Academic PromotionsApplicant Information SessionTuesday 10 February 2015

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

› You must have completed a formal performance review (AP&D or equivalent) in the previous 15 months, or complete one by 30 June to be eligible for promotion

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Preparing yourself for promotion

› Read the Academic Promotions policy, procedures 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

Minimum Required Standards for Promotion

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TEACHING AND RESEARCH STREAM – Minimum required standardsPromotion sought

Teachingstandard

Researchstandard

Servicestandard

Comment

Level A to Level B;Level B to Level C;Level C to Level D

Superior or Outstanding

Superior or Outstanding

Superior At least one Outstanding is required in either Teaching or Research and 2 Superior

Level D to Level E Outstanding Outstanding Superior N/A

Promotion sought

Teachingstandard

Researchstandard

Servicestandard

Comment

All Exceptional Superior orSatisfactory

Superior orSatisfactory

At least one Superior is required, in either Research or Service

EDUCATION FOCUSSED STREAM – Minimum required standards

RESEARCH FOCUSSED STREAM – Minimum required standardsPromotion sought

Teachingstandard

Researchstandard

Servicestandard

Comment

All Superior orSatisfactory

Exceptional Superior orSatisfactory

At least one Superior is required, in either Teaching or Service

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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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What’s new in 2015

› Option to note special circumstances

- You may request that special circumstances be considered in your application.

- Relevant information should be included in the Summary of Case for promotion and, if applicable, cross referenced in the relevant cases.

- If your special circumstances are confidential please contact the Equity and Diversity Strategy Centre or the Academic Promotions Unit for advice.

› Summary of Case for promotion

- All applicants are required to include in their Summary of Case for promotion information on how they have consistently interacted with staff, including professional staff and students in a professional and collegial manner

(an additional 250 words has been allocated in this section)

Additional information required

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What’s new in 2015

› Applicants are now required to provide the following information regarding research output - Research Outputs and Funding Form (ROFF)

- Research Funding Totals

- $ value of your research funding since last appointment/promotion at this University to your current level and over your career at this University.

- Research Funding details

- Detailed list of research funding obtained/pending (at this University) since last appointment/promotion to your current level.

- Notable Research Outputs Table

- List in chronological order (up to five, starting with the most recent) notable research outputs since last appointment or promotion to your current level.

- Research Output Summary Table

- This table provides committees with an overview of an applicant’s research totals by output type since last appointment/promotion to the current level and career to date.

- List of Publications

- This section allows you to provide a comprehensive publication listing.

Research/scholarship/creative work and professional work case

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What’s new in 2015

› Applicants can briefly outline any goals they have for future teaching, research and service where applicable.

› Service to the University, Discipline & Community sections:

- Assessor of Competitive Grants – applicants are able to list their participation as an assessor of competitive grants since last appointment or promotion to their current level at this university

- Mentoring and Leadership - Level E applicants can provide an overview of the formal and informal mentoring undertaken over their career and since last appointment and promotion

Academic Goals

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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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Changes to the application update process

› Levels D and E applicants (Level C applicants if the application is being considered by a CPC) may provide to the CPC a second update to their application.

- The second update to application may not exceed one A4 page listing significant additional information of national/international importance (excluding publications unless it is a book) arising since consideration of the application at the final LPC meeting (Level D) and interview (Level E).

- Second updates must be lodged electronically to the Academic Promotions Unit in word format no later than 4 weeks prior to the CPC meeting.

Second updates

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Academic Promotions – Historical Statistics

PromotionYear

No. of Applications

No. Successful

% Successful

2014 222 167 75.22%

2013 199 166 83.42%

2012 196 159 81.12%

2011 229 187 81.66%

2010 225 195 86.67%

2009 208 184 88.46%

2008 154 137 89%

2007 148 124 83%

2006 124 101 81%

2005 140 114 81%

2004 113 85 75%

2003 103 77 75%

Promotion Statistics by year

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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