Faculty Tracks, Appointments and Promotion

Non-Tenure Track Faculty

The non-tenure track applies to Clinical faculty hired starting fall 2016.

Tenure Track Faculty

The tenure-track applies to Basic Science and Clinical faculty (hired before fall 2016).

Basic Science Faculty

The tenure track for Basic Science Faculty is reserved for individuals who have earned a minimum of a doctorate (Ph.D.) or equivalent terminal degree in Health Sciences, with a primary focus in basic and/or applied research. Appointees in this track are expected to be dedicated to scholarly contributions and teaching pharmacy students primarily in didactic and laboratory courses, and have research output and extramural research funding support in line with their ranks. Appointees to this track are under the Pharmaceutical Sciences Department.

Clinical Faculty - Tenure Track

Clinical Faculty comprises full time instructional staff with a professional practice appointment. The tenure track for Clinical Faculty is reserved for individuals who have earned a professional degree in pharmacy, completed postgraduate training in a residency and/or fellowship program or equivalent experience, hold an active licensure to practice as a pharmacist, and have research and scholarly contributions in line with their ranks. Faculty members in this track are professional practitioners who may have fractions of at least 50% of professional practice. They are expected to be dedicated to pharmacy practice and teaching pharmacy students primarily in didactic and experiential courses, and have clinical and translational research output with some extramural research funding. Appointees to this track are under the Pharmacy Practice Department.

Academic Ranks and Descriptions

The academic ranks of Basic Science Faculty include: Assistant Professors, Associate Professors, and Professors. The academic ranks of Clinical Faculty include: Clinical Instructors, Clinical Assistant Professors, Clinical Associate Professors, and Clinical Professors.

Faculty ranks and the general descriptions and expectations for the different ranks are explicitly described in the “Criteria and Guidelines for Faculty Tracks, Appointments and Promotion” document. These ranks represent different levels of performance expectations and the achievements and accomplishments of faculty members.

Promotion Process

Initial appointments at the Clinical Instructor rank and promotion to the Clinical Assistant Professor rank are not subject to the Peer Review Committee evaluation. In these cases, promotion is handled internally at the School level with an official letter from the Department Chair to the Dean providing documented evidence of the candidate’s teaching competency, scholarly output, clinical abilities, and commitment to service.

Promotion to the ranks of Associate Professor and Professor require review by the Chair, Dean, Peer Review Committee, and University Promotion Committee; endorsement by the Dean; and approval by the Provost and President. The candidate’s performance, achievements and accomplishments are evaluated by the Peer Review Committee that is appointed on ad hoc basis by the School Dean, and is assisted by external reviewers. Research collaborators who have worked with the candidate within the last ten years, present or former mentors, prior faculty colleagues or close friends cannot serve as reviewers. The external reviewers must be at the level of promotion that is being considered or higher and from institutions that follow a similar academic (U.S.) system.

The Peer Review Committee submits its recommendations to the School Dean who makes a recommendation to the Provost who in turn shall convene the University Peers committee. The review of file by the University Peers committee and decision follow the University promotion process bylaws.

Promotion and Tenure

For detailed information on Faculty appointments, reappointment, tenure and promotion in rank, refer to the LAU Personnel Policy Faculty Section.

Documentation of Faculty Performance and Promotion Evaluation

A faculty member performance, achievements and accomplishments in the following four areas are considered in the promotion and tenure review: teaching, research and service service. Promotion is based on a balance between the aforementioned areas as applicable to the faculty member duties and responsibilities. The expectation is also that the candidate meets the specific career track requirements of the rank to which he/she is seeking promotion. The time that is spent by individuals in this rank is not sufficient alone or is evidence of accomplishments for advancing in rank or a merit for promotion.

Procedures for Promotion Evaluation

The application for promotion should be submitted to the Provost and include all supportive documentation related to the faculty candidate teaching, research and service, in addition to updated curriculum vitae, a narrative self-assessment, and the names and contacts of three external reviewers. The narrative self-assessment should describe in 1-2 pages the candidate’s perception of his/her own performance, contributions, and major achievements in regard to performance expectations in the above listed areas.