IX. Promotion In Rank

IN THIS SECTION:
- - A. Minimum Requirements for Service and Promotion:
  - B. Timetables

Recommendations for promotion Richard Bland College shall be made to the Chief Academic Officer by the Peer Review Committee. In all cases, the Chief Academic Officer, upon receipt of the committee’s report, shall make recommendations regarding promotions and multiple-year contracts to the President, whose decision is final, subject to the approval of the Board of Visitors. Though there will be consideration for promotion in rank at the times stipulated in this document, such promotion is not automatic upon completion of time served at a particular level of rank.

A. Minimum Requirements for Service and Promotion:

Instructor
The faculty member must hold/have a master’s degree and/or a minimum of eighteen graduate hours in the area of instruction, or in rare cases, be awarded consideration of an equivalency by the Chief Academic Officer.
Promotion from Instructor to Assistant Professor
To be considered for promotion to assistant professor, a faculty member must:
1. Have completed two (2) years’ service as an instructor at the College, or in rare cases, be awarded consideration of an equivalency by the Chief Academic Officer;
2. Hold a master’s degree in the field of appointment, or in rare cases, be awarded consideration of an equivalency by the Chief Academic Officer;
3. Demonstrate performance that reflects promise of the candidate’s being a strong addition to the College in his/her professional field, and
4. Submit a satisfactory portfolio for review prior to promotion, as described above.
Promotion from Assistant to Associate Professor

To be considered for promotion to associate professor, a faculty member must complete four (4) years’ service as an Assistant Professor at the College, or in rare cases, be awarded consideration of an equivalency by the Chief Academic Officer. The faculty member must also have at least six (6) years in total of college-level teaching.

4. Promotion from Associate Professor to Full Professor

To be considered for promotion to full professor, a faculty member must complete at least six (6) years as associate professor, or in rare cases, be awarded consideration of an equivalency by the Chief Academic Officer. S/he must have a minimum of twelve (12) years of college teaching experience (or equivalency), and a terminal degree in his/her field. The M.F.A. can be considered as a terminal degree for a faculty member whose field is theater or studio art. The promotion, if awarded, will take effect in the fall semester following the candidate’s completion of the requirements stipulated herein, given approval of the Peer Review Committee, the Chief Academic Officer, the President, and the Board of Visitors.

B. Timetables

Timetable for Review: Preliminary and Pre-Tenure Review

a. First Monday in April

Candidates for review are announced by the Chief Academic Officer (CAO). Upon notification, candidates may make recommendations for the areas of expertise represented on the Peer Review Committee to the CAO.

b. First Monday in May

Peer Review Committee members are announced by the Chief Academic Officer. Members will include representatives from each academic department and as much as possible at least one member will possess expertise in areas specified by each candidate.

The CAO will appoint as Chair of the Committee a senior faculty member who is not a department chair of any candidate up for review.

c. Third Monday in January (of the following year)

Candidates for pre-tenure review or preliminary continuing faculty review submit their portfolios to the Peer Review Committee Chair.

d. Third Monday in February

The Peer Review Committee completes its classroom observations of the candidates (at least two members of the committee will visit an entire class meeting for each faculty member under its review). After completing their observations and portfolio reviews, the committee will meet with each candidate to discuss their continued professional development.

e. Third Monday in March

The Peer Review Committee submits a report with recommendations for continued professional growth to each candidate, based on its portfolio reviews, classroom observations, and meetings with the candidates.

f. Third Monday in April

The candidate returns a signed copy of the committee’s report, along with any comments they may have to the Chair of the Peer Review Committee. The Committee Chair will then notify the candidate’s department chair and the CAO that the candidate has completed the review process and retain a copy of the candidate’s report for forwarding to future review committees.

2. Timetable for Review: Promotion and Tenure Review

a. First Monday in April

b. First Monday in May

The CAO will appoint as Chair of the Committee a senior faculty member who is not a department chair of any candidate up for review. The chair of the previous Peer Review Committee forwards pre-tenure/ preliminary review reports for candidates up for promotion or tenure to the new committee chair.

c. Third Monday in September

Candidates for promotion or tenure faculty review submit their portfolios to the Peer Review Committee Chair.

d. Third Monday in October

e. Second Monday in January

The Peer Review Committee submits its report with recommendation for or against promotion or tenure to each candidate it is reviewing and their respective department chair. Upon receipt of the Committee’s report, candidates not receiving a recommendation for tenure or promotion from the Committee may submit a written response to their department chair and/ or request a meeting with the department chair.

f. Third Monday in February

The candidate’s department chair submits their own recommendation for or against promotion or tenure, along with the recommendation of the Peer Review Committee and candidate’s response, to the CAO.

g. First Monday in March

The CAO reports the recommendations (for or against tenure/ promotion) of the Peer Review Committee and Department Chairs, along with their own recommendation, to the President.

3. Timetable for Review: Post-tenure Review and Five-year Review of Continuing Faculty

a. First Monday in April

b. First Monday in May

The CAO will appoint as Chair of the Committee a senior faculty member who is not a department chair of any candidate up for review.

c. Third Monday in September

Candidates for review submit their portfolios to the Peer Review Committee Chair.

d. Third Monday in October

e. Second Monday in January

The Peer Review Committee submits its report on the candidate’s professional performance of each candidate during this time period, to the candidate, their department chair, and the CAO. Upon receipt of the Committee’s report, candidates not receiving a positive assessment from the Committee may submit a written response to their department chair and request a meeting with the department chair.

f. Third Monday in February

For any candidate not receiving a positive assessment from the Committee, the candidate’s department chair submits their own written assessment of the candidate’s professional performance, along with the candidate’s written response, to the CAO. The CAO will then schedule a meeting with any candidate not receiving a positive assessment by the Committee to identify steps for improving their performance.

g. First Monday in March

The CAO will submit a plan with a specific timetable of measurable steps for professional development to any candidate who did not receive a positive assessment by either the committee or their department chair. If the plan is acceptable to the candidate, they will sign and return it to the CAO who will then monitor the success of the candidate at following the plan. A candidate may elect to have the plan reviewed by the Faculty Affairs Committee, who may suggest revisions to the plan to the CAO.