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Guidelines for Promotion to the Second Rank

For Full-time, Fixed-term, or Standing 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

Questions

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