Promotion & Tenure

Policies & Procedures

Information about promotion and tenure at the University of North Georgia (UNG) can be found on the Academic Affairs website under Policies and Procedures in the Faculty Handbook.

The Faculty Annual Report can be found in 7.1 of the handbook.
For calendars related to the annual processes, please see the Promotion and Tenure Monthly Calendar on the Promotion and Tenure Policy Statement in the Faculty Handbook.
Salary information related to Step Raises for Promotion and Post-Tenure review can be found in the Faculty Handbook, Section 9.12.1.
For information on the University System of Georgia Board of Regents policy regarding promotion and tenure, see sections 8.3.6 and 8.3.7 of the Board of Regents Policy Manual.
- USG policy guides faculty/leadership on P&T decisions regarding faculty work beyond the Scholarship of Discovery: 8.3.15.2 Work in USG Institutions

Presentations

Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t see my portfolio in D2L. What do I do?

It is possible the portfolio exists, but it may not be readily visible. First, login to D2L. Click the waffle icon or course selection tile at the top and search for the term “portfolio.” If it doesn’t exist, please contact DETI about having a portfolio built for you.

What is the best format to save course evaluations?

The recommendation is a compressed portrait and saved as a PDF.

What file format do you recommend for my portfolio items?

The preferred file format is PDF unless a specific file-type (something specific to the discipline, for example) is necessary.

I noticed in my D2L portfolio that it says, "Summary statement of teaching and service" in the Content section. Should I have one 2-page summary of both teaching and service, or should I have two 2-page summaries, one for teaching and one for service?

Please check with your department head and dean.

I want to change the structure of my portfolio. Can I do that?

The structure you are provided with follows the guidelines outlined in the faculty handbook. You should not restructure your portfolio because it will be difficult for reviewers to navigate.

What font should I use? What margins do you recommend?

We highly recommend using Arial font set at 10 or 11 points. Any smaller and it is difficult to read. It is recommended to use margins of no less than 1 inch.

One section says I can have a maximum of six pages. Do I have to have that many?

No, this is the maximum number of pages you can have. If you can tell your story well in fewer pages, you should do so!

When do I need to worry about a portfolio?
With prior years of service, it is recommended you speak with your department head to confirm your timeline.

Pre-Tenure Review:

No prior credit – third year

One year credit – second year

Two or three years credit – first year

Post-Tenure Review:

Fifth year after awarded tenure or last successful review.

Tenure:

Assuming no prior years of credit, the application for tenure takes place at the beginning of the fifth year.

Promotion to Assistant Professor:

Three years working as instructor (assuming no prior years of service).

Promotion to Associate Professor:

Four years as an assistant professor, already tenured or concurrently applying for tenure.

Promotion to Professor:

Five years as an associate professor.

Promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer:

A minimum of six years as a lecturer at the University of North Georgia is necessary to apply.

What is meant by the module labeled “Optional Letter?”

If you are located on a campus that is different than your department head, you should ask your campus coordinator/direct supervisor to provide a letter on your behalf.

How should I show service on a committee?

It is acceptable to use an invitation to participate or a thank you message from the committee chair to demonstrate your service on a committee.

I need an extension! What do I do?
Pre-Tenure:

You will need the permission of your department head but be aware that the College Dean may be consulted.

Promotion and Tenure:

You will need permission from the provost. Email a request copying both your department head and dean.

Post Tenure:

You should ask permission from the college dean via email, copying the department head on this request.

Can I view someone else’s portfolio?

Yes, you can ask the portfolio owner to enter a DETI ticket or email Irene Kokkala to add you to their portfolio. You are added as student to the course and can browse the portfolio without accidentally changing it.

I am retiring in May but received a notification that I’m up for post-tenure. Do I still need to create a portfolio?

No. You will no longer be on contract by the time your portfolio is reviewed and the salary bump would be reflected.

I am up for post-tenure but I’ve decide to go for promotion. Do I need to do two portfolios?

No, you will need complete only the promotion portfolio.

When am I eligible for my next promotion?

It is best to ask your department head or faculty records to supply this information.

External Resources

Articles

From Faculty Focus:

Top 10 Strategies for Preparing the Annual Tenure and Promotion Dossier by Burnham, Hooper, and Wright. Good advice for faculty annual report and the P&T ePortfolios.
End-of-Course Ratings: Lessons from Faculty Who Improved by Maryellen Weimer. Valuable to consider our ratings in the larger frame of how we prove our teaching excellence.

From the Chronicle of Higher Education:

Tenured Twice by Amy Jones. One woman's story of recognizing that her first department/institution was not a good fit – just as she received tenure there – and her decision to pursue a position somewhere that would be a better fit.
Road Signs to Tenure by Miguel Mantero. Compiled advice from six tenured professors. Also, Were the Road Signs Wrong? Miguel's retrospective article as he comes up for tenure, written two years after the previous article, analyzes and responds to the earlier advice.
Shameless Self-Promotion by James Lang. "Given the unsupervised nature of much of what we do in this business, I am really in the best position both to describe and to evaluate my work most effectively," explains the author.
How First-Year Faculty Members Can Help Their Chairmen by Gene Fant, Jr. Suggestions for being proactive, from a department chair.
Keeping Your Research Alive by Rick Reis. How to make your research a priority, in the face of other, more urgent (but not necessarily more important) demands on your time.

From the Magna Academic Leader Newsletter. To access please log-in with your UNG ID and Password. Related titles are listed below:

CTLL also offers a variety of resources for Academic leaders on our Academic Leadership page.

Books

Getting Tenure (Survival Skills for Scholars), by Marcia Whicker, Jennie, Kronenfeld, and Ruth Strickland. This practical guide clarifies the tenure process and gives concrete advice for graduate students and junior faculty members on the strategy required to maximize the chance of achieving tenure.
Advice for New Faculty Members: Nihil Nimus, by Robert Boice.
Boice provides a unique and essential guide to the start of a successful academic career.
Life on the Tenure Track: Lessons from the First Year, by James Lang.
Lang narrates the story of his first year on the tenure track with wit and wisdom, detailing his moments of confusion, frustration, and even elation—in the classroom, at his writing desk, during his office hours, in departmental meetings—as well as his insights into the lives and working conditions of faculty in higher education today.
Preparing for Promotion, Tenure, and Annual Review: A Faculty Guide, by Robert M. Diamond
This guide to helping faculty prepare for professional review, whether an annual event or at a key moment in their career, will help make this often stressful and confusing experience less challenging and provide faculty a sense of mastery over the process.

Other Tools & Resources

Charting Your Progress Toward Tenure. Guidelines and template for creating your own table to track your progress toward tenure provided by Science Education Resource Center at Carleton C