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Pathway B

Track Description

Individuals appointed to this track are expected to develop and contribute to the diverse area of academic responsibilities including research, teaching and service. An ongoing record of externally funded high quality research is of paramount importance for all faculty in Pathway B of the tenure track. The quality and productivity of the candidate's research are judged by several indicators, including the candidate's role in well-focused, significant research investigations as project initiator and leader, and the ongoing publication of reports in high quality peer-reviewed journals. In addition, there should be evidence of the candidate's ability to consistently prepare research proposals which receive outstanding ratings by national funding agencies. While it is expected that candidates will have been successful in obtaining extramural research support from national agencies, evaluation must take into consideration that success in having these proposals funded continuously is subject to variables that may lie beyond the scientific and scholarly merit of the investigator. Nonetheless, evidence of a consistent funding record is of clear benefit and should be viewed as a positive factor in promotion and tenure.

Research competence and productivity alone do not ensure appointment, reappointment, or promotion in Pathway B. In addition, significant contributions must be demonstrated in the area of teaching, as determined by criteria established by individual departments. In general, teaching includes instruction of medical students, graduate and postgraduate students and/or involvement

with other educational programs appropriate to the mission of the department (e.g. continuing medical education). Under specific circumstances tenure and promotion may be granted primarily on the basis of teaching provided that most of the individual's time is spent in this role; an unusual level of excellence has been demonstrated; the teaching fulfills a particularly important need for the department or College; and the candidate has an active program in basic, clinical or educational research.

Service and/or administrative activities, while necessary, important and appreciated, are usually given less weight than teaching, research, and patient care in considering an individual's contributions and qualifications for reappointment, promotion or tenure.

Tenure is granted in recognition that the faculty member has fulfilled in a preeminent fashion the qualities of a scholar and has demonstrated excellence in teaching, research, and/or patient care. Tenure implies a long-term commitment by the University to the qualified individual and requires the continuing dedication of the tenured faculty member to his/her discipline, department, the College and the University. Tenure is usually granted only at the levels of Associate Professor and Full Professor.

TTB I.B(1) - CRITERIA FOR INITIAL APPOINTMENT

TTB I.B(1)a - INSTRUCTOR

Individuals appointed as Instructors generally have recently completed a doctorate/post-doctoral period and thus have minimal experience in professional activities (teaching, research, patient care). Aptitude for developing expertise in research, teaching, and/or clinical service is judged by recommendations from mentors, publications, presentations and academic performance.

TTB I.B(1)b - ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

Candidates for appointment as Assistant Professor have fulfilled the expectations described for appointment to Instructor. Appointment at the Assistant Professor level is based on the candidate's educational and professional background, recommendations from colleagues/peers, and the candidate's potential for developing a productive and funded research program, excellence in teaching, and, if appropriate, skills in patient care. In general, assistant professors at the time of initial appointment will have completed two or more years of postdoctoral training, published one or more papers as first (senior) author or co-investigator and shown aptitude for an independent research career. Successful application for local or regional grants strengthen the application.

TTB I.B(1)c - ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR

Candidates for appointment as Associate Professor have fulfilled the expectations described for appointment to Assistant Professor. Initial appointment as Associate Professor is based on outstanding research accomplishments, excellence in teaching, noteworthy service, and a demonstrated commitment to patient care for those positions involving clinical duties.

Research accomplishments, such as funded grants, as principal investigator and as co-principal investigator with significant effort, research productivity, well-designed clinical trials, publications, and presentation of papers at conferences, are required for this rank. The research and the reports of results must reflect original, independent studies which contribute new knowledge to the field. It is important to document that the candidate has an essential role in the formation and testing of new ideas and hypotheses. The quality of the research is more important than the quantity. Because disciplines vary, the specific research requirements may vary among departments. Quality and impact of research are judged by the following: the quality of journals in which the work is published, with most emphasis being placed upon major peer-reviewed journals; peer-reviewed, external research support from national sources; experts within the University (selected by the department director and the applicant); nationally recognized eminent scholars outside the University (selected by the department director and the applicant) with expertise in the candidate's field; and presentation of peer-reviewed papers or special lectures of national or international import. Independence as a scholar is documented by the candidate's being: first or senior author on publications, the major creative or ideational force in the planning and development of projects, and principal investigator on research grants. Evidence of peer recognition for research activities may include serving on study sections, on editorial boards, or as reviewers for granting agencies and high quality journals.

