5.2.2 Timing for Consideration of a Promotion

Promotions will be considered after candidates have been under contract in tenure-track positions at the university for a specific number of years.  The normal requirements are as follows:

• Instructor to assistant professor – three years of service as an instructor, including the year under consideration for promotion. Exceptions to tenure status and service requirements may be granted with the permission of the president, provost, and dean.
• Assistant professor to associate professor – five years of service as an assistant professor on tenure track, including the year under consideration for promotion. Candidates may only submit applications for promotion to associate professor if they are on the tenure-track. Both applications for tenure and promotion are submitted concurrently unless the candidate is already tenured.
• Associate professor to professor – five years of service as an associate professor, including the year under consideration for promotion. Candidates applying for promotion to professor must have earned a doctorate or terminal degree in the appropriate discipline.
• Senior lecturer - Minimum service must be six years as a lecturer at the University of North Georgia for consideration of promotion to senior lecturer (BOR Policy 8.3.8.3).
• Principal lecturer - Senior lecturers may be considered for promotion to principal lecturer after six years in rank at UNG (BOR Policy 8.3.8.3). However, for exceptional candidates, early promotion to principal lecturer may be considered in the fourth year of service (USG Academic and Student Affairs Handbook 4.6).

Candidates may be considered for “early” promotion when strong justification is provided in support of such a recommendation by both departmental and college administrators.