CNS RPT Workshop - Michigan State University & Staff/rpt... · RPT Process Departmental Process:...

COLLEGE OF NATURAL SCIENCE

CNS RPT Workshop 2020Hosted by:

Faculty Excellence Advocate (FEA) Cynthia JordanAssoc Dean for Faculty Development

Cheryl Sisk

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Greetings and acknowledging where we are…

BTW…comments…questions are welcome at any time!


Make the job of the Departmental, College, and University Review

committees easy!Start now...become informed

• Know what you need to do • Seek the advice of your mentors and Chair(s)make a plan (include a timetable of discrete goals

and target dates)

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…getting informed

• Familiarize yourself with the material on the CNS web site

Reappointment, Promotion & Tenure Guidelines

https://natsci.msu.edu/faculty-staff/policies-procedures/reappointment-promotion-tenure-guidelines/


RPT TimingTypical timeline• Reappointment - review occurs in the 3rd yr• Tenure and Promotion to Assoc. Professor - review occurs in the 6th yr

Recognizing the impact of COVID19https://hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/faculty-academic-staff/faculty-handbook/tenure_timeline_extension.html

Extending the tenure clock:An automatic one-year delay in the tenure clock for any faculty member due to come up for reappointment/ promotion during academic year 2020-2021 came into effect as of April 16, 2020. This delay recognizes the difficulty that faculty are having completing research and having to shift to remote teaching. It is not necessary to request this delay; it is automatically in effect. Any faculty member may, however, elect to opt out from this delay and proceed with the reappointment or tenure process next year.

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https://hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/faculty-academic-staff/faculty-handbook/tenure_timeline_extension.html


Extending the Tenure Clockhttps://hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/faculty-academic-staff/faculty-handbook/tenure_timeline_extension.html

Automatic Extensions - extended automatically (i.e., no faculty request or review needed) for one year for the following reasons:

1) Leaves of absence with or without pay that are one semester to twelve months.2) Changes in appointment to 50% time or less for one year.3) Immigration/visa status that does not permit the award of tenure for candidates who have been

recommended for tenure.4) An extension recommended as an outcome of a hearing and/or appeal conducted pursuant to the

Faculty Grievance Policy.5) The impact of COVID-19 for those in the tenure system as of Spring 2020 and scheduled for

mandatory review in the 2020-21 academic year or later.Extensions Granted Automatically Upon Faculty Request: birth or adoption of a childNote:• Receipt of an automatic extension for any of the reasons above does not preclude consideration for

reappointment or promotion with tenure at the normal time.• if the extension for the first probationary appointment is waived by the faculty member, the extension

does not carry over to the second probationary appointment (except in the case of the impact of the COVID-19 one-year automatic extension).

• a faculty member is bound to the outcome of the reappointment review if unsuccessful.

https://hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/faculty-academic-staff/faculty-handbook/tenure_timeline_extension.html


See FAQs about tenure clock extension related to COVID-19

https://hr.msu.edu/ua/promotion/faculty-academic-staff/coronavirus-tenure-clock-faqs.html

https://hr.msu.edu/ua/promotion/faculty-academic-staff/coronavirus-tenure-clock-faqs.html


It all starts with your annual performance reviews…

Intent: reappointment, tenure and promotion… builds on and from your annual reviews


RPT ProcessDepartmental Process: fall (Timing Varies!)

So ask your chair NOW about the expected time line

OVERVIEW of requisite information:– From YOU:

• CV, candidate “Form D” material, Teaching Portfolio (electronic!)– From others:

• External Letters (tenure, except Physics)• Committee and/or Departmental Votes• Chair Recommendation

Department combines their material and the candidate’s material in “Form D”

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RPT Process (cont’d)• CNS Review: Begins mid-January

– Faculty Committee Review– Dean’s Recommendation

• University Review: Late Spring– Provost’s Recommendation– President’s Approval

• Trustee Approval: Early Summer– Required for tenure, not reappointmentsee “NatSci RPT cheat sheet…” for specific dates

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Cindy’s advice (Material due to college Jan 15)First important piece of advice:

Talk to your Chair(s) NOW about the RPT process in your unit

If you are joint appointed (across units and possibly colleges), talk to each Chair (ideally at the same time) to learn about timelines and the RPT process within each dept (and college) you are affiliated with. Determine how this process will be coordinated across your depts (and colleges).

Second important piece of advice:

start now by making a plan!!!


Things to think about when putting together your case…

(words of wisdom from someone who knows)

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What makes the college RPT committee “cranky”

• A research statement that isn’t understandable to someone outside the field• A research statement that doesn’t articulate how the science has advanced

the field• A research statement that leaves them wondering “so what?”• A publication list that does not explain the disciplinary norms for order of

authorship• A publication list that does not clearly indicate publications with MSU

trainees

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What makes the college RPT committee “happy”

• A research statement that tells a story that gets them excited about the science

• A research statement that answers the question, “why should I care?”• A research statement that clearly articulates the significance of the

candidate’s contribution to collaborative projects (this could also be done in the list of publications and grants awarded)

• A research statement that clearly indicates where the science is headed (forward thinking)

• A publication list that is clearly annotated for easy identification of papers with former mentors and MSU trainees

• A brief description of the candidate’s contribution to the paper if the candidate is not the lead, senior, or corresponding author

• A nice table listing all MSU trainees (undergrad, grad, postdoc) during the reporting period and their accomplishments (e.g., local, regional, national or international meeting presentations, publications, awards)

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You should expect feedback from your Chair 3 X’s during the process:

• by Jan 15th -- Chair informs you of his/her recommendation and the outcome of the Departmental process.

