A candidate’s preparation for promotion review begins when the candidate enters the University. Soon after the candidate arrives, their Unit Head should:
- Provide the candidate with a copy of (or link to) this campus AEP Manual and the Unit’s promotion guidelines and promotion criteria by which they will be evaluated (AEP Guidelines, Section II.B. and Section IV.A.), and
- Appoint one or more senior faculty mentors, in accordance with Section V.B. of the AEP Guidelines and UMD Mentoring Guidance. Each unit is required to have a mentoring plan; candidates should consult this plan for further details regarding mentorship.
Review for promotion is the University’s primary means for ensuring a productive and accomplished faculty befitting an outstanding research university, as well as for recognizing the impact and quality of the faculty member’s accomplishments. Candidates for promotion in the PTK faculty ranks will be evaluated based on the duties and expectations associated with the specific faculty rank they hold as described in the Unit’s AEP plans, which must be consistent with the titles defined in II-1.00(A) University of Maryland Policy & Procedures on Appointment, Promotion and Tenure of Faculty, and in the PTK faculty member’s employment contract (AEP Guidelines, Section V.D.). Units are responsible for developing and adhering to their adopted criteria (unless approved modified criteria are in place for a candidate) and procedures for appointments and promotions.
Generally, PTK faculty members are expected to demonstrate excellence and accomplishment in one or more of the following areas: (1) research, scholarship, creative and/or professional activity; (2) teaching, advising, and mentoring; and (3) service. If relevant, PTK faculty members may also demonstrate excellence and accomplishment in areas such as program administration, leadership (e.g., center/institute direction, lab management), extension activities, or other areas as relevant to the faculty member’s documented appointment. Given that PTK faculty members might be active in only one or two of the three dimensions of academic activity, Units shall establish explicitly the scope of the appointee's efforts in terms of the dimensions of academic activity (e.g., Teaching, Research, Service, Administration), thereby providing a clear set of expectations during performance evaluation and promotion reviews (AEP Guidelines, Sections III.C. and IV.B.).