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  1. Home
  2. Offices and Divisions
  3. Academic Affairs
  4. Promotion and Tenure
  5. Creation of the Dossier

Promotion Guidelines

Downloads

Promotion Guidelines | Promotion to the Second Rank (Adobe PDF)97.98 KB
Promotion Guidelines | Promotion to the Third Rank (Adobe PDF)110.98 KB

Guidelines for Promotion to the Second Rank

For Full-time Non-tenure-line Faculty

A candidate for promotion to Assistant Teaching Professor (for faculty without a terminal degree) or to Associate Teaching Professor (for faculty with a terminal degree) must meet the criteria described below in the areas of teaching, efforts to remain current in the discipline(s) being taught, and service.

Based on a four-point scale (4=excellent; 3=very good; 2=satisfactory; 1=unsatisfactory), the faculty member is expected to achieve one of the following:

  • Demonstrate level-4 performance in teaching and at least level-2 performance in the remaining two categories.
  • Demonstrate level-3 performance in teaching and in one additional category and demonstrate no less than level-2 performance in the remaining category.

Rating Scale

  1. Unsatisfactory
  2. Satisfactory
  3. Very Good
  4. Excellent
The "Slam Dunk" Path to Promotion to the Second Rank
Teaching Efforts to Remain Current in Discipline(s) Being Taught Service
Excellent (4) Excellent (4) Excellent (4)

Note: While this is the ideal path, it is more common to have a version of ratings like those listed below.

Additional Paths to Promotion to the Second Rank
Teaching Efforts to Remain Current in Discipline(s) Being Taught Service
Excellent (4) Satisfactory (2) or Higher Satisfactory (2) or Higher
Very Good (3) Very Good (3) Satisfactory (2) or Higher
Very Good (3) Satisfactory (2) or Higher Very Good (3)

Guidelines for Promotion to the Third Rank

A candidate for promotion to the third rank (Associate Teaching Professor for faculty without a terminal degree or Teaching Professor for faculty with a terminal degree) must achieve the following:

  • Demonstrate continued effectiveness as a teacher while in the second rank.
  • Show evidence of professional growth, scholarship, and/or mastery of subject matter at a level of distinction beyond the level presented at the time of promotion to the second rank.

More specifically, the candidate must meet the criteria described below in the areas of teaching, efforts to remain current in the discipline(s) being taught, and service.

Based on a four-point scale (4=excellent; 3=very good; 2=satisfactory; 1=unsatisfactory), the faculty member is expected to demonstrate level-4 performance in teaching and at least level-3 performance in both of the remaining categories.

Rating Scale

  1. Unsatisfactory
  2. Satisfactory
  3. Very Good
  4. Excellent
The "Slam Dunk" Path to Promotion to the Third Rank
Teaching Efforts to Remain Current in Discipline(s) Being Taught Service
Excellent (4) Excellent (4) Excellent (4)

Note: While this is the ideal path, it is more common to have a version of ratings like those listed below.

Additional Paths to Promotion to the Third Rank
Teaching Efforts to Remain Current in Discipline(s) Being Taught Service
Excellent (4) Excellent (4) Very Good (3)
Excellent (4) Very Good (3) Excellent (4)
Excellent (4) Very Good (3) Very Good (3)

Resources

  • University Policy AC23: Promotion & Tenure Procedures and Regulations
  • Penn State Altoona Promotion & Tenure Policy

Questions

Penn State Altoona Office of Academic Affairs
814-949-5090

Promotion and Tenure

  • Promotion and Tenure Workshops
  • Altoona College Promotion and Tenure Review Procedures
  • Creation of the Dossier
    • How far back can I go for information to be included in the dossier?
    • Promotion and Tenure Tips
    • The Narrative Statement: Suggestions and Samples
    • Creating the P&T Dossier in Activity Insight
    • Paths to Tenure
    • Promotion Guidelines
  • Guidelines for Extended Reviews of Faculty Performance
  • Information for Tenure-line Faculty
    • Tenure-line Promotion and Tenure Review Committee Guidelines
    • Paths to Tenure
    • Nomination Procedures for Faculty Seeking Promotion to Professor
  • Information for Non-tenure-line Faculty
    • Non-tenure-line Promotion Review Committee Guidelines
    • Guidelines for the Promotion of Non-tenure-line Faculty to the Second Rank
    • Guidelines for the Promotion of Non-tenure-line Faculty to the Third Rank
    • Guidelines for Evaluations of Teaching Effectiveness
  • Arts and Humanities
    • Promotion and Tenure Policies
    • Peer Review Guidelines
  • Business, Engineering, and Information Sciences and Technology
    • Promotion and Tenure Policy for Tenure-line Faculty
    • Promotion and Tenure Procedures for Tenure-line Faculty
    • Promotion Policy for Non-tenure-line Faculty
    • Promotion Procedures for Non-tenure-line Faculty
    • Procedure for Establishing a Peer Review Committee
  • Education, Human Development, and Social Sciences
    • Promotion and Tenure Policy
    • Division Statement on Research and Creative Activities
    • Division Teaching and Mentoring Committee Policy
    • Guidelines for Peer Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness and the Second Form of Student Evaluation
    • Service and the Scholarship of Service to the University, Society, and the Profession
    • Promotion of Full-time Non-tenure-line Faculty
  • Mathematics and Natural Sciences
    • Promotion and Tenure Policy
    • Promotion and Tenure Peer Review Procedures
    • Promotion Policy for Full-time Non-tenure-line Faculty
    • Promotion Procedures for Full-time Non-tenure-line Faculty

Academic Affairs

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Research and Teaching at Penn State Altoona

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Penn State Altoona

A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 21 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275 Penn State majors.
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Give Visit Apply
  • This is Penn State Altoona
    • Welcome from the Chancellor
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission, Vision, and Values
    • College Leadership
    • Our History
    • Campus Map
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Robert L. Smith Learning Resources Center
    • Registrar
    • Academic Advising
    • Honors Program
    • Campus Closures
  • Admissions
    • Visit Us
    • Information for First-Year Students
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Experience Altoona
    • Virtual Tour
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships and Awards
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Financial Aid Information
  • Student Success
    • Student Affairs
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness Center
    • Diversity at Penn State Altoona
    • Safety at Penn State Altoona
    • Housing
    • Athletics
    • Career Services
    • The Help Tool
  • Research & Engagement
    • Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry
    • Faculty Research Resources
    • Community-Based Studies
    • Internships
    • Study Abroad/Study Away
    • Internal Grants and Awards
  • Athletics
    • Schedule
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    • Staff and Coaches Directory
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    • Athletics News
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