Terminal Degree

          The appropriate terminal degree is an earned Doctor of Education or Doctor of Philosophy or other doctorates approved by SACS and NCATE.

Tenure

          Faculty being considered for tenure shall demonstrate a commitment to the areas of teaching/advising, scholarly/creative activities, and leadership/service.  The primary commitment shall be in the area of teaching/advising.

DEMONSTRATED ACHIEVEMENT STANDARDS

Demonstrated Achievement in Teaching and Advising

Teaching

1. Knowledge of subject matter, including current developments in one’s discipline(s).
2. Ability to plan and organize assigned courses, including preparing appropriate syllabi in a timely fashion, selecting appropriate textbooks, and designing assignments that are relevant to course content and objectives.
3. Effective classroom instruction, including presenting material in a clear and organized manner; using appropriate examples, illustrations, teaching aids, and current technology; and creating an atmosphere in which students feel free to ask questions and express ideas.
4. Clear explanation of grading policies and expectations at the beginning of the course.
5. Maintenance of high academic standards.
6. Fair and timely evaluation of student performance, with the final grade based upon an adequate number of graded assignments.
7. Providing individual assistance to students when needed.

Advising

1. Availability to advisees through regular and convenient office hours.
2. Knowledge of program requirements and academic regulations.
3. Awareness of advisees’ progress and needs.
4. Sensitivity to advisees’ abilities and academic goals.
5. Knowledge of career opportunities for majors.

Assessment

          A faculty member is expected to sustain a high level of performance in teaching and its related activities and advising appropriate to the rank in question. Performance will be assessed through activities such as student evaluations (University and Departmental) of courses and instructors, written comments from recent alumni, colleague recommendations or evaluations, and Chairperson evaluations. Chairperson evaluations may include classroom visitation as requested by the faculty member or deemed useful by the Chairperson.

          Promotion in rank at each level requires demonstration of successful achievement in all teaching/advising criteria above.

Demonstrated Achievement in Scholarly/Creative Activities

1. Applied research (research that focuses on structures and processes as they appear in educational practice, with the goal of developing knowledge that is directly useful to practitioners) or basic research (research that focuses on theory, fundamental processes, structures, and relations among phenomena with a goal of understanding them).
2. Publications (books, book chapters, journal articles, monographs, others).
3. Presentations at scholarly meetings.
4. Grant seeking.
5. Other scholarly and/or creative works appropriate to the discipline, such as book reviews, workshops, and videotapes.

Assessment

          Scholarly and creative activities are assessed through the Faculty Portfolio which contains documentation in the form of proposals, bibliographies, outlines or drafts of current research, copies of publications or papers, official programs, news accounts, or any other data that will help to determine the nature and quality of the faculty member’s research and creative efforts.

          Promotion in rank requires demonstration of successful achievement in the following manner:

Assistant Professor – One or more of the above areas (1, 2, 3, 4, or 5).

Associate Professor – Item 1 and one or more from (2, 3, 4, and 5).

Professor – Item 1 and two or more from (2, 3, 4, and 5).

Demonstrated Achievement In Leadership/Service

1. University service (grant directing; University, Senate, College, or Department committees; University Senate representative or officer; institutional representative/advisor to student organization; participation in organized student activities; recruitment activities).
2. Professional Affiliation and Service (includes membership and active participation – i.e., attending meetings and holding office in appropriate professional organizations; making presentations, judging competitions, consulting, and rendering other services to schools and universities).
3. Administration (includes administrative duties on University, College, Departmental levels).
4. Public Service (includes activities outside the institution, such as public lectures, service on review teams, representing the University at public functions or service on municipal boards, involvement in civic organizations, and other similar kinds of service).

Assessment

          Leadership and service are assessed through the Faculty Portfolio which contains documentation in such forms as letters of appointment to positions in professional organizations, letters of appreciation for public service, and outlines of workshops presented.

          Promotion in rank requires demonstration of successful achievement in the following manner:

Assistant Professor – One or more of the above areas (1, 2, 3, or 4).

Associate Professor – Two or more of the above areas (1, 2, 3, or 4).

Professor – Three or more of the above areas (1, 2, 3, or 4).

CRITERIA FOR TENURE

          In addition to serving the required number of probationary years ( as specified in The University of West Alabama Promotion and Tenure Document), faculty members approved for tenure in the College of Education shall meet the following minimum requirements:

1. They shall hold the appropriate terminal degree.
2. They shall have demonstrated a commitment to professional development by having met the minimal criteria in the categories of teaching/advising, scholarly/creative  activities, and leadership/service required for promotion to the next rank.
3. They shall perform an essential role in carrying out the Department’s current mission.