VCOM Faculty Handbook

Promotion in rank is a peer-review process wherein candidates are judged against specific standards that are in alignment with the College and criteria from certain national standards. These guidelines are intended to broadly define the minimum performance levels associated with the academic ranks between Assistant Instructor and Professor. Promotion in rank represents the progression through increasing levels of collective academic performance and responsibilities in the areas of teaching, research and scholarly activity, service, and leadership. Regardless of rank, all faculty seeking promotion in academic rank are to be evaluated in these areas when considered for promotion and tenure. Academic rank does not define tenure and is awarded separately from tenure. Teaching specifically refers to the teaching of VCOM medical students, residents, and fellows. Full-time faculty status will not be granted to those persons who incidentally contribute to the teaching or research programs of VCOM in the course or performing other duties. Education duties on campus are determined by the Associate Dean for Medical Education and education duties in the clinical site is determined by the Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs. Research and scholarly activity may be performed in the areas of education, biomedical, or clinical research. Faculty who have research duties within their contracted time are expected to perform research, to produce scholarly activity related to that research, and to consistently participate in grant submissions and fundraising efforts toward the support of that research. Research accomplishment is measured by research contributions, publications of research findings, participation and administrative leadership in research initiatives, research committee participation, funding application, and funding success. Service specifically refers to contributions made to VCOM’s academic mission. For Clinical Track faculty, the current involvement and benefit for students from the College is considered rather than direct service to the College. Service may include, but is not limited to the following:

• Committee membership; • Admissions recruitment, screening, or interviewing; • Student organization mentor; • Assigned academic advising; • Course development; • Development of the department or VCOM;

• Professional association work related to the VCOM Mission (as determined by the College); and • Contributions of expertise while representing VCOM at the local, state, or national level; o Military service with recognition for accomplishment (by rank, service medal, or other forms of service) is considered as nationally recognized accomplishment; and • Other college service as approved by the Division Officer In addition to years of appointment at a particular rank at VCOM, years of appointment of that same rank from a previous or current academic higher education institution will also be accepted 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 (meeting VCOM’s criteria of 4 years of appointment at the rank of Assistant Professor in order to be eligible to request promotion in rank to Associate Professor).

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