Faculty Reviews: Instructional Track
Key Contacts
If you have questions, please contact your Department Human Resources Representative.
Applicability
Instructional-track faculty.
Policy Purpose and Description
Instructional track faculty positions are academic-year, renewable faculty appointments, with summer session appointments possible on the same basis as for other faculty. Although an individual's appointment as an Instructional track faculty member may be renewed, Fringe benefits are provided in accordance with University rules for appointments of 50% or more.
An Instructional track position in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences generally meets the following conditions:
-
the research expectations that exist for tenure-track faculty are inappropriate, given the nature and extent of the teaching assignments,
-
the potential for reappointment beyond three years is essential in order to ensure stability in the position and competitive recruiting of individuals who can ensure high-quality instruction, and
-
funding for the position is identified, in consultation with the College.
Definitions
NA
Procedure
In each year of an Instructional faculty's appointment, the department submits a performance evaluation to the Dean's Office, using the College's Instructional Track annual review form. Subsequently, a substantive performance reappointment evaluation must be submitted in the reappointment year of the current contract. The review form, with the Instructional faculty's response (if any), the Instructional faculty's CV, classroom observation, and ACE evaluations are due in the Office of the Dean in the spring via a folder in OneDrive. A classroom observation is required for the first six years of the initial Lecturer contract and every reappointment thereafter and for the first five years of the initial Associate Professor/Professor of Instruction/Practice contract and every reappointment thereafter.
The review is a substantive evaluation of the Instructional faculty's record in teaching, professional development, and service. These evaluations are based on the expectations for teaching, departmental service, and professional development stated in the most recent letter of appointment. The College's expectation is that at least 60% of an Instructional faculty's effort will be devoted to teaching organized courses. The letter of appointment may state a higher expectation.
The purpose of the review is to advise the Instructional faculty member on how well they are meeting departmental and collegiate expectations of the appointment and to provide a basis for renewal of the contract and salary recommendations. The review report should outline substantive suggestions and specific expectations. The instructional faculty member has the right to respond to the review.
The review of teaching, professional development, and service may be conducted by the DEO or by another faculty member or a faculty committee to whom the DEO delegates the review. The review of teaching must include:
-
student evaluations of teaching solicited in every course and kept on file (usually by the faculty member) for use in faculty reviews,
-
observation and report on at least one class session (as stated above), and
-
review of syllabi for all courses taught since the previous review.
Individuals with Instructional track appointments are expected to keep up with developments in the knowledge base and pedagogy of their subject. Positive performance reviews that would result in renewal of appointment therefore depend on some professional development activities. While involvement in professional service is not necessarily required, enhancement of credentials and notable professional service can contribute to merit-based raises.
Forms
Peer Evaluation of Teaching narrative (Form under review)
Frequently Asked Questions
In regard to classroom observations, what is considered the initial contract?
"Initial" refers to the hiring contract. If a faculty is promoted from Lecturer to Associate Professor Instruction (API), the initial contract refers to their Lecturer contract at hire, and they will require a classroom observation during their API reappointment review.
Related Information
Qualifications: Instructional track faculty appointments normally require an advanced degree (masters or doctoral degree) or the equivalent. Graduate students cannot hold instructional track appointments.
Instructional track faculty positions are subject to the usual affirmative action recruitment procedure expectations.
Revision History
2/2021