4.8.1. Guidelines for Promotion

Promotion is a recognition of promise and a sign of confidence that a faculty member is capable of greater accomplishments and of assuming greater responsibilities within UTC. The policy of UTC is to make promotion decisions objectively, equitably, impartially and strictly on the basis of merit. Faculty members holding non-tenure-track appointments eligible for promotion who wish to be promoted to a higher rank must meet the criteria for appointment to the higher rank outlined in this Faculty Handbook and in college and departmental bylaws. Promotion criteria should be weighted in relation to a faculty member’s assigned responsibilities.

4.8.2. Promotion Review Procedures

Each department shall establish procedures governing the review and consideration of applications for promotion by non-tenure-track faculty that are consistent with the procedures established in this Faculty Handbook and college bylaws, but which may be more restrictive. Departmental procedures shall be effective upon approval by the dean and the Provost and shall be published in the bylaws of the department. Departmental shall not be required, however, if the dean and the Provost have approved application of procedures established in college bylaws in lieu of departmental procedures.

A calendar is established annually by the Provost that should be followed for the review and consideration of applications for promotion by non-tenure-track faculty. The calendar for the promotion review process is available on the UTC Academic Affairs website here.

The procedure for consideration of and awarding promotion includes, at a minimum, the following stages:

1. Submission of Promotion Dossier. The candidate must compile and submit to their department head a promotion dossier to initiate the promotion view process. Specific departmental and/or college requirements for promotion dossiers should be published in departmental and/or college bylaws. At a minimum, promotion dossiers must include:
   • A cover letter from the candidate that includes a request for consideration for promotion, an explanation of the candidate’s rank and responsibilities, and a summary of the candidate’s record as it relates to the criteria for promotion to the desired rank. The letter should also outline the candidate’s contributions in each applicable performance area of responsibility (e.g., teaching/advising/librarianship; research/scholarly activities; and/or service) based on the candidate’s assigned responsibilities and annual objectives and the criteria for appointment to the desired rank.
   • A complete, up-to-date curriculum vitae.
   • All annual performance evaluations of the candidate at the candidate’s current rank.
   • Documentation of the candidate’s contributions in each applicable performance area of responsibility (e.g., teaching / advising / librarianship; research / scholarly activities; and/or service) based on candidate’s assigned responsibilities and annual objectives and the criteria for appointment to the desired rank.
2. Department Head’s Recommendation. After making an independent judgment on the promotion candidacy, the department head will make a written recommendation to the dean and inform the candidate in writing of the recommendation. A department may elect to require that a departmental committee consisting of departmental tenured faculty, tenure-track faculty and/or non-tenure-track faculty at or above the rank desired by the candidate, perform an initial evaluation of the promotion application and provide a recommendation to the department head before the department head submits a recommendation to the dean. To the extent a department elects to do so, the department must include such a requirement in its departmental bylaws.
3. Dean’s Recommendation. After reviewing the department head’s recommendation and making an independent judgment on the promotion candidacy, the dean will make a written recommendation to the Provost and inform the candidate in writing of the recommendation.
4. Provost’s Decision. After reviewing the dean’s recommendation and making an independent judgment on the promotion candidacy, the Provost will decide whether or not the candidate will be promoted.

4.8.3. Appeal of Promotion Decisions

A decision by the Provost not to award promotion may be appealed by a promotion candidate pursuant to the appeal procedure under Section 5.3 of this Faculty Handbook.