3.5.B - Promotion for the Tenure Track Professional Ranks

The professorial ranks are typically linked to the different stages of career development and accomplishment for university faculty. Faculty members at the different stages of an academic career tend to have different levels of experience, expertise, accomplishment, effectiveness, and productivity. They also tend to have different opportunities for contribution, leadership, and mentorship. Consequently, KSU’s general expectations for faculty performance and for promotion in rank will be dependent on experience levels and the faculty member’s career path.

Experience is correlated with professorial rank, but years of service or successful annual reviews alone are not sufficient to qualify for a promotion in rank. When a faculty member’s experience, accomplishments, and career development evolve to the point where expectations applicable to the beginning level of the next highest rank are being met, the faculty member can make a strong case for promotion. A decision of promotion will result from a thorough review of a faculty member’s accomplishments and contributions to the University by KSU teaching and administrative faculty colleagues. This review is accomplished in consideration of the faculty member’s situation and context and in relation to their stage of academic career development.

Only faculty who were hired in professorial rank with credit toward promotion (USG Academic & Student Affairs Handbook 4.6) can undergo a promotion review before the fifth full academic year of service at KSU. This credit will be noted in writing by the President before the faculty member is employed and can range from one to three years, with the latter figure being reserved for rare cases of exceptional service elsewhere, such as administrative work. Any, all, or none of the granted credit can be applied toward promotion, at the discretion of the individual faculty member. If applied toward promotion, this credit plus the number of years of service at KSU must match the minimum probationary period of five years. The promotion portfolio will include evidence from credited time and must include evidence of relevant work experience prior to employment at KSU. A faculty member may use their probationary credit towards promotion and apply for promotion earlier than the completion of the minimum probationary period only once. Faculty who have used probationary credit towards promotion and who were denied promotion will have to receive approval to submit for “early” promotion prior to serving the minimum of five years in rank at the current institution. The amount of the probationary period spent at KSU must be continuous unless the interruption is for a leave of absence or for part-time service that must not, in either case, exceed two years (BoR Policy Manual 8.3.7.4).

At KSU, if a tenure track assistant professor or associate professor is granted probationary credit upon initial hire, the same amount of credit will be granted for both tenure and promotion and can only be used once. For example, if a faculty member is using probationary credit and chooses to apply for tenure only or promotion only during their first portfolio submission at KSU, the probationary credit initially granted for both tenure and promotion will be considered used at that time.

A faculty member who was hired without credit toward promotion may apply for promotion during the fifth year of service (after serving a minimum of four years in rank). Tenure track faculty can be reviewed concurrently for both promotion (from assistant professor to associate professor or from associate professor to full professor) and tenure; however, the awarding of tenure for assistant professors can only be approved after a positive decision on promotion to associate professor has been made by the KSU President.

Board of Regents policy allows for consideration of early promotion. According to USG Academic & Student Affairs Handbook 4.6, strong justification must be provided to support any consideration of “early” promotion wherein the individual has served fewer than the minimum number of five years in rank at the current institution.

At KSU, before a faculty member submits an application for early promotion, the faculty member should seek guidance from the department chair, dean, and Provost. However, in the rare case where a faculty member has served less than four years in rank at the current institution, prior presidential approval to be reviewed for promotion is required.

In addition to the minimum criteria above, promotion to the rank of associate or full professor requires the terminal degree in the appropriate discipline or its equivalent in training, ability, and/or experience (BoR Policy Manual 8.3.6.2). Kennesaw State University takes the view that the qualities of knowledge, experience, and ability that would qualify as equivalent to the earned doctorate or terminal degree must be demonstrated at a high level of achievement. Equivalency should be awarded only in cases when the demonstrated evidence is clear and convincing. In addition, the judgment of equivalency depends on many variables specific to the particular discipline in question and to the individual achievements of the person making the case for equivalency.

The following criteria are established as a guideline for faculty committees and administrators who will use their professional judgment to recommend doctoral or terminal degree equivalency for hiring and promotion and tenure.

Required criteria for terminal degree equivalency include:

1. Demonstrating broad and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the body of information in the discipline beyond a masters’ degree
2. Demonstrating the ability to implement one’s own scholarship and creative activity agenda, to apply research and creative methodologies, and to produce scholarship that meets the criteria for quality and significance outlined in departmental guidelines

A variety of other factors may be considered in determining doctoral equivalency. Additional supporting evidence might include the following:

1. Holding a master’s degree in the appropriate discipline
2. Completing graduate coursework in the discipline beyond what would be expected for a masters’ degree
3. Holding appropriate professional licensure or certifications in the discipline
4. Achieving a leadership position in and/or honors and awards from a professional society or societies which indicates regional, national, and/or international peer recognition of professional accomplishments
5. Having professional work experience relevant to the faculty member’s teaching assignments that are significant in level of responsibility and duration
6. Having already been promoted to the rank of Associate Professor

In addition to the criteria mentioned, there may be other discipline-specific achievements that constitute doctoral or terminal degree equivalency that colleges and/or departments have outlined in their promotion and tenure guidelines.

Faculty members submitting portfolios for promotion to associate or full professor who do not hold the doctorate or terminal degree must address the criteria for equivalency in their portfolios. 

The review committee or administrator will consider equivalency at the time the promotion recommendation is considered. Candidates without a doctorate or terminal degree can be promoted if, in addition to the criteria for promotion, they meet the requirements for equivalency as stated in departmental, college, and University guidelines. Each level of review will make a recommendation for promotion and a decision on doctoral or terminal degree equivalency.