State University of New York
Graduate School of Education
Guidelines for Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure
Purposes of the Graduate School of Education (GSE)
The GSE’s graduate programs prepare teachers and educational leaders in elementary,
secondary, literacy, and special education. While the majority of our students are just entering
the field of teaching, many are practicing professionals who bring to the university unique
perspectives and experiences as classroom teachers in area schools. Education faculty members
are committed to meeting the needs of this diverse population of graduate students.
Education faculty members conduct basic and applied research in education. We generate
new knowledge and theories about learning, teaching, and schooling, and translate theory and
research into improved practice in today’s schools. We help design, implement, and evaluate
educational programs and practice. We improve education through curriculum and professional
development and consultation with schools.
Annual Review of Guidelines
The guidelines for renewal, promotion, and tenure should be reviewed annually in the
GSE, prior to approval at a general faculty meeting.
Guidelines for Renewal, Promotion, and Tenure
These guidelines are provided to inform untenured faculty members and IPC members, as
well as the University Personnel Committee and university administrators. They are provided to
clarify the types of activities by Education faculty members that meet the University’s criteria for
renewal, promotion, and tenure, rather than to establish a separate set of criteria. Faculty
members seeking promotion to Full Professor are held to the same standards for teaching,
scholarship, and service, with expectations for leadership in one or more areas. The GSE
recognizes that the balance of teaching, scholarship, and service may vary among its faculty and
may shift over a faculty member’s career.
As teacher educators, we require our faculty to model high quality teaching, informed by
current theory and research on curriculum, instruction, and assessment. The GSE also places
high value on scholarship and, while no absolute criteria are set, the IPC requires publication of
refereed journal articles and/or book(s) for promotion and tenure. The GSE also values grant
writing but does not require external funding for promotion and tenure. Pursuing fundable lines
of inquiry often requires the interest and willingness of community partners. We encourage
cultivation of these relationships, which hold numerous mutual benefits, but external funding
should not overshadow other required activities. Both tenured and untenured faculty members
are expected to provide service to the public schools and community. They are expected to
provide service to the GSE and the University. Collectively, our teaching and service
requirements exceed those placed on untenured faculty in most departments at Binghamton
University.
1. Excellence in Teaching
Evidence of teaching effectiveness includes but is not limited to:
a. Student Opinion of Teaching (provided and analyzed by the university)
b. Course syllabi
c. Other student evaluations of teaching constructed and analyzed by the faculty member
d. Peer review of teaching (generally arranged by the faculty member)
e. Development of curricula, programs, and innovative approaches to teaching and learning
f. Feedback from cooperating teachers and practicum students
g. In-service teaching evaluations
h. Supervision of cumulative projects, theses, and dissertations
i. Mentoring graduate students, advising, providing research training, career counseling
2. Excellence in Research and Scholarship
The following are examples of research and scholarship:
a. Articles in professional journals, particularly refereed journals
b. Books (single authored, co-authored, edited)
c. Chapters and monographs
d. Conference papers and presentations, particularly invited and peer reviewed
e. Editorship of a journal
f. Research and technical reports (funded or unfunded)
g. Funded grant applications, grant reports, and grant products
h. Grant applications (including reviewer comments if not funded)
i. Educational media and materials
j. Citations, adoptions, and reviews of faculty member’s scholarly work by others
3. Service to the University, Community, and Profession
Service will be judged in three areas: to the university, community, and profession.
a. Service to the GSE and University
i. Membership, active involvement in, and leadership of committees and task forces in
the GSE and University
ii. Administrative responsibilities
iii. Advising and mentoring students
iv. Mentoring colleagues
v. Collaboration with other departments
b. Service to the Community
i. Active participation or leadership in school improvement projects
ii. Consultation and collaboration with public and private schools and agencies
iii. Board membership and/or leadership in community agencies
iv. Workshops and in-service teaching projects, and evaluations
v. Conference organizing
c. Service to the Profession
i. Serving on state or regional task forces
ii. Leadership in local and state professional organizations
iii. Leadership in national professional organizations, including committee work
iv. Presentations at conferences
v. Organizing professional meetings or conferences
vi. Reviewing manuscripts for publication
vii. Reviewing grant proposals for funding
Revised 5/11/16.