Associate Professor

Prior to consideration, the candidate must have demonstrated consistently effective ability as a teacher and must have done meritorious work in the chosen field, must hold the terminal degree and have completed five years of collegiate academic experience. The academic experience need not have been at Mount Saint Mary College. By the end of the 3^rd year, candidates should meet the minimal expectation in every category with an acceptable reflection in the FDF of any area that is substandard, demonstration of growth, and a plan for moving forward. In addition, the faculty member will achieve one commendable rating in each category during the first three years. The P&T review in the fourth year will review the faculty member’s progress, acknowledge the achievements, and make recommendations for areas that need work.

For promotion to associate professor and tenure, faculty members should have achieved at least one outstanding and one commendable rating in each rubric (teaching, scholarship, and service) and maintained at least minimal in every category.

Candidates presenting themselves to the Promotion and Tenure committee for review in the first 6 years as they work toward the rank of associate professor should include a reflection on their work, demonstrate growth in all areas and have a plan for moving forward.

Expectations of an Associate Professor

Associate professors are expected meet the standards for promotion to associate professor at each 3-year review by the PRC and the P&T Committee.

The candidate for promotion to Associate Professor is expected to have met or to have exceeded the following standards:

a. Teaching

For promotion to Associate Professor, evaluation will continue to include “consistently effective ability” as a teacher with the expectation that the person-to-person and distance teaching be incrementally better than the Assistant Professor evaluation levels.

Examples of contributions and evidence that reflect “consistently effective ability” and incremental growth as a teacher may include but are not limited to:

Above average teaching effectiveness evaluations from one’s Chairperson, from peers and from students;
Evidence of use of formative evaluations to guide instructional decision-making from class to class;
Development of course syllabi which illustrate maintenance of current knowledge, depth and breadth of course preparation, and outcome orientation as evidenced by changes in syllabi made across time;
Proactive contributions to Division programs and course development with emphasis on outcomes;
Collaboration with colleagues to reflect upon and improve student learning;
Ability to identify at risk students and refer them to appropriate resources for assessment and intervention;
Demonstration of cultural sensitivity and competent advisement of students on academic and professional matters.

b. Scholarship

To demonstrate “meritorious work” in one’s chosen field a portfolio for a candidate for promotion to Associate Professor should contain evidence of continuous growth as a scholar and should reflect a deepening and widening spectrum of scholarly activities.

Scholarship of teaching. The “deepening” of the scholarship of teaching may include but is not limited to the following contributions and evidence:

Innovative teaching and evaluation methods;
Program innovation and development;
Creation of learning outcomes evaluations for accreditation report;
Grant proposals for educational programs;
Modeling the teaching role for novice faculty.

Scholarship of discovery, application and/or integration. The “widening” of scholarship into these areas may include but is not limited to the following contributions and evidence of continuing professional development:

Completion of the terminal degree in one’s discipline;
Engagement in post-doctoral studies if one already has a terminal degree, through attendance at workshops and conferences, through clinical practice, through professional performances and the like;
Engagement in scholarship and publication.

c. Service

To demonstrate “meritorious work” in one’s chosen field a portfolio for a candidate for promotion to Associate Professor should reflect a widening spectrum of professional activities.

Examples of contributions and evidence that reflect a widening of professional activities may include but are not limited to:

Recognition by peers such that the faculty member’s expertise is solicited for special service at the College, e.g., service on search committees, task forces or other and hoc committees, service as Chair of a committee or special projects, invitations to guest lecturer in classes or to student groups, etc.;
Positive working relationships with Division faculty, students and college-wide faculty and staff as evidenced by self-assessment and letter of support;
Proactive contributions to the work of a professional organization such as participating on a committee or engaging in a project of the organization;
Service to a community group.