Appointment and Promotion Criteria for Full Time Clinical Scholar Track
To accomplish it missions in education, clinical service, and research, the Neurology Department relies on diverse talents among its faculty members. The traditional tenure track is best suited to measure and reward faculty who spend most time (e.g. >50%) in research, especially at the discovery (basic science) and translational stages. The full time clinical scholar track is intended for faculty spending less time in research and whose important contributions are in education, clinical service, and citizenship. At the time of appointment, faculty will typically be assigned to the traditional tenure track or the clinical scholar track. Reassignment from one track to the other is possible.
Academic progress will be evaluated by a similar process for all faculty members. Each year, typically in the third quarter of the academic year (January through March), there will be an academic merit review. Each faculty member will prepare a report detailing his/her activities during the year. The report will be submitted to the Merit Review Committee. The Committee will be comprised of senior faculty members. Its constituency will vary depending on the track of the faculty member under review. Specifically, it will be comprised of senior tenure track faculty when a tenure track faculty member is being reviewed. It will be comprised of both senior tenure track and senior clinical scholar track faculty when a clinical scholar track faculty member is being reviewed. The Merit Review Committee will report to the Department Head. The Department Head will provide feedback and negotiate goals for the next academic year. This meeting will be an appropriate forum for discussion of promotion. Criteria for appointment and promotion are already in place for Tenure Track faculty (required by section 7-12). Full Time Non-regular faculty may be appointed and evaluated using either the Tenure Track or the Full Time Clinical Scholar Track criteria as agreed upon at the time of hiring, however tenure is not available at this time to non-regular faculty.
Criteria for Appointment to the Full Time Clinical Scholar Track
Faculty will typically be appointed at the assistant professor level if there is clear indication of potential for advancing in the clinical scholar track. In other circumstances appointment at the instructor level may be appropriate for a trial period.
Faculty will be recommended for promotion to associate professor when then have satisfied relevant department and university criteria. All members of the Full-time Clinical Scholar track will be expected to be active clinicians as well as teachers or educators. They may also be heavily involved in clinical or health services research and clinical program development. Distinction must be demonstrated in at least two areas to warrant recommendation for promotion:
1. Patient care/service - examples:
evidence of at least regional reputation for clinical expertise (e.g. referrals, participation in
clinical subspecialty organizations, recognized authority in a skill or an area of
knowledge) significant clinical program development (e.g. diagnosis-, treatment- or
disease-based clinical programs) significant quality improvement program development
significant contributions in public service (e.g. efforts benefiting patient groups and
local reputation for outstanding teaching or education (e.g. teaching awards)
regional or national recognition for teaching or education contributions (e.g. appointment
to education organizations)
significant curriculum development (e.g. undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate)
significant educational administration (e.g. course directorship, program directorship)
significant scholarly work (e.g. reviews, chapters, other education materials)
significant productivity in basic science, translational, clinical, health services, education
research acknowledged by peer review (e.g. publications, grant receipt, participation in
4. Leadership - examples:
significant leadership in University and hospital affairs
significant leadership in local, regional, or national medical affairs (e.g. societies,
associations, organizations)
All members of the Full-time Clinical Scholar track will be expected to be active clinicians as well as teachers or educators. Continuing significant contribution bringing distinction to the candidate and University in the areas above is required to satisfy criteria for recommendation for promotion to professor.
