well organized, that assignments are clear and varied according to the nature of the course content, and that various modes of presentation are commonly employed. The candidate should have engaged in revision of existing courses or creation of new courses. The candidate should have displayed a commitment to, and philosophy of, education compatible with the goals and objectives of the university.
- Been involved as required in service responsibilities within the department, the college/school, the university, and related civic organizations and have worked successfully with other colleagues within the college and university.
- Clearly demonstrated an ability to keep abreast of new developments and to communicate ideas to students and colleagues so that their own performance is improved. They should be actively participating with colleagues and students in a community that focuses on intellectual and professional matters.
Promotion to the Rank of Teaching Professor
Candidates for promotion to the rank of Teaching Professor should have:
- Demonstrated continued success in classroom teaching. Furthermore, evidence of new course development in the candidate's area of expertise should be substantial, as should be the concern with the curriculum as a whole. Work with students individually and in groups should be effective. Candidates for promotion to the rank of Teaching Professor should demonstrate outstanding expertise in some aspect of teaching and educational scholarship.
- Demonstrated continued professional development and leadership (in matters of curriculum development, methodological innovation, or scholarly or artistic contributions) beyond that expected of Associate Teaching Professors. There should be evidence of leadership in the department, college, or university.
- Demonstrated continued intellectual growth and receptivity to new developments as well as an ability to stimulate colleagues and students to greater achievement by working with them inside and outside the classroom. Candidates will have or will have shown an ability to work across disciplinary lines.
Sources of Evidence
These categories are intended as guidelines. Each hiring unit may establish more specific guidelines that relate to its expectations for professional activities.
In addition to the following sources, committees may also consider higher degrees completed by the candidate after the initial appointment.
Teaching
Candidates must submit a teaching portfolio that includes the following sources of evidence, the candidate’s teaching philosophy, and reflections on delivery, evaluation and revision of instruction: 1) candidate’s resume or cv.; 2) copies of course materials used; 3) data on the number of courses taught and students completing these courses; 4) systematic collection of comments from students who have taken courses from the candidate; 5) evidence of methods of presentation used; 6) observation of class sessions; 7) lists of continuing education activities; 8) involvement in ongoing curriculum development; 9) publications/creative scholarship on pedagogy; and 10) teaching awards.
Service
Sources of evidence which may be used regarding this criterion include service to the college, university and the profession in roles such as Program Directors or Associate Directors, or membership on university or professional committees.
Academic and Professional Activities
Sources of evidence which may be used regarding this criterion may include new course development, presentation of research or creative scholarship, participation as an invited expert in seminars and lectures at other departments and universities or at national conferences, or program leadership.
Procedures for Promotion
- Application for Promotion
A Teaching Faculty member may present himself/herself for promotion by formal application in accordance with the timetable for promotion of Teaching Faculty established by the Provost and the unit for the next academic year; he/she must supply supporting documentation to the Promotions Committee as set out in this timetable. An individual may present himself/herself for promotion no more than once every two years (i.e.; an unsuccessful candidate may try again after a one year “time out”). Although the Department Head or Director should encourage faculty to apply for promotion when he/she thinks that is appropriate, the candidate may take the initiative and present himself/herself for promotion without the Department Head or Director’s initiative. Faculty who are considering proposing themselves for promotion are encouraged to have informal discussions with the Department Head or Director and with senior faculty who have previously gone through the promotion process.
- Composition of the Promotions Committee
The Promotions Committee shall consist of at least three faculty, including at least one tenured or tenure-track and one Teaching Faculty at a rank equal to or higher than the rank applied for. If there are no eligible Teaching Faculty, the Department Head or Director shall nominate additional tenure-track faculty. The committee shall be appointed in accordance with the timetable for promotion of Teaching Faculty established by the Provost and the unit. A chairperson shall be elected by the committee from among the faculty representatives.
