WORKING DOCUMENT - DRAFT ONLY (Fall 2008)


The following guidelines were prepared by the Arts and Sciences Senate Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Policy Committee in the Spring 2007.  They were designed to coordinate with the Arts and Sciences Senate Senior Lecturer - Promotion Review Committee as approved by the Arts and Sciences Senate at its April 2007 meeting. However, the Arts and Sciences Senate withdrew the establishment of the committee in April 2008 so as to allow for further review and discussion with the university administration. They are offered as a basis for cooperative discussion with members of the Adminstration as they consider implementation of the position of Senior Lecturer (promotion without tenure for term appointment Lecturers at Stony Brook).

 

PROPOSED - DRAFT ONLY

Arts and Sciences Senate Guidelines for Promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer

 

The non-tenured title of Senior Lecturer at Stony Brook University is bestowed upon a full-time term appointment Lecturer in order to recognize the faculty member’s contribution to the missions of the University. Promotion to Senior Lecturer signifies departmental and university commitment to the faculty member in recognition of years of good service. The usual review and evaluation process to monitor overall job performance and continued professional growth is mandated by the Policies of the Board of Trustees. Once appointed to the untenured position of Senior Lecturer, term appointment contract review and renewal shall take place every three years.  

 

I. THE RANK OF LECTURER AT STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY

 

I.01      According to the Policies of the SUNY Board of Trustees, full-time Lecturers are eligible for renewable term contract appointments of up to three years.

 

I.02      Stony Brook University Departments and Programs recommend appointments to the rank of full-time Lecturer for terms of up to three years. 

 

I.03      Typically in the penultimate year of the contract, Departments or Programs review Lecturer appointments and make recommendations to the Administration regarding reappointment for terms of up to three years. 

 

II. ELIGIBILITY FOR PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF SENIOR LECTURER

 

II.01    After six years of full-time appointment as a Lecturer at Stony Brook, the Lecturer will be eligible to be considered for promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer in a Department or Program at Stony Brook University.

 

II.02    The promotion rank of Senior Lecturer may not begin prior to the eighth year of full-time appointment as Lecturer at Stony Brook.

 

II.03    Once eligible, if the Lecturer does not wish to apply for or be considered for promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer, the normal review process for Lecturers shall occur.

 

II.04    Application and review for promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer may occur at any time after eligibility has been established, and shall be considered independently of the regular reappointment process for Lecturers. 

 

II.05    Candidates for Senior Lecturer may apply simultaneously for reappointment as Lecturer. 

 

II.06    Denial of Senior Lecturer status shall have no bearing on the status or reappointment as Lecturer. 

 

II.07    If denied promotion, a Lecturer must wait at least two years to reapply for promotion to Senior Lecturer. In exceptional circumstances, the Department / Program Chair or the Lecturer Review Committee (LRC) in the Department or Program may deem that there is sufficient new evidence to warrant earlier consideration.

 

II.08    A faculty member’s status as either Lecturer or Senior Lecturer shall not preclude his or her consideration for an appropriate tenure-track position at the University.

 

 

III. CRITERIA FOR PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF SENIOR LECTURER

 

III.01   The review process for promotion to Senior Lecturer shall follow its own criteria (as outlined in these Guidelines)..

 

III.02   No requirement for substantial scholarship and review by outside experts is necessary -- unless scholarship is a component of the faculty member’s Stony Brook Job Profile (see V.02). 

 

III.03   The emphasis in these promotions shall be on teaching, service and continued professional development, consistent with the definition and expectations of the position as Lecturer.

 

 

IV. BENEFITS THE RANK OF SENIOR LECTURER

 

IV.01   The appointment to Senior Lecturer shall carry the local title of Senior Lecturer in the Stony Brook Department or Program to which the faculty member was appointed as Lecturer.

 

IV. 02  Appointment to the rank of Stony Brook Senior Lecturer shall remain in effect for each subsequent renewal of three-year terms.  Contract renewal for Senior Lecturers shall take place in the first year of each three year term.  

 

IV.03   Promotion to Senior Lecturer should normally be accompanied by an opportunity for scholarly leave time. While on leave, a Senior Lecturer maintains seniority and enjoys all normal rights within the Department or Program. Any such leave time must be negotiated between the Department and the Dean.

 

IV. 04  Promotion to Senior Lecturer would be accompanied by an increase in annual salary (as determined by the Adminstration).

 

 

V. EVALUATION PROCEDURE FOR REAPPOINTMENT AS LECTURER

 

V.01    Departments and Programs may initially appoint Lecturers for a term of up to three years. 

