Process and Expectations for Promotion to Senior Lecturer
— Approved November 21, 2018
Description of Position
The Senior Lecturer position is a non-tenure-track faculty appointment of no less than three years, subject to university and college budgetary guidelines. Full-time workload is 12 credit hours or the equivalent each semester. Senior Lecturers assist with the continuing needs of the programs in which they work, e.g., taking on committee service and personnel responsibilities as needed.
A limited number of Senior Lecturer positions will be offered in the department, depending on departmental need. Application to a Senior Lectureship is optional. Appointment as a Senior Lecturer in one program does not preclude teaching in other programs. Such teaching assignments are dependent upon departmental need.
Appointment to this rank is determined by individual program needs and the following application and approval process.
Process and Timeline
In consultation with the Head, the specific program committees awarded Senior Lectureships will create and post a description of the position. This position description should be sent out on the departmental listserv. The notification should be posted before the end of the fall semester, clearly stating the qualifications for the rank, the job description, and the application deadline. It should clearly identify both the Program and the Chair of its Personnel Review Committee.
When a new Senior Lectureship becomes available, applications will be open to those Lecturers with the equivalent of 5 years of college-level teaching. Applicants’ primary, if not exclusive, instructional responsibilities should fall within the program advertising the Senior Lectureship.
Applications will be submitted to the Chair of the Personnel Review Committee for the program offering the Senior Lectureship.
The application package should contain the following;
- A one-page cover sheet describing how the nominee meets criteria for the position and fulfills special needs of the nominating program;
- Student evaluations, both qualitative and quantitative, over the 5 years of college teaching experience;
- Classroom observation reports, over the last 5 years;
- Annual review reports from program review committees and/or department head, over the last 5 years; and
- Selected “teaching portfolio” materials from the most recent 3 years (syllabi and course material; course/curriculum development; teaching philosophy)
One or more of the following should be included in the nomination packet: (5 pages max):
- Evidence of significant department/program service and engagement;
- Teaching-related publications or professional activities;
- Other significant publications or professional accomplishments; and/or
- Other relevant evidence, including grants, awards, etc.
Applications will be reviewed by the Program Committees and recommendations presented to all Senior Lecturers and T/TT, with a consensus hand vote taken at these meetings.
Subsequent contract renewal at the rank of Senior Lecturer will be based on satisfactory fulfillment of the criteria for the rank.
Criteria for Promotion to Senior Lecturer
The primary expectation is:
a. A record of exemplary teaching as demonstrated by peer evaluations, including annual observations, committee reviews, and Department Head reviews, and official course evaluations.
Other areas that may contribute to consideration for promotion include:
b. Engagement with curriculum development: innovative teaching and/or course design, continued course enhancement, and/or creating new courses.
c. Record of professional engagement: professional development in one’s teaching; committee service including service to the program, college, university, and/or community; scholarly and creative engagement, including publications, presentations, mentoring, and other activities.
This proposal represents a collaboration between Fedukovich (chair), Daemon, Mainland, Miller, Pigg, and Stamper, Fall 2018.