SECTION 4
ACADEMIC PROMOTIONS 2016
Guidelines for Committees
1.
Faculty Promotions Committees
1.1
The Faculty Promotions Committee will have available to it, through Queen’s Online:
1.2
1.3
a)
b)
c)
d)
The applicant’s Academic Curriculum Vitae and Applicant Statement;
Heads of Schools’ report for each applicant;
Minutes of the meeting of the School Committee;
In the case of applications for Professorship and Readership, four references will
be provided to the Faculty Committees.
a)
Each Head of School will attend the meeting of the relevant Faculty Promotion
Committee(s) and be asked to comment on each application from their School to
assist the Committee in coming to a recommendation. Committees will only
consider information in relation to applicants’ performance up until the
closing date.
b)
Heads of School will be present at the Faculty Committee when the Committee
makes its recommendations. They can participate in the discussion but will not
take part in the decision-making itself even if they are a member of the
Committee. If a Head of School is an applicant the relevant Faculty PVC will
comment on the case.
Composition of Faculty Promotions Committees
Chair: Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor;
Faculty Deans of Research and Education;
1 Dean of Research or Education from outside the Faculty;
Heads of School from Faculty (normally to include a minimum 50% of the Heads of
School on a rotating basis).
2.
Central Promotions Committee
2.1
The Central Promotions Committee will review all the recommendations made at the
various stages in the process. The Chairs of the Faculty Promotions Committees will
present their assessments, explaining how their decisions were made and highlighting
any case where a different decision was made by the Faculty Committee from that
recommended by the School or where specific issues have caused difficulty. The role
of the Central Promotions Committee is to moderate between the Faculty Promotions
Committees to ensure a consistent standard has been applied. At this stage it may
exercise its power to encourage an unsuccessful applicant to apply in the next promotion
exercise.
2.2
Final decisions on promotion will be taken by the Central Promotions Committee, chaired
by the Vice-Chancellor. Where the Central Promotions Committee determines that an
applicant best meets a different grade profile it reserves the right to offer promotion to a
grade different from that for which application was originally made. The Central
Promotions Committee will have available to it through Queen’s Online:
a)
b)
c)
d)
The applicant’s Academic Curriculum Vitae and Applicant Statement;
Heads of Schools’ report for each applicant;
Faculty Committee’s recommendations;
External references.
Final decisions will be taken in the light of evidence provided in internal and external
reports.
2.3
The Central Promotions Committee will make the final decisions and will write to let
applicants know the outcome. Those whose applications are unsuccessful will be given
an indication in writing of the main areas in which they do not meet the required academic
profile and or exceed their School’s academic standards. The Faculty PVC and the Head
of School will provide verbal feedback to each applicant.
2.4
Composition of Central Promotions Committee
Vice Chancellor
Registrar and Chief Operating Officer
3 Faculty PVCs
2 Lay Senators
PVC (Research)
PVC (Education)
3.
Central Promotions Review Committee
3.1
The Central Promotions Review Committee will have available to it through Queen’s
online:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
The applicant’s Academic Curriculum Vitae and Applicant Statement;
Heads of Schools’ report for each applicant;
Faculty Committee’s recommendation;
Central Promotions Committee’s decision;
External references.
3.2
The Central Promotions Review Committee will be comprised of individuals not
previously involved in the process.
3.3
The Central Promotions Review Committee will consider each case and will advise
applicants of the outcome.
3.4
Composition of Central Promotions Review Committee
Pro-Vice Chancellor for Academic Planning, Staffing and External Relations
Member of Professoriate
1 Lay Senator (not previously involved)
Director of Human Resources
4.
Equality and Diversity
4.1
Each Promotion Committee will take into consideration the contractual arrangements
and other relevant factors in assessing the quality of the application against the relevant
academic profile and School’s academic standards. Consideration will be given to any
personal, family or other non-academic circumstances that may have restricted or
delayed the development of an applicant’s academic career. Promotion decisions will
take into account all the relevant factors and will be based on merit.
Q:\Wendy\Acad Prom\2016\Guidelines Committees.docx
DMcG/WM (14.12.15)