Academic PromotionsApplicant Information SessionThursday 6 February 2014

Provost and Deputy Vice-ChancellorProfessor Stephen Garton

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Academic promotion policy

› Promotion is one strategy to reward and support retention of high performing staff – other options exist

› Applicants must provide current evidence of their ability to perform at the level for which promotion is sought (i.e. promotion is not a reward for lifetime achievement, or time served)

› Teaching and research are core activities› Service – University, discipline/profession, community› Assessment is by a committee of peers with ability to “benchmark”

promotion across the University› You must have completed a formal performance review (AP&D or

equivalent) in the previous 15 months, or complete one by 30 June to be eligible for promotion

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Preparing yourself for promotion

› Read the Academic Promotions policy, procedures and guidelines for applicants

› Overtly incorporate promotion criteria into your application

› Focus on achievements since appointment or last promotion

› Provide independently verifiable evidence

› Don't double-dip in the use of evidence

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Preparing yourself for promotion

› No interviews for Levels B – D

› Familiarize yourself with the criteria required for promotion particularly via the Education and Research-focused streams

› LPC can change stream in which an applicant has applied (but only where they would otherwise be unsuccessful)

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Three Promotion streams

The University of Sydney recognises three streams for promotion:

› Teaching and Research

› Education-focused

› Research-focused

Minimum Required Standards for Promotion

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TEACHING AND RESEARCH STREAM – Minimum required standardsPromotion sought

Teachingstandard

Researchstandard

Servicestandard

Comment

Level A to Level B;Level B to Level C;Level C to Level D

Superior or Outstanding

Superior or Outstanding

Superior At least one Outstanding is required

Level D to Level E Outstanding Outstanding Superior N/A

Promotion sought

Teachingstandard

Researchstandard

Servicestandard

Comment

All Exceptional Superior orSatisfactory

Superior orSatisfactory

At least one Superior is required, in either Research or Service

EDUCATION FOCUSSED STREAM – Minimum required standards

RESEARCH FOCUSSED STREAM – Minimum required standardsPromotion sought

Teachingstandard

Researchstandard

Servicestandard

Comment

All Superior orSatisfactory

Exceptional Superior orSatisfactory

At least one Superior is required, in either Teaching or Service

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Regardless of Pathway Promotion does not change the type of role to which you have been appointed – either

teaching and research, research or teaching intensive

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Preparing the case for promotion

› Providing verifiable evidence – USE information, grants, awards, publications,

› Focus on personal achievement and development since appointment or last promotion

- lifetime record a factor, but not as important

› Resist the temptation to overstate achievement, for example

- carefully document your part in shared activities - don’t recycle achievements

› Relative to opportunity

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Preparing the case for promotion

›Get help!

- Seek advice from your mentor/discipline head

- Get someone to read through the application

- Reflect honestly on your competitive position

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Academic Promotions – Historical Statistics

Number of applicants and promotions 2004-2013

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 20130

102030405060708090

100110120130140150160170180190200210220230240

Total applicantsTotal successfulFemale applicantsSuccessful female applicantsMale applicantsSuccessful male applicants

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Points to Remember

› Build Relationships:- Mentor, supervisor, the Dean, referees (international)

› Communication: - Written application - Get someone else to read it

› All three promotion criteria are valued- Balanced approach to performance- You will not succeed on any one criterion alone

› If you’re unsuccessful in applying for Promotion- Discuss with your supervisor, Dean, Chair of LPC