 

V.02    At the initial time of hiring, the Department or Program shall make available to the appointee a Job Profile defining the departmental criteria for contract renewal.  The profile shall specify how the Department or Program will evaluate (1) teaching, (2) service, and (3) professional development / scholarship.  The Job Profile shall be included in the appointee’s personnel file and shall be registered with the Office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.*

 

V.03    During the second year of the initial appointment as Lecturer, the Department or Program shall conduct and document an internal review of the faculty member’s performance.

 

V. 04   A Lecturer Review Committee (LRC) shall be established by the Department or Program in order to evaluate the Lecturer contract renewals. The LRC shall be composed of at least three Tenured faculty and Senior Lecturer (T/SL) members of the Department or Program.  T/SL members of other departments or programs may fill out the required membership on the LRC if not available in the Lecturer’s home department.

 

V.05      The LRC shall vote on the reappointment of the Lecturer for a second term of up to three more years.  The LRC shall submit its recommendation to the Department or Program Chair and to the Tenured and Senior Lecturer (T/SL) members of the Department or Program. 

 

V. 06   All T&SL members shall designate on an official signature sheet their approval or disapproval of the LRC recommendation.

 

V. 07  The Department or Program Chair shall write a cover letter addressed to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences.*[i]  The recommendation to the Dean shall indicate (a) the evaluation of the LRC, (b) the recommendation sheet with the signatures of the T/SL members, and (c) the Chair’s recommendation.

 

V.08    The procedure specified in V.01-07 shall be repeated each subsequent second year of the new appointment term.

 

 

VI. PROCEDURE FOR PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF SENIOR LECTURER

 

 

VI.01   After six years of full-time service at the rank of Lecturer at Stony Brook, the Department or Program may recommend a review to consider promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer.

 

VI.02   The process may be initiated by one of three means: (a) the Lecturer may apply to be considered for promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer, (b) a group of three or more Tenured faculty members and/or Senior Lecturers may make a recommendation that the Lecturer be considered for promotion, or (c) the Department Chair may propose that the LRC consider the question of the Lecturer’s promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer. The LRC may be the same as the LRC described in V.04 provided that at least one member of the LRC is nominated by the candidate for promotion to Senior Lecturer.

 

 

VI.03   The LRC shall review materials submitted by the candidate for promotion to Senior Lecturer. These materials shall include (where relevant) the following:

(1)       a complete current curriculum vitae

(2)       a specification of areas of specialization and areas of competence

(3)       a list of all degrees, certificates, or diplomas received

(4)       a list of all awards or honors received

(5)       a list of all courses taught at Stony Brook, indicating title, topic, semester, and a description of the course.

(6)        a list of– departmental, university governance, and administrative – committees (and any offices held by the candidate).

(7)         a list of special contributions to the life of the Department or Program, which can include advising, student recruitment, program development, etc.

(8)         a list of publications, other scholarly or creative activities, or official reports (copies shall be included with the file)

(9)         a list of invited lectures, submitted papers or posters presented  at professional conferences, workshops, or other public venues (indicating title, function, and date)

(10)           a list of committees served on (with any offices held) in local, national or international professional societies or groups

(11)           a list of memberships in professional societies

(12)           a list of conferences, workshops, or professional enhancement events organized, directed, or attended

(13)           a list of any special service or functions at professional societies or conferences

(14)           a list of professional contributions and service to the local community

(15)           a list of activities designed to enhance diversity on campus

(16)           a list of external funding brought into the university

(17)           a list of at least three students who could be asked to comment on the faculty member’s teaching and other contributions to the classroom and to student life at the university.

(18)           a list of at least four references of persons who will be asked to write letters in support of the promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer.

 

 

VI. 04  The LRC shall solicit at least three additional confidential letters of evaluation, independently of the four references provided by the candidate.  These referees, who will be asked to write in support of the promotion to the rank of Senior Lecturer, may be either from inside or outside the university.  At least, one of the seven letters must come from outside the university.  Referees shall be asked to comment specifically on the success of the Lecturer in fulfilling the job profile associated with the position.  The LRC shall also ensure that at least three student letters along with evaluation summaries and sample student evaluations are included in the dossier.

 

VI.05  On the basis of the materials collected and evaluated, the LRC shall submit its recommendation to the Department Chair and to the T/SL members of the Department or Program.

 

VI.06   All T/SL members shall designate on an official signature sheet their approval or disapproval of the LRC recommendation. A majority of those eligible to vote is required to constitute a favorable recommendation.

