VCOM Faculty Handbook

spring to render its recommendations regarding pending applications for promotion in rank and tenure.

The APT Committee must critically review the documentation supporting a candidate’s request for appointment, promotion, and/or tenure in order to determine if the candidate meets the qualifications specified for that rank or tenure. Should the committee deem that the documentation is lacking, it is empowered to request that the candidate be mentored in obtaining additional documentation deemed necessary and may appoint the mentor. Failure by the candidate to provide documentation may delay the consideration of appointment, promotion, or tenure. APT Committee members may not be held liable for providing their opinions as to the qualifications, or lack thereof, by the candidate. All proceedings of the APT Committee are considered confidential and not for publication, except in the case of promotion, where the appointment following a positive decision may be published. Initial Faculty Appointment The APT Committee is responsible for initial faculty appointments for all candidates seeking full-time or part-time employment, regardless of track. Faculty with a previous or current rank from another academic higher education institution are typically initially appointed at VCOM at the same rank. However, faculty will be considered for initial appointment at the next highest rank above their previous or current rank from another academic higher education institution if they have met VCOM’s criteria for appointment to that rank (including requisite number of years served at their current/previous rank from another institution and teaching, research and scholarly activity, and service requirements). In order to be considered for appointment at a higher rank at the time of initial appointment, faculty must submit evidence of their teaching, research, and service contributions that meet the requirements of the rank of which they are seeking. Failure of the faculty member to submit this evidence will result in the APT Committee considering the faculty member for appointment at the rank they hold/held from the previous institution. In addition, faculty applying for initial appointment with a previous or current rank from another academic higher education institution, who do not yet meet VCOM’s criteria for appointment to the next highest rank above their previous or current rank from another institution, will be granted years of service toward promotion in rank at VCOM. For example, a faculty member who held the rank of Assistant Professor at a previous institution for 2 years will be granted 2 years of service toward promotion in rank at VCOM. This faculty member would be eligible to apply for promotion in rank to Associate Professor after completing two years of academic teaching, research and service experience at the Assistant Professor level at VCOM. The Application Process for Initial Appointment A candidate seeking initial faculty appointment assumes the responsibility for preparing and submitting an initial application packet that includes: 1. Cover letter formally requesting consideration for initial appointment that specifies the rank sought (Assistant Instructor, Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor) 2. Current Curriculum Vitae (CV); 3. Proof of degree; • For the purpose of accreditation and state licensure, proof of degree of an academic track faculty member whose degree is less than doctoral, must be accompanied by a letter from the Campus Dean that:

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