Academic PromotionsApplicant Information SessionMonday 20 February 2012

Provost and Deputy Vice-ChancellorProfessor Stephen Garton

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Academic promotion policy

› Promotion is one strategy to reward and support retention of high performing staff – other options exist

› Applicants must provide current evidence of their ability to perform at the level for which promotion is sought (i.e. promotion is not a reward for lifetime achievement, or time served)

› Teaching and research are core activities

› Service – University, discipline/profession, community

› Assessment is by a committee of peers with ability to “benchmark” promotion across the University

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Preparing yourself for promotion

› Read the policy on academic promotions and guidelines for applicants

› Overtly incorporate promotion criteria into your application

› Focus on achievements since appointment or last promotion

› Provide independently verifiable evidence

› Don't double-dip in the use of evidence

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Preparing yourself for promotion

› No interviews for Levels B – D

› Familiarize yourself with the criteria required for promotion particularly via the Education and Research-focused streams

› LPC can change stream in which an applicant has applied (but only where they would otherwise be unsuccessful)

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Three Promotion streams

The University of Sydney recognises three streams for promotion:

› Teaching and Research

› Education-focused

› Research-focused

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Teaching and Research Staff

Promotion from - to

Teaching Research/etc Service Total

Teaching & Research: A-B, B-C, C-D

Superior/ outstanding

Superior/ outstanding

Superior 1 outstanding (which must be either teaching or research), 2 superior

Teaching & Research: D-E

Outstanding Outstanding Superior 2 outstanding, 1 superior

Minimum Standards Required for Promotion

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Promotion from - to

Teaching Research/etc Service Total

Education-focused: A-B, B-C, C-D; D-E

Exceptional Superior/Satisfactory

Superior/Satisfactory

1 exceptional (which must be in teaching), at least 1 superior

Education-focused Staff

Minimum Standards Required for Promotion

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Research-focused Staff

Promotion from – to

Teaching Research/etc Service Total

Teaching & Research: A-B, B-C, C-D; D-E

Superior/Satisfactory

Exceptional Superior/Satisfactory

1 exceptional (which must be in research), at least 1 superior

Minimum Standards Required for Promotion

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Regardless of Pathway

Promotion does not change the type of role

to which you have been appointed – either

teaching and research, research or teaching intensive

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Preparing the case for promotion

› Providing verifiable evidence – USE information, grants, awards, publications,

› Focus on personal achievement and development since appointment or last promotion

- lifetime record a factor, but not as important

› Resist the temptation to overstate achievement, for example

- carefully document your part in shared activities

- don’t recycle achievements

› Relative to opportunity

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Preparing the case for promotion

›Get help!

- Seek advice from your mentor/discipline head

- Get someone to read through the application

- Reflect honestly on your competitive position

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Promotion profile

› 2011: 229 Applications – 187 Promotions (81.65%)› 2010: 225 Applications – 195 Promotions (86.67%)› 2009: 208 Applications - 184 Promotions (88.46%)› 2008: 154 applications – 137 promotions (89%)› 2007: 148 applications – 124 promotions (83%)› 2006: 124 applications – 101 promotions (81%)› 2005: 140 applications - 114 promotions (81%)› 2004: 113 applications – 85 promotions (75%)› 2003: 103 applications – 77 promotions (75%)

- Female application rate is improving annually- Female success rates have been improving since 2003

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Points to Remember

› Build Relationships:- Mentor, supervisor, the Dean, referees (international)

› Communication: - Written application - Get someone else to read it

› All three promotion criteria are valued- Balanced approach to performance

- You will not succeed on any one criterion alone

› If you’re unsuccessful in applying for Promotion- Discuss with your supervisor, Dean, Chair of LPC