Fixed Term
While the mix of duties performed by fixed term faculty may vary within and across units, academic rank at Michigan State University must be based on standards that result in a progressively stronger faculty. A fixed term faculty member’s level of accomplishment, even if limited to a narrow range of duties, should reflect the same level of accomplishment for that set of duties for a tenure system faculty member being promoted to the same rank.
Quick Links
- FT Promotion Criteria by focus area:
- FT Form on Progress and Excellence (promotion application form)
- FT Academic Portfolio template (required beginning in Fall 2024):
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Preparing for Review
Departments provide criteria for reappointment and promotion to all faculty members at the time of appointment or promotion to current rank. Departments are responsible for initiating the reappointment and promotion processes and providing the specific timelines, procedures and criteria for their faculty.
Faculty are responsible for familiarizing themselves with their department timelines, procedures and criteria prior to submitting a request for promotion and/or completing the required forms and other documentation.
Fixed term faculty are evaluated annually and provided feedback on their performance by the applicable unit administrator. Written annual evaluations are conducted as part of regular reviews related to assignment, planning and salary adjustment. Processes and criteria for reappointment and promotion should be a topic at this yearly meeting.
The CHM criteria used for promotion review are based on the fixed term faculty member's primary area of focus. The primary area is generally the area in which the majority of their effort is allocated. The faculty candidate must identify their primary area of focus, and use those specific criteria in one of the following areas:
- Instruction
- Research and Scholarly Activity
- Clinical Service
- Administrative Service
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Promotion Process
Faculty candidate completes and submits to department:
- CV
- Reflective Essay
- Sample of Scholarly Work (for external reviewers)
- List of recommended external and internal reviewers
- Form on Progress and Excellence for Fixed Term Faculty, Section IV
- Academic Portfolio
Department adds:
- A description of the candidate’s assignment prepared by the department chair
- External and internal reviewer letters
- Signed annual review letters for each year in the review period
A departmental peer review committee provides advice to the department chairperson regarding promotion decisions. Faculty are given an opportunity to confer with the department peer review group before a decision is made. The department chairperson conducts an independent evaluation, taking into consideration the peer review committee’s evaluation, and forwards a recommendation to FAD for College RPT Committee review.
Chairperson completes and submits to college:
- Form on Progress and Excellence for Fixed Term Faculty, Sections I-III
- Items 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 above
Departments submit promotion materials to FAD by January 15.
The College RPT Committee provides advice to the Dean about department/unit recommendations for promotion. The dean independently reviews each recommendation for promotion and forwards recommendations to the Office of the Provost, where the final decision is made.
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Designation B
Fixed term faculty who meet eligibility requirements may apply for Designation B status. Designation B is a policy in the Union of Non-tenure Track Faculty (UNTF) contract that recognizes sustained excellence in teaching. For faculty who are granted Designation B status, the next appointment shall be for at least five years subject to satisfactory completion of a major review. See Designation B for additional details.
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Resources
CHM Letters of Reference Policy
MSU Letters of Reference Policy
CHM FT Promotion Criteria:
Research and Scholarly Activity
CHM Examples of DEI Activities
CHM Form on Progress and Excellence for Fixed Term Faculty
Accessing Grant Applications and Awards in EBS
CHM Guidance on Developing a Reflective Essay
AAMC Guidance on Preparing a Curriculum Vitae (CV)
MSU Guidance for preparing a COVID-19 Impact Statement
CHM Guidance on Developing an Academic Portfolio
CHM FT Academic Portfolio Templates (required beginning in Fall 2024):