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Promotion Policy and Procedure

UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA POLICIES

BOARD OF REGENTS POLICY MANUAL: 8.3.6 Criteria for Promotion, 8.3.8 Non-Tenure Track Personnel: https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C245

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS HANDBOOK: 4.6 Award of Promotion: https://www.usg.edu/academic_affairs_handbook/section4/C689

Policy and Procedure for Promotion

Faculty are eligible for consideration of promotion according to the following schedule: 

  • From Assistant Professor to Associate Professor during their 5th year of service as an Assistant Professor 
  • From Associate Professor to Professor during their 5th year of service as an Associate Professor
    • Departments and Colleges may add additional requirements beyond the minimum years of service for a recommendation for promotion.

The minimum criteria are:

  1. Excellent teaching and effectiveness in instruction. (4 or 5 on the common Likert Scale)
  2. Noteworthy research, scholarship, creative activity, or academic achievement
  3. Noteworthy professional service to the institution or the community or the profession

Noteworthy involvement in student success activities and continuous professional growth and development will be integrated within the criteria above and evaluated individually.

Noteworthy achievement is required in at least two of the above numbered categories, one of which must be teaching/instruction, but is not required in all categories. A written recommendation should be submitted by the head of the department concerned setting forth the reasons for promotion. The faculty member’s length of service with an institution shall be taken into consideration in determining whether or not the faculty member should be promoted.

 

Evaluation of Promotion portfolios will utilize the common Likert scale and be documented using the Common Likert Form.

The following procedures shall govern the recommendations for, or against, promotion of eligible faculty members.

  1. The Office of the Provost shall make available a list of eligible faculty to the "line of authority" supervisors, when faculty are eligible for promotion and the dates when every promotion recommendation is due to appropriate University officials.
  2. Formal recommendation for, or against, promotion shall be made initially by peer faculty within the candidate's own department (or similar body of comparable faculty) to the "line of authority" Department Chairperson. This recommendation shall be presented in writing and accompanied by the faculty member's documentation supporting his or her candidacy for promotion. A copy of the recommendation to the Chairperson shall also be provided to the faculty member being considered for promotion. The faculty member may respond to the recommendation within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of such notice by submitting to the "line of authority" Chairperson a written statement in support of his or her candidacy for promotion. 
  3. The "line of authority" Chair shall next provide a formal written recommendation for, or against, the faculty member's promotion to the "line of authority" Dean. This recommendation shall be presented in writing and accompanied by the faculty member's documentation supporting his or her candidacy for promotion. A copy of the Chairperson's recommendation to the Dean shall also be provided to the faculty member being considered for promotion. The faculty member may respond to the recommendation within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of such notice by submitting to the "line of authority" Dean a written statement in support of his or her candidacy for promotion.
  4. The "line of authority" Dean shall next refer the department Chairperson's recommendation for, or against, promotion (along with the faculty member's documentation supporting their candidacy for promotion) to the promotion committee of the eligible faculty member's academic unit for review, consideration, and recommendation. The promotion committee's formal recommendation shall be presented in writing to the "line of authority" Dean with supporting documentation used in making the recommendation.
  5. The "line of authority" Dean shall next provide a formal written recommendation for, or against, the faculty member's promotion, along with supporting documentation that has been provided in support of the faculty member's candidacy for promotion, to the Provost. A copy of the Dean's recommendation to the Provost shall also be provided to the faculty member being considered for promotion. The faculty member may respond to the recommendation within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of such notice by submitting to the Provost a written statement in support of his or her candidacy for promotion. 
  6. The Provost shall next provide a formal written recommendation for, or against, the faculty member's promotion, along with supporting documentation that has been provided in support of the faculty member's candidacy for promotion, to the President of the University. The Provost’s recommendation to the President of the University shall also be provided to the faculty member being considered for promotion. The faculty member may respond to the recommendation within ten (10) calendar days from receipt of such notice by submitting to the President of the University a written statement in support of his or her candidacy for promotion. 
  7. The President of the University shall be responsible for and approve all promotions for the institution after review of documentation supporting the faculty member's candidacy for promotion, recommendations, consultation with "line of authority" supervisors, and/or other appropriate faculty. The President's decision regarding the eligible faculty member's candidacy for promotion shall be provided to the faculty member once determined. 

Lecturer Promotion Process 

After completing six (6) consecutive years of service at Georgia College, a lecturer may apply for, or be recommended for promotion to Senior Lecturer. Promotion is based upon the recommendation of the Department Chair who shall be provided documentation of a record of assignments and accomplishments that demonstrates “exceptional teaching ability and extraordinary value to the institution.” Promotion requires the recommendation of the chair, college dean, and provost, and approval by the president.  

Forms/Materials

The following forms/documents may be found on the MyGCSU Academic Affairs page (Evaluative Forms) under Tenure & Promotion Documents.

  • T&P Application Form
  • T&P Application Form Instructions
  • eT&P Timeline
  • Best Practices & FAQs
  • Common Likert Form

 

Links updated November 27, 2023