• by late April -- Chair informs you on the outcome of the College process, after Dean meets with the Provost’s committee.

Final decisions:• On reappointment by late May• On tenure by late June (after board meets and decides).

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Reappointment Letter and Meeting

• Reappointed candidates receive a reappointment letter in the summer– Contents:

• CNS RPT committee’s analysis of your case– Includes feedback on what is needed for successful promotion and tenure.

• Reappointed faculty meet individually with Assoc. Dean for Faculty Development the following fall to discuss the letter

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Paperwork

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External Evaluation Letters“...letters should be obtained from a range of knowledgeable individuals with the objective of evaluating both the specifics of the candidate’s research and its broader disciplinary impact.”“...at least eight letters from leading researchers at leading AAU Research I universities or comparable research organizations ... from individuals who are demonstrably disciplinary leaders...”

Letters are obtained by Department.– Candidate should submit a list of six to eight

potential referees, from which the department should obtain a minimum of three

– Dept. solicits from others; at least 6 total– Confidential: no communication with candidate– College can request additional letters

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21Asterisks: Candidate Responsible!

Form D (IV = candidate contribution)taken from “Guidelines for faculty RPT…”


Form D: Explain Yourself!• Describe (keep audience in mind)

– Teaching• Your role in courses taught jointly

– Publications• Refereed vs. un-Refereed• Your role in joint work: describe your contributions and

their importance, don’t just repeat factual information.– Grants (PI vs. co-PI, $’s to your program & IDC)

• Reflective essays (research and teaching) – read by faculty outside your department– your chance to “frame” the RPT case

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Teaching Portfolio• Contents:

– Syllabus and Representative Assessment Tool (e.g. quiz or test) from up to three separate courses.

– Up to three one-page summaries of examples of teaching excellence.

– Summary list of contributions to “teaching culture” (e.g. attendance at CNS workshops, etc.).

• Reviewed by Department & CNS– See assessment tool.

• Be kind to committee, keep length < 100p!

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External Evaluator Materials

• Referees are to be provided with:– Updated CV– Reflective Essays on Research and Teaching– Representative sample of scholarly work

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Expectations

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Expectations: Reappointment

• Evidence of a good start as an independent scholar, teacher and leader

• Indices:– Publications as lead author– Grants submitted as PI– Successful Teaching Program

• Teaching Portfolio, SIRS, peer evaluation– Starting to mentor students and postdocs– Engagement with disciplinary leadership and

university service

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Expectations: Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor

• Strong evidence that you are an establishedscholar, teacher and leader:

• Indices:– Publications as lead author– Grants as PI– Successful and effective teaching program

• Teaching Portfolio, SIRS, peer evaluation– Trained PhD students and postdocs– Engagement with disciplinary leadership and

university service.27


Explain Collaborative Work!Goal: Demonstrable Scientific Leadership

– Clearest evidence: independent/lead-author published work.

HOWEVER…MSU & CNS understand that much of contemporary scientific work is done in collaborative teams.

so…Be sure to explain your role in collaborative work (especiallyin cases involving senior authors or former mentors).

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Make the job of the Departmental, College, and University Review

committees easy!

Seek the advice of your Chair, mentors and trusted colleagues!

Start now...29


Questions?

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CNS RPT Workshop 2020Slide Number 2Make the job of the Departmental, College, and University Review committees easy!

…getting informedRPT TimingExtending the Tenure Clock�https://hr.msu.edu/policies-procedures/faculty-academic-staff/faculty-handbook/tenure_timeline_extension.html� See FAQs about tenure clock extension related to COVID-19��https://hr.msu.edu/ua/promotion/faculty-academic-staff/coronavirus-tenure-clock-faqs.html�It all starts with your annual performance reviews…Slide Number 9RPT ProcessRPT Process (cont’d)Slide Number 12Cindy’s advice (Material due to college Jan 15)Things to think about when putting together your case…��(words of wisdom from someone who knows)What makes the college RPT committee “cranky”What makes the college RPT committee “happy”You should expect feedback from your Chair 3 X’s during the process:Reappointment Letter and MeetingPaperworkExternal Evaluation LettersForm D (IV = candidate contribution)�taken from “Guidelines for faculty RPT…”Form D: Explain Yourself!Teaching PortfolioExternal Evaluator MaterialsExpectationsExpectations: ReappointmentExpectations: Tenure and Promotion to Associate ProfessorExplain Collaborative Work!Make the job of the Departmental, College, and University Review committees easy!�Seek the advice of your Chair, mentors and trusted colleagues!

Start now...Questions?

CNS RPT Workshop - Michigan State University & Staff/rpt... · RPT Process Departmental Process:...

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