Physiology

1999: Approved by the Faculty of the Department of Physiology

I.    Promotion of Faculty
The Department of Physiology accepts and subscribes to the statement on Criteria and Standards for Promotion of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with the following standards specific to the department.

A. To Assistant Professor
Candidates for promotion to Assistant Professor are judged on the following standards:

1. Evidence of having done research that has been published or is about to be published in high quality refereed journal.
2. An earned doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent) and postdoctoral (or equivalent) research experience in a well known department or laboratory.
3. A multidisciplinary approach to the research field.
4. Documentation through courses taught or seminars given of competence in teaching and communicative skills.
5. Evidence that the applicant has potential for independence in research that addresses significant biological problems, through letters of assessment from prominent researchers from outside the department and/or University of Minnesota who have expertise in the applicant’s research field.

B. To Associate Professor
The criteria and standards for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor are those stated for consideration of tenure (see below).

C. To Professor
For promotion to Professor, in addition to criteria used for Assistant and Associate Professor appointments, evidence is sought for:

1. An international reputation, as shown, for instance, by invitations to international symposia, election to prestigious scientific organizations, holding of offices in international societies.
2. Letters from authorities in the candidate’s field assessing the candidate’s scientific contributions and their impact.
3. Establishment of a training program for pre- and/or post-doctoral trainees that has resulted in placing trainees in academic and/or industrial positions in their field.
4. Competence in teaching over a sustained period since the last promotion in accordance with the standards for tenure in Physiology.

II. Granting of Tenure
The Department of Physiology accepts and subscribes to the statement on Criteria and Standards for Tenure of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with the following standards specific to the department.

A. Teaching
Research will usually be the primary basis for tenure. Competence and active participation in teaching will also be required. The Department of Physiology accepts the Criteria and Standards for Tenure of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School with respect to competence in teaching. The following are areas in which competence in teaching can be demonstrated:

1. Participation in teaching and advising professional students (including students in the medical, pharmacy, dentistry, or other professional education programs) in the subject of Physiology, and graduate students in Physiology.
2. Service as a thesis adviser to candidates for advanced degrees (Master's degree and/or Ph.D.) in the discipline of Physiology, or in interdisciplinary graduate programs.
3. Service and distinction as a faculty sponsor for a postdoctoral fellow(s) in Physiology or in a collaborative research program.
4. Service as a faculty mentor to students in any of the above categories who engage in research activities in the Department of Physiology.
5. Participation in teaching undergraduate (pre-baccalaureate) students, including students in other colleges of the University of Minnesota.

Competence in teaching is based on:

1. Review of courses taught, directed or developed by the candidate, at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
2. Degree candidates advised in both professional and graduate schools.
3. Evaluations by students.
4. Written statements by the Head of the department and others familiar with the candidate’s teaching performance.

In rare instances, distinction in teaching may appropriately be considered to be the primary basis for tenure.  In those cases competence in research will also be required.

Distinction in teaching is based on:

1. The four items given above as sources of evidence for assessment of competence in teaching.
2. Evaluation of publications, such as books, peer reviewed journal articles, audiovisual aids, and/or other significant contributions to educational advances in the discipline, that are distributed at a national level.
3. Letters from leading educators in the discipline attesting to the candidate’s national reputation, and assessing the candidate’s contributions to development of advances in education in the field.
4. Participation in national organizations, such as The American Physiological Society, that have significant activities devoted to education and educational development (Evidence of leadership in such an organization would be of particular value).

B.  Research/Scholarship
Physiology is a research oriented discipline and thus tenure recommendations are primarily based on scholarly activity of the faculty.  Scholarly activity will be judged on the following standards:

1. Publications in Rigorously Peer-Reviewed Journals
Scientific articles reporting high quality biomedical research that significantly advances the candidate’s field of research should be published in rigorously peer-reviewed journals appropriate to the discipline(s) of Physiology.  Contributions to prestigious review journals, monographs, etc. that are not peer-reviewed will be taken into consideration, but cannot be the primary basis for a decision.

2. Creative and Significant Scholarly Contributions
Peers within the Department of Physiology, the University and from national and international leaders in the candidate’s field of research should attest that the candidate’s contributions are scholarly, creative and have contributed significantly to advancement of the field.  The assessments will also provide clear evidence of whether or not the candidate has a national or international reputation in the discipline of Physiology.

3. External Research Funding
Every faculty member in the Department of Physiology must have an independent research program and as a principal investigator should attract external funding, based upon peer review, from federal agencies, international agencies or from private agencies appropriate to the discipline.

4. Invited Participation in Symposia, Meetings and Seminars
Faculty members should be invited by national and international scientific organizations to participate in symposia, meetings and conferences and should be invited to give seminars before peers in other institutions both nationally and internationally.  However, this cannot be used as the sole criterion for tenure.

5. Service as an Editor or as a Member of the Editorial Board of a Reputable Journal or Monograph in a Biomedical Discipline
Service such as this usually indicates peer recognition for the candidate’s contributions, but cannot be considered as the sole basis for tenure.

6. Publications in Monographs, Reviews and Other Books
Publications such as these, which are not generally peer-reviewed, should be part of the activities of a faculty member, but cannot be considered as the sole basis for tenure.