- Candidate Documentation
Candidates for promotion will notify the Department Head or Director in writing on or before the date established in the timetable for promotion. The Department Head or Director will then convene the committee. Candidates will prepare proposals that address the criteria for the rank. Each candidate will establish a plan for documenting his/her case for promotion, and the candidate is responsible for providing documentation on time. Initial documentation must be provided by the deadline in the timetable for promotion. Candidates should adhere to any specific guidelines for materials that have been established by the department, program or college.
- Promotion Recommendations
The committee will hold an initial discussion with the Department Head or Director at the outset of the promotion review process. Letters of recommendation will be solicited from faculty colleagues and students. The Department Head or Director will be provided copies of all materials submitted to the committee. The committee will present promotion recommendations to the Department Head in accordance with the timetable. The Department Head will forward the recommendation, along with his or her recommendation to the Dean/Director of the academic unit. The Dean/Director will forward these recommendations along with his or her recommendation to the Provost in accordance with the timetable for cases in which promotion is recommended.
Denials of promotion are not forwarded to the Provost. Additionally, the Dean/Director may decide not to forward a promotion recommendation to the Provost even though promotion is recommended by the Promotions Committee. Reasons may be substantive, or procedural. Candidates whose cases were denied in one year must complete another academic year before becoming eligible to apply again.
The Dean/Director may decide to recommend promotion even though the committee did not so recommend. In that case the Dean/Director will call a meeting of the committee, discuss the situation with them, and, if so determined, forward the recommendation along with the committee's recommendation to the Provost.
Candidates will be given copies of recommendation reports and will have an opportunity to respond.
3.5. Length of Appointment
Assistant Teaching Professor
- Initial appointment at the Assistant Teaching Professor level shall be for one year. This appointment may be renewed annually.
Associate Teaching Professor
- Initial appointment at the Associate Teaching Professor level is normally made for one year, but in some circumstances, and with appropriate justification, may be made for up to two years with approval of the Dean/Director and the Provost. After the initial appointment, and upon review and approval of the Dean/Director and the Provost, this appointment may be renewed for terms of up to three years.
- Promotion to this rank may include a renewable contract of up three years.
Teaching Professor
- Initial appointment as a Teaching Professor is normally made for one year, but in some circumstances, and with appropriate justification, may be made for up to three years with approval of the Dean/Director and the Provost. After the initial appointment, and upon review and approval of the Dean/Director and Provost, this appointment may be renewed for terms of up to three years.
- Promotion to this rank may include a renewable contract of up to three years.
Shorter contract terms are permissible at any level. All appointment letters for Teaching Faculty should clearly state that regardless of the length of the appointment, an appointment can be terminated if there are an insufficient number of courses to be taught.
4. Transition to Tenure-Track
There is no explicit provision for conversion of a Teaching Faculty position to the tenure track and no special status for Teaching Faculty applying for advertised tenure-track positions. However, a candidate's teaching, creative activities, research, and service records will be taken fully into account in considering their application.
5. Non-reappointment or Termination of Employment
5.1 Non-reappointment
Where an appointment is not to be renewed, departments are required to follow the guidelines for non-reappointment presented on the website of the Office of the Provost: http://www.drexel.edu/provost/policies/nonreappointment.asp
5.2 Termination
An appointment can be terminated for the following reasons:
- Insufficient teaching needs or inconsistency with the teaching priorities of the department or academic unit;
- Failure to maintain excellence in quality or productivity in teaching; or
- Cause.
Any decision to terminate an appointment under this Section shall be at the discretion of the Provost. A Teaching Faculty member with more than five years of service to Drexel will be given written notice of termination at least six months prior to the end of the contract. Faculty with less than five years of service will be given written notice of termination at least one month for each year of service prior to the end of the contract. In all cases, the university will make its best efforts to provide appropriate notice to the faculty member. No notice is given if termination is for cause.
6. Teaching Faculty Responsibilities
All Teaching Faculty are required to follow all policies of the department or program, the college/school, and the university with respect to instruction and faculty responsibilities.
7. Faculty Governance
Teaching Faculty are considered voting faculty as established in the Charter on Faculty Governance. Voting rights in individual departments, schools and colleges are governed by that unit’s by-laws.