 

VI.07   If the vote of the T/SL is favorable, the Lecturer shall be recommended for promotion to Senior Lecturer by the Department or Program.

 

VI. 08  The Department Chair shall write a cover letter reflecting (a) the evaluation of the LRC, (b) the vote of the T/SL members, and (c) the Chair’s recommendation of promotion to Senior Lecturer.  The T/SL members shall then sign a second sheet indicating that they have read and agree to the official recommendation with all its documentation.

 

VI.09  The official Department or Program recommendation for promotion to Senior Lecturer shall be sent with all documentation via the Dean to the Arts and Sciences Senate Senior Lecturer Promotion Review Committee (SL-PRC).  The Dean’s office shall ensure that the materials are in order and shall submit the complete file to the SL-PRC for its evaluation and recommendation.

 

VI.10   The SL-PRC shall make a recommendation to the appropriate Dean* (without identifying how each member of the committee voted). The vote shall indicate whether the recommendation is unanimously in favor, divided, or not in favor.  The SL-PRC may offer to include with their vote a written statement which shall be signed by the members of the committee.  If a member of the SL-PRC is a voting member of the candidate’s home Department or Program, that member of the SL-PRC shall not participate in any way in the discussion, vote, or recommendation concerning the candidate’s case.

 

VI. 11  The SL-PRC shall report in writing its recommendation to the Department Chair who shall communicate the substance of the recommendation to the faculty member and to the T/SL.

 

VI. 12  If the SL-PRC and Dean’s recommendation are positive, the recommendation shall be submitted to the Provost and President for their review, approval, and appointment to the rank of Senior Lecturer.  The final decision and appointment shall be made by the President upon the recommendation of the Provost (who will provide documentation from the recommendations of the  Department or Program, the SL-PRC and the Dean.

 

VI.13   The Provost shall notify the candidate that the file is being forwarded to the President once all recommendations have been completed.

           

VI.14   The file for promotion to Senior Lecturer shall be submitted to the SL-PRC by November 15th.  The SL-PRC should make its recommendation to the Dean no later than two months after it has been received by the SL-PRC.  The final decision concerning promotion to Senior Lecturer should be made by May 1st in the year of the recommendation.

 

VI.15   After appointment to Senior Lecturer, the Department or Program shall submit reappointment papers for each Senior Lecturer in the first year of each subsequent three-year term.

 

 

VII.     ARTS AND SCIENCES SENATE SENIOR LECTURER PROMOTION REVIEW COMMITTEE (SL-PRC)

 

THE ARTS AND SCIENCES SENATE "SENIOR LECTURER PROMOTION REVIEW COMMITTEE" (SL-PRC) shall be a Standing Committee of the Arts and Sciences Senate. It shall review all cases of promotion from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer as recommended by Departments or Programs.  Its decisions shall be submitted to the appropriate Dean who makes a recommendation to the Provost and President.  The SL-PRC will follow specific Guidelines as formulated by the Arts and Sciences Senate Faculty Rights and Responsibilities Policy Committee.

The SL-PRC shall include two members from each of the three areas:
(1) Humanities and Fine Arts (including Journalism), (2) Social and Behavioral Sciences (including Stony Brook - Southampton), and (3) Natural Sciences and Math (including the Marine Sciences Research Center). From each area, one of these members shall be a Senior Lecturer. In the absence of available Senior Lecturers, these positions shall be filled by tenured faculty members from the respective areas.

 

 

 

 

ABBREVIATIONS USED IN THIS DOCUMENT

 

Lecturer = A full-time faculty member appointed to a Department or Program on an up-to-three year renewable term contractual basis.

 

Job Profile = A document produced (typically at the time of first appointment) by the Department or Program and with the agreement of the Lecturer defining the criteria for contract renewal.

 

LRC = Lecturer Review Committee (a Committee established by the Department or Program to review and recommend contract renewals and promotions to Senior Lecturer).

 

T/SL = Tenured and Senior Lecturer members of the Department or Program

 

SL-PRC = Senior Lecturer Promotion Review Committee (a Standing Committee  of the Arts and Sciences Senate)

 


* NOTE: if the Lecturer is a member of a College, School, or other unit that is officially part of the Arts and Sciences Senate constituencies and if that unit has its own Dean, the Dean of that unit shall be substituted for the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) in each instance of this document.  This currently includes the Deans of SoMAS , the School of Journalism , and Stony Brook- Southampton.

 

(modified by the FRRPC - 13 oct 08)