Procedures for Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure

Introduction

Consistent with the University of Kentucky's long-standing history of excellence and continuous improvement, a group of faculty members was appointed in 1997 to investigate its promotion and tenure process. After review of the group's report and consultation with University of Kentucky College of Medicine faculty members, the Faculty Council, and the department chairs (including extended discussion at the October 1997 Chairs Retreat), Dean Emery A. Wilson established an ad hoc Task Force on Faculty Affairs in December 1997.

The Task Force on Faculty Affairs (the membership of which is noted in the Acknowledgments Section) identified issues related to faculty recruitment, appointment, retention, and advancement in the College; reviewed recent documents on appointment, promotion, and tenure completed by various College of Medicine and University of Kentucky groups; studied materials related to appointment, promotion, and tenure at other colleges and universities; and recommended modifications in the appointment, promotion, and tenure policy and procedures for the College. The Task Force report and recommendations were presented to, and accepted by, the Dean, the Council of Chairs, the College of Medicine Appointment, Promotion, and Tenure Committee, and the College of Medicine Faculty Council.

This summary document has been prepared to advise faculty members and prospective faculty members of the appointment, promotion, and tenure procedures in the College of Medicine. The document begins with foundational principles highlighting the importance of the three missions of the College and the inter-relatedness of these missions, the unique service activities provided by clinical faculty members, and the College's ongoing commitment to excellence and scholarship. The document presents the definitions of scholarship and excellence as used by the College of Medicine and provides guidelines for promotion that are based on these definitions. Procedures for faculty appointment, reappointment, promotion, and granting of tenure in the College of Medicine are outlined, and these procedures are related to the University's administrative regulations and rules. The document emphasizes the importance of ongoing excellence and scholarship to the vitality of the College.

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