Standards for Peer Reviews of Tenured Faculty

Although each tenured faculty member is expected to be fully engaged in teaching, research, and service throughout his or her academic career, it is recognized that faculty members will not always allocate their energies to those three categories of activity in the same measures from year to year. The standards are the same for all tenured faculty unless specialized expectations have been formalized in a Post-tenure Allocation of Effort Agreement has been made. Moreover, it is recognized that the heavy demands of certain administrative assignments can sometimes preclude a faculty member from producing scholarship while carrying out those assignments, and/or can affect a faculty member’s teaching load and teaching assignments. Faculty effort/contributions may realign to meet expectations and/or the needs of the College overall. The peer group shall take these realities into account when evaluating a faculty member’s 5 year performance.

Associate Professors should have an active research program, potentially still in growth phase.  They should have become adept as teachers, and should be in the process of assuming more responsibility for college governance based on their research and teaching commitments.  It is assumed that the goal of all Associate Professors is to sustain an active research career unless otherwise negotiated.

Full professors should have established research programs with continuity, have developed an effective teaching style and courses, and have assumed a role in university, college and department related administrative affairs. Teaching should involve the same high standards as research.

RESEARCH

Criteria for Associate Professor (4/2009)

1. Demonstrates a specific area of scholarly activity which advances the discipline.
2. Demonstrates excellence in research and publications.
3. Demonstrates continuing productivity in scholarship
4. Demonstrates a pattern or focus of scholarly activity.
5. Receives external research support where appropriate
6. Has made a significant contribution to nursing literature

Criteria for Full Professor (4/2009)

1. Demonstrates sustained scholarly activity
2. Receives University, National and/or International recognition as a scholar (e.g. evaluation of the scientific and technical worth of research proposals, publications and completed projects; receipt of awards, prizes, research funding; citations; invited papers; honorary elections and editorships).

Post Tenure Review Standards

General expectations for tenured faculty for research are to: make good faith effort in securing research funding (if appropriate for the particular area of study) and disseminate research findings nationally and internationally consistent with rank.  Mentoring of junior faculty and faculty colleagues is also an expectation from more experienced and accomplished faculty.

TEACHING

Criteria for Associate Professor (4/2009)

1. Able to independently develop, implement, and evaluate a new or experimental area of instruction (e.g. course, clinical experience, series of courses, or program of study).
2. Actively contributes to program or curriculum development.
3. Recognized as a consultant to faculty in areas related to teaching effectiveness.
4. Facilitates integration of knowledge within the curriculum.
5. Is recognized as an expert in a content or practice area within and beyond the College.
6. Provides evidence for being labeled as master teacher.

Criteria for Full Professor (4/2009)

1. Provides a behavior model for excellence in teaching.
2. Serves as a mentor for other faculty and graduate students.
3. Makes significant contributions to the College and nursing education generally.
4. Gains recognition for teaching effectiveness from the Unversity community and/or other disciplines.
5. Serves as consultant to national and international colleagues in area related to nursing and/or nursing education.
6. Facilitates the growth of the College and University.

Post-Tenure Review Standards

General expectations for teaching are to continue to be accountable for teaching by routinely updating courses and perhaps developing new courses, actively advising graduate students, and demonstrating positive teaching evaluations from students and peer faculty.  Graduate student mentoring is an important component of teaching in the College of Nursing for all faculty who are expected to chair and serve on doctoral dissertation and capstone project committees.  Faculty members who have an active research program are expected to mentor PhD student and junior faculty research.

SERVICE

Criteria for Associate Professor (4/2009)

1. Chairs or provides leadership on College councils.
2. Participates on University committees.
3. Interprets school programs and positions to a wide audience.
4. Initiates innovative, planned change in the area of academic, clinical nursing, or the delivery of health care to the community.
5. Serves in leadership or consultant role and professionally relevant community and/or academic organizations.

Criteria for Full Professor (4/2009)

1. One of the qualifications for full professor given in the Faculty Handbook is "Unmistakable evidence of recognition by peers at the national level."
2. National reputation is evaluated on evidence of recognition by peers:

• Service as a consultant in an area of expertise at regional and/or national levels.
• Provision of leadership in professional regional and national organizations.
• Service on policy-making bodies (i.e. executive committees, etc.)
• National recognition as a scholar and academic leader
• Service as mentor to less mature colleagues in other parts of the country or world.

Post-Tenure Review Standards

General expectations for service are to contribute to the work of the College, State, University and nation through active membership on committees and task forces, contribute to the profession of Nursing through active participation in professional organizations, and contribute of the community through local organizations and efforts.  It is expected that as a faculty member inreases in seniority and rank, they will assume an increasing role in providing leadership and service to the College, the University and the profession.  Tenured faculty members are expected to engage in professional service activities that reflect the visibility of their own scholarship and teaching.