Appointment & Promotion Guidelines

Scholarship

• The successful candidate possesses evidence of superior potential for development in academic
  stature in a focused area of scholarly inquiry.
• The candidate shows promise of academic productivity such as previously published manuscripts.
• On reappointment, substantial progress in publications and funding should be illustrated, as well as attendance and presentations at major professional organizations.

Teaching

• The candidate must show potential for contributing to the educational mission of the department or school.
• At reappointment the candidate should demonstrate satisfactory teaching skills, as determined by peer and student evaluations.

Clinical Activity (If Relevant)

• The candidate must be qualified to practice in his/her area of expertise.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• Active participation in a professional organization is expected at the time of appointment.
• At the time of reappointment, active participation in one or more committees at Penn Dental Medicine is also expected.
• The individual should take a role in mentoring.

Scholarship

• The candidate must demonstrate evidence of continuous scholarly productivity since the initial
  appointment to the standing faculty.
• The candidate must have a national reputation for outstanding independent work in his/her area of scholarship.
• Peer-reviewed articles in respected journals should tell a coherent story about his/her focused areas of research.
• The successful candidate will have independent research grant support, most often from federal funding agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Department of Defense (DoD) or the National Science Foundation (NSF), although funding from non-federal sources with a peer review process will also be considered.
• Membership in research societies, regular presentations at national meetings, and invited lectureships indicate the importance of the individual’s research and his/her national reputation.
• Leadership positions in national societies and editorial positions are an asset.

Teaching

• The candidate should make an important contribution to the teaching mission of the Department or School.
• The candidate should have a record of excellence in teaching at PDM.

Clinical Activity (If Relevant)

• The candidate should have a record of excellent, productive clinical practice.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• The successful candidate should serve on departmental, school or University committees or have taken on other leadership roles.
• The individual should display evidence of research training of dental and/or predoctoral students and/or postdoctoral fellows.
• The individual should take an active role in mentoring.

Scholarship

• Candidates will be among the top scholars in the country in their area of expertise, with an
  international reputation for their accomplishments.
• The CV should reflect a substantial body of work and evidence of continuing productivity and
  excellence since the candidate’s promotion to Associate Professor.
• The successful candidate should be a principal investigator of one or more grants from federal
  agencies or other appropriate funding sources.
• The individual will have a record of giving invited lectures at national and international meetings and of writing scholarly reviews.

Teaching

• The candidate should make an important contribution to the teaching mission of the Department or School.
• The candidate should have a record of excellence in teaching at PDM.

Clinical Activity

• Those involved in patient care are expected to be excellent clinicians.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• The successful candidate should serve on departmental, school and/or University committees or have taken on other leadership roles.
• The individual is expected to be a member of national research societies, study sections and national organizations. The strongest candidates will hold leadership positions in these organizations.
• The individual should display evidence of sustained research training of dental and/or predoctoral students and/or postdoctoral fellows.
• The individual should have significant experience in mentoring.

Without Clinical Responsibility (7-year probationary period).

• The time to mandatory review and promotion is 6 years, with reappointment at year 3. The review process must be completed no later than the 6^th
• Assistant Professors will be eligible for promotion any time after successful completion of their first reappointment when the criteria described above are met.
• There is no set formula for promotion. The school utilizes a holistic review process, and each candidate generates a highly unique set of contributions that are independently evaluated.
• A decision for the timeline for promotion will be made by the Department Chair in consultation with the Dean after reviewing mentoring committee reports for guidance.
• Assistant Professors can only be reviewed once, and promotion remains a requirement until the end of the mandatory review year.
• Thus, if an Assistant professor (7-year clock) is turned down by the Provost Staff Conference following a review in the 5^th year, he/or she will have two more years at Penn (until the end of year 7).
• In extenuating circumstances, the review can occur in year 7, the terminal year. However, the Dean and Provost must preapprove requests for terminal year review, and those requests should be made and resolved no later than July 1 of the mandatory review year.

With Clinical Responsibility (10-year probationary period).

• The time to mandatory review and tenure is 9 years, with reappointment at years 3 and 6. The review process must be completed no later than the 9^th
• Assistant Professors will be eligible for promotion any time after successful completion of their first reappointment when the criteria described above are met.
• There is no set formula for promotion. The school utilizes a holistic review process, and each candidate generates a highly unique set of contributions that are independently evaluated.
• A decision for the timeline for promotion will be made by the Department chair in consultation with the Dean after reviewing mentoring committee reports for guidance.
• Assistant Professors can only be reviewed once, and promotion remains a requirement until the end of the mandatory review year.
• Thus, if an Assistant professor (10-year clock) is turned down by the Provost Staff Conference following a review in the 8^th year, he/or she would have two more years at Penn (until the end of year 10).
• In extenuating circumstances, the review can occur in year 10, the terminal year. However, the Dean and Provost must preapprove requests for terminal year review, and those requests should be made and resolved no later than July 1 of the mandatory review year (year 9).

Promotion to Full Professor can occur at any time but will generally not be earlier than 5 years at the Associate Professor level.

