LIBRARY FACULTY HANDBOOK
3.c PROMOTION (This Section Under Revision)
The Faculty Manual (pp. 30-34) states that promotion is to be awarded "as a recognition of merit;" but in order to qualify "a faculty member is expected to observe all policies applying to faculty covered in the 'Freedom and Responsibility' section" of the Manual. Faculty "will be recognized for activities which fulfill the University's responsibilities in instruction, research, and service." (p. 31)
In addition is the following statement:
"Increases in salary and advancement in rank are not automatic. Promotion is to be regarded as guaranteed upon completion of a given term of service... In both cases, demonstrated merit, and not years of service, is the guiding factor. " (p. 32)
Normally, "recommendations for promotion... will be acted upon only at the time of annual review. Promotions for annual appointees will take effect July 1 and for academic-year appointees August 16. (p. 31)
Those wishing to be recommended for promotion may wish to schedule a meeting with his/her division head and/or the Director of Libraries to assess support for their request. In addition, adequate documentation must be provided. Such documentation, to be sent to the Director of Libraries via the division head, should include:
1. a cover letter giving a brief justification for consideration of promotion to the rank requested;
2. a Professional Activity Report spanning the period since the last report was submitted, stressing achievements and quality of job performance;
3. a current vita which summarizes professional work and scholarly achievements since receiving the professional degree;
4. a current Position Description completed by the candidate in consultation with the division head;
5. a list of goals and objectives for the coming year;
6. a typed list of names and addresses of 6 references (at least 3 outside WSU) from whom letters of evaluation can be solicited and a brief statement of the capacity in which the reference has knowledge of the candidate's achievements and contributions to the profession; and
7. copies of supporting documentation and other relevant materials.
[Director Maureen Pastine, memo to Library Faculty, 8/6/86]
Candidates are strongly encouraged to meet with the Director to discuss the strength of the documentation prior to the Libraries' solicitation of letters of reference. [Library Faculty Meeting, 8/31/87]
In addition, the division head must complete, for each promotion candidate, a performance appraisal and evaluation of professional and scholarly activities since the last promotion or date of hire. The written appraisal and evaluation should include input solicited from colleagues within the system (including appropriate library faculty and staff and, when deemed appropriate, other university personnel). The evaluator should include a statement on how well the candidate meets the job expectations, the achievements in job performance, and how well the candidate meets promotion criteria (see Criteria for Merit Increases, Promotion, and Granting of Tenure). The evaluation should include a progress review on the candidate's achievement of goals and objectives for the latest year and an attached list of mutually agreed upon objectives for the upcoming year. The division head should end with a clear statement as to "strongly recommended," "recommended," or "not recommended" promotion based on existing criteria. Prior to a faculty meeting, Librarians 3 and 4 will review the open personnel files of the candidates under consideration for promotion to Librarian 3. Librarians 4 will review the open personnel files of the candidates under consideration to Librarian 4. Letters of reference (to be kept strictly confidential) will be available in the Library Administrative Office so that appropriate colleagues will be better qualified to evaluate each candidate's professional/scholarly achievements.
[Director Maureen Pastine, memo to Library Faculty, 8/6/86 AND Library Faculty Meeting, 12/14/87]
After reviewing the files, the Director of Libraries will meet with the appropriate ranks of librarians to discuss the candidates' performance and achievements. After this discussion, librarians will complete written recommendations on the candidates' performance as related to the specific criteria established for promotion. [Library Faculty Meeting, 2/24/89]
After the above proceedings, the Director of Libraries will complete each promotion recommendation. These, