Department of Philosophy and Religion

Promotion and Tenure

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These guidelines are applicable to faculty beginning employment in 1996 and later.

Tenure

 

In addition to meeting the minimum criteria for tenure found in the Faculty Handbook, the Department of Philosophy and Religion expects candidates for tenure to demonstrate 1) effectiveness in teaching, 2) active involvement in scholarship, 3) sustained service to the department, and to the university and/or the faculty member's professional discipline, and 4) collegial relations with colleagues. The candidate for tenure will submit a letter, a CV, and accompanying documentation in support of their satisfying these departmental and university requirements. The DPC and the Chair will use the following guidelines to evaluate each candidate's progress.

The chair and the new faculty member will meet during the first semester of employment to discuss the faculty member's goals in teaching, service, and scholarship, and will meet again during the Spring conference period to review progress toward meeting these goals. Subsequently, the chair and the faculty member will meet annually during the Spring conference period to review progress toward meeting goals.

 

I) Teaching

Evaluation of teaching for all candidates for tenure will include: a) student evaluations from each Fall semester during the probationary period; b) peer evaluations as determined by departmental policy; and, c) teaching portfolio review. Student and peer evaluations will be collected during the probationary period as determined by departmental policy. Teaching portfolios will be assembled by the candidate and contain additional information relevant to teaching performance (e.g. syllabi, letters from external evaluators, handouts, sample exams, etc.). Candidates may submit any items that they judge to be supportive of their effectiveness as teachers.

To be considered for tenure, faculty members must show evidence of sustained teaching effectiveness.

 

II) Scholarship

All candidates for tenure are expected to develop an active program of scholarship at ASU. Scholarship includes a variety of activities as set forth in the department's merit document on scholarship. The criteria provided below assume that the non-tenured faculty member regularly receives 1/4 reassigned time for the purpose of pursuing scholarly activity. To the extent that this is not the case, the criteria will be modified by the chair and the DPC in the case of individual tenure applicants.

To be considered for tenure, faculty members must show evidence of sustained peer reviewed scholarship.

See the following template for samples of acceptable profiles of scholarly activity at the associate professor level.

  1. Three peer reviewed articles.
  2. One peer reviewed book and one peer reviewed article.
  3. One peer reviewed book and two peer reviewed presentations at national or international conferences.
  4. Two peer reviewed books (which would exceed the three peer reviewed article standard).

The DPC and Chair, in consultation with experts as needed, will evaluate the sufficiency and quality of the work produced, and the commitment of the candidate to an ongoing program of active scholarship.

 

III) Service

All candidates for tenure are expected to show evidence of sustained service to the department, and to the university and/or the faculty member’s professional discipline. Service can take a variety of forms, as outlined in the department's merit document on service.

 

IV) Collegiality

Professional collegiality is expected of all candidates for tenure. “Professional collegiality” refers to professional relationships in professional settings. Collegial professionals act in the interest of the department, contributing to the health of the department and to the professional development of colleagues. Collegial professionals work to promote departmental progress, take part in departmental business, help and support other faculty members, attend departmental colloquia and other official departmental professional functions, share departmental tasks, and work for the general welfare of the department, college, and the university.

 

Promotion


Appointment or Promotion to Assistant Professor

Minimal criteria for consideration of appointment/promotion to the rank of assistant professor are:

  1. The appropriate earned terminal degree from an accredited institution, unless there are exceptional circumstances;
  2. Demonstrated ability in teaching;
  3. Evidence of ability for research or other germane creative activity;
  4. Willingness to participate in institutional affairs and professional service to the Department, College, and the University and/or to the public.


Tenure and Appointment/Promotion to Associate Professor

In accordance with guidelines in the Faculty Handbook, the minimal criteria for consideration for tenure and appointment/promotion to the rank of associate professor are: (1) The appropriate earned terminal degree from an accredited institution, unless there are exceptional circumstances, and at least five years of appropriate experience; (2) Recognized skill in teaching; (3) Recognized accomplishment in research or other germane creative activity; (4) Recognized accomplishment in professional service to the University, department, and/or public; and (5) Demonstrated willingness to participate in institutional affairs.

The candidate for tenure will submit a letter, a CV, and accompanying documentation in support of their satisfying these departmental and university requirements. The DPC and Chair will use the following guidelines to evaluate each candidate’s progress.

The Chair and the new faculty member will meet during the first semester of employment to discuss the faculty member’s goals in teaching, service, and scholarship, and will meet again during the spring conference period to review progress toward meeting these goals. Subsequently, the Chair and the faculty member will meet annually during the spring conference period to review progress toward meeting these goals.

  1. Recognized Skill in Teaching
    • Evaluation of teaching for all candidates for tenure and appointment/promotion to associate professor will include: a) student evaluations from each fall semester during the probationary period; b) peer evaluations as determined by department policy; and c) teaching portfolio review. Student and peer evaluations will be collected during the probationary period as determined by departmental policy. Teaching portfolios will be assembled by the candidate and contain additional information relevant to teaching performance (e.g., syllabi, letters from external evaluators, handouts, sample exams, etc.). Candidates may submit any items that they judge to be supportive of their recognized skill in teaching.
  2. Recognized accomplishment in research or other germane creative activity
    • All candidates for tenure and appointment/promotion to associate professor are expected to develop an active, sustained program of peer-reviewed scholarship at ASU. Scholarship includes a variety of activities as set forth in the department’s merit document on scholarship. (See the template above for samples of acceptable profiles of recognized scholarly accomplishment at the associate professor level.) The DPC and Chair, in consultation with experts as needed, will evaluate the sufficiency and quality of the work produced, and the commitment of the candidate to an ongoing program of active scholarship. The criteria provided above assume that the non-tenured faculty member regularly receives ¼ reassigned time for the purpose of pursuing scholarly activity. To the extent that this is not the case, the criteria will be modified by the Chair and the DPC in the case of individual tenure applicants.
  3. Recognized accomplishment in professional service to the University, department, and/or public
    • All candidates for tenure and appointment/promotion to associate professor are expected to show evidence of sustained, recognized service to the department, University, faculty member’s professional discipline, and/or public. Service can take a variety of forms, as outlined in the department’s merit document on service.
  4. Demonstrated willingness to participate in institutional affairs
  • Professional collegiality is expected of all candidates for tenure. “Professional collegiality” refers to professional relationships in professional settings. Collegial professionals act in the interest of the department, contributing to the health of the department and to the professional development of colleagues. Collegial professionals work to promote departmental progress, take part in departmental business, help and support other faculty members, attend department colloquia and other official department professional functions, share departmental tasks, and work for the general welfare of the department, college, and university.


Promotion to Full Professor 

The criteria for appointment or promotion to professor include all those for promotion to associate professor, and in addition, include the following:

  1. Teaching:  sustained record of teaching effectiveness – a merit rating of at least “commendable” for 4 out of 5 years over the course of the faculty member’s career.
  2. Scholarship:  sustained record of scholarship including 6 peer reviewed articles or the equivalent and a book published through the peer review process.
  3. Service:  sustained record of service including a significant leadership role in the department, university, or professional community at some point during the faculty member’s career.