 Timeline for track change

• Tenure track Assistant Professors without clinical responsibilities may request transfer to the Research Track no later than the 3-year reappointment.
• Tenure track Assistant Professors with clinical responsibilities must make the decision to transfer to CE or AC track by the end of year 5. Thus, the faculty action confirming the track change will be concurrent with the 6-year reappointment (which must be completed by the end of the 6^th year).
• Tenure track Assistant Professors with clinical responsibilities who have been turned down by the Provost Staff Conference for promotion will not be eligible to transfer to CE or AC tracks.

Clinical Activity

• The successful candidate possesses an emerging local reputation as an outstanding clinician in his/her area of expertise.
• State license eligibility will be required for candidates who have clinical responsibilities.

Scholarship

• The candidate shows promise of academic productivity, as evidenced by prior research experience (for example, a clinical research certificate or an equivalent mentored research experience during residency). Academic promise may also be demonstrated by production of original papers, reviews and chapters.
• Grant support, when appropriate, is likely to come from federal or privately funded sources for clinical, translational or other types of investigations. The candidate shows evidence of seeking such support at the time of reappointment.

Teaching

• Promise of teaching excellence is essential and significant progress should be demonstrated at reappointment, with good student and peer evaluations.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• Active participation in a professional organization is expected at the time of appointment.
• At the time of reappointment, active participation in one or more committees at Penn Dental Medicine is also expected.

Clinical Service

• The successful candidate possesses a local, regional and emerging national reputation as an outstanding clinician in his/her area of expertise, with impact on clinical practice.

Research and Scholarship

• The candidate has a record of academic productivity (including original papers, reviews, chapters) that is characterized by a recognizable, distinct contribution and focus.
• Although grant support is not required, it is encouraged and is likely to come from federal or privately funded sources for translational, clinical or other types of investigations.

Teaching

• Teaching excellence is documented by the department chair and is based on multiple sources, including student and peer evaluations, curricular contributions, and/or the receipt of teaching awards.
• Teaching excellence may also be demonstrated by invitations to lecture to other audiences (including clinicians and lay groups) and/or by participation in courses at the local and regional levels.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• The candidate should participate actively in the committees of a clinical specialty, professional organization, Penn Dental Medicine and/or the University, and should be recognized nationally as a consultant in his/her area of expertise.

Clinical Service

• The successful candidate possesses a national and international reputation as an authority in clinical scholarship in his/her area of expertise, with significant impact on clinical practice.

Scholarship

• The candidate must demonstrate a substantial period of continuing productivity since the last promotion, with a continuing record of academic achievement characterized by a recognizable, distinct contribution and focus.
• Although grant support is not required, it is encouraged and is likely to come from federal or privately funded sources for translational, clinical or other types of investigations.

Teaching

• The individual must have an established reputation as an educator, both regionally and nationally, demonstrated by invitations to write peer-reviewed review articles, chapters and/or editorials, curricular leadership, or by serving as a visiting professor or a course faculty member outside of the region.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• The candidate will have leadership roles in committees at the state/national level of a clinical specialty or professional organization, Penn Dental Medicine and/or the University. The successful candidate is recognized nationally as a consultant in his/her area of expertise.
• The candidate should also play a role in mentoring.

• All CE faculty are on a 10-year probationary period and the time to mandatory review is 9 years, with reappointment at years 3 and 6. The review process must be completed no later than the 9^th
• Assistant Professors will be eligible for promotion any time after successful completion of their first reappointment when the criteria described above are met.
• There is no set formula for promotion. The school utilizes a holistic review process, and each candidate generates a highly unique set of contributions that are independently evaluated.
• A decision for the timeline for promotion will be made by the Department chair in consultation with the Dean after reviewing mentoring committee reports for guidance.
• Assistant Professors can only be reviewed once, and promotion remains a requirement until the end of the mandatory review year.
• Thus, if an Assistant professor (10-year clock) is turned down by the Provost Staff Conference following a review in the 8^th year, he/or she will have 2 more years at Penn (until the end of year 10).
• In extenuating circumstances, the review can occur in year 10, the terminal year. However, the Dean and Provost must preapprove requests for terminal year review, and those requests should be made and resolved no later than July 1 of the mandatory review year (year 9).

Promotion to Full Professor can occur at any time but will generally not be earlier than 5 years at the Associate Professor level.

Timeline for track change

• Decision to change to the tenure track with clinical responsibility or AC track must be made by the end of year 5. Thus, the faculty action confirming the track change will be concurrent with the 6-year reappointment (which must be completed by the end of the 6^th year).
• Time accrued in the CE category will apply to promotion criteria for the AC or the tenure track category with clinical responsibility.
• CE faculty who are turned down by the Provost Staff Conference for promotion will not be eligible to transfer to other faculty tracks.

Scholarship

• The successful candidate possesses evidence of superior potential for development in academic
  stature in a focused area of scholarly inquiry.
• The candidate shows promise of academic productivity such as previously published manuscripts.
• On reappointment, substantial progress in publications should be illustrated, as well as attendance
  and presentations at major professional organizations.
• These candidates are primarily supported by external funding as detailed in the Faculty Handbook.