Faculty are expected to demonstrate excellence in teaching. Teaching commitments may include lecturing in courses for medical or graduate students; supervising laboratory sections; conducting medical student rounds; supervising medical students' core or specialty clerkships, junior internships, etc.; supervising residents, and/or graduate students (e.g., chairing the student's dissertation committee); supervising post-doctoral fellows; and/or other instructional experiences. Documentation of teaching participation must include a description of the teaching activities, the number of hours of lecture and/or student contact, and the candidate's relative importance to the teaching program (course director, developer, contributions as percent of course teaching hours, etc.) Quality teaching is judged by (A) other faculty members, both within and outside the department, (B) student questionnaires and evaluations, and (C) the department director. Specific methods of evaluation and objective criteria (both qualitative and quantitative) must be clearly defined by the individual department in their departmental guidelines.

Service and/or administration may include meaningful contributions to committees at the departmental, college, university, community, state, regional, national and international levels. Serving in administrative positions in the department is an important contribution and offices held in national organizations indicate greater recognition for contributions to the discipline. The quality of service and/or administration may be judged by soliciting evaluations from the chairs of committees, peers, and the departmental director.

TTB I.B(1)d - PROFESSOR

Candidates for appointment as Professor have fulfilled the expectations described for appointment to Associate Professor. For initial appointment as Professor, the candidate must have achieved national and international recognition for a distinguished career exemplifying scholarship, excellence and productivity in research, successful teaching, and outstanding service and/or administration (including clinical service when applicable). All criteria indicated in section I.B1c must be fulfilled to the highest order of expectations. She/he takes leadership roles within the department and college and is recognized as a national resource in his/her discipline or area of expertise. The rank of professor recognizes an individual's continuing growth and development, dedication to scholarship and service and/or administration, and commitment to furthering knowledge through research and the mentoring of students. Often the faculty member will have served on national committees, study sections and editorial boards. Usually the candidate has advanced to the rank of Associate Professor or Professor elsewhere prior to consideration for initial appointment as Professor at this institution. Supportive letters of recommendation must indicate impeccable professional credentials in all areas.

TTB I.B(2) - REAPPOINTMENT

Reappointment at the same rank in the tenure track depends upon commendable performance and progressive development of expertise in the areas of research, teaching, and/or patient (clinical) care, as indicated in "criteria for initial appointment" for that rank. Generally, the candidate's activities and accomplishments while at the University of Cincinnati are of paramount importance for consideration for reappointment.

TTB I.B(3) - PROMOTION

Advancement to a higher academic rank requires fulfillment of criteria for that rank. Generally, accomplishments during the candidate's appointment at the University of Cincinnati are of greater importance in evaluation of professional contributions, development, and progress. Enthusiastic supportive recommendations from colleagues, peers, and qualified experts within and outside the department and/or university are required.

TTB I.B(4) - TENURE

Important criteria for awarding tenure are qualification as an established scholar in his/her discipline and evidence of a solid commitment and significant contributions to a discipline, the department, and the College. The general criteria used in granting tenure include accomplishments in those areas indicated in the preceding sections and the clear expectation that the applicant will maintain outstanding research, teaching, and service on an on-going basis.

To be granted tenure, the individual must be a skilled and enthusiastic teacher. The individual must have made a substantial commitment to students, either teaching alone or in conjunction with other faculty members in one or more courses in the medical and/or graduate curriculum. More weight is given to leadership in organizing, directing, and teaching innovative or new courses than to participation in existing courses or programs. Clinicians are expected to maintain relevant professional licensure and hospital staff privileges. The faculty member is expected to publish consistently and have a well? developed, independent area of research or clinical scholarship with a defined plan for future studies. On-going research funding by competitive, peer-reviewed grants from external sources is considered the primary criterion for the granting of tenure. Evaluations of scholarship and research accomplishments will be solicited by the applicant and the departmental director from well-known and respected authorities in the faculty member's field within and outside the University. Tenure generally is granted at the rank of Associate or Full Professor.