Teaching

• Appointees in this track are not part of the teaching faculty but may hold limited teaching assignments. Course and seminar teaching by a Research Faculty may not exceed 10% of expected seminar and teaching load a member of the Standing Faculty in any one year and no more than 10% of the teaching in a department may be done by a Research Faculty.

Scholarship

• Successful candidates will have a national reputation for outstanding collaborative and/or
  independent scientific investigation.
• The faculty member will also demonstrate steady professional growth through the development and submission of either independent or collaborative applications for research funding.
• These candidates are primarily supported by external funding as detailed in the Faculty Handbook.

Teaching

• See above

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• He/she will also demonstrate progressive professional involvement and leadership in the Penn
  Dental Medicine community, the University and/or national scientific organizations.

Scholarship

• Promotion to professorial rank requires independent or collaborative research of high quality. The candidate will display sustained leadership in a program of research, which may include intra- or extramural funding as a principal investigator or co-investigator.
• The individual will have a record of giving invited lectures at the national level and of writing scholarly reviews.
• These candidates are primarily supported by external funding as detailed in the Faculty Handbook.

Teaching

• See above.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• Research Professors are expected to be members of national research societies, study sections and national organizations. The strongest candidates will hold leadership positions in those organizations.

• The time to mandatory review is 9 years, with reappointments at years 3 and 6. The review process must be completed no later than the 9^th
• Assistant Professors in the research track will be eligible for promotion any time after successful completion of their first reappointment when the criteria described above are met.
• There is no set formula for promotion. The school utilizes a holistic review process, and each candidate generates a highly unique set of contributions that are independently evaluated.
• A decision for the timeline for promotion will be made by the Department chair in consultation with the Dean after reviewing mentoring committee reports for guidance.
• Research Assistant Professors can only be reviewed once.
• Failure to secure promotion to Research Associate Professor by the end of 9^–year probationary period shall result in a one-year terminal reappointment provided external funding is available.
• In extenuating circumstances, the review can occur in year 10, the terminal year. However, the Dean and Provost must preapprove requests for terminal year review, and those requests should be made and resolved no later than July 1 of the mandatory review year (year 9).
• Research Associate or Research Professors may be appointed for terms of up to five years and may serve without time limit through successive reappointments.

Promotion to Full Professor can occur at any time but will generally not be earlier than 5 years at the Associate Professor level.

Track change:

• Members of the Research Faculty do not normally move to positions on the Standing Faculty, and they may do so only in conjunction with a national search.
• If a Research Assistant Professor moves to an untenured position on the Standing Faculty, time served in the rank of Research Assistant Professor shall be counted as part of the seven-year tenure probationary period for appointment as Assistant Professor in the Standing Faculty.

Clinical Service

• The candidate should demonstrate superior potential for excellence in clinical care.
• State license eligibility will be required for candidates who have clinical responsibilities

Teaching

• Promise of teaching excellence is essential and significant progress should be demonstrated at
  reappointment, with good student and peer evaluations.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• Service to the community, such as serving on academic committees, is encouraged at the time of reappointment, but these efforts must be consistent with the primary mission of the track.

Clinical Service

• The candidate should have a record of superior performance and productivity as a clinician in his/her area of expertise. Regional reputation or recognition are desirable, but are not an absolute requirement for promotion.

Teaching

• The candidate should make an important contribution to the teaching mission of the department, with a record of superior performance.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• The candidate should serve on department, school or University committees. Any other leadership roles will be an asset.
• The candidate should play a role in mentoring students at Penn Dental Medicine.

Clinical Service

• The candidate should have a record of superior performance and productivity as a clinician in his/her area of expertise.
• Emerging leadership roles in professional organizations, courses, or programs related to clinical expertise.
• A national reputation is desirable, but is not an absolute requirement for promotion.

Teaching

• The candidate should make an important contribution to the teaching mission of the department, with a record of superior performance.

Service to the Community/Citizenship

• The candidate should serve on department, school or University committees. Any other leadership roles will be an asset.
• The candidate should play a role in mentoring students at Penn Dental Medicine.

• Faculty may serve as Academic Clinicians at the Assistant Professor rank without limit of time through successive 3-year appointments.
• Assistant Professors will be eligible for promotion any time after successful completion of their first reappointment when the criteria described above are met.
• There is no set formula for promotion. The school utilizes a holistic review process, and each candidate generates a highly unique set of contributions that are independently evaluated.
• A decision for the timeline for promotion will be made by the Department Chair in consultation with the Dean after reviewing mentoring committee reports for guidance.
• There will be no “up or out” decision for faculty in AC track. Faculty who are not promoted to Associate Professor may continue to serve at the rank of Assistant Professor and will not be considered for promotion until the next reappointment period.

Promotion to Full Professor can occur at any time but will generally not be earlier than 5 years at the Associate Professor level.

Timeline for track change:  

• Assistant Professors in the AC track may convert to the CE track at any time with support from the Department and the Committee of Professors.
• The probationary period will commence at the time of transfer into the CE track.
• A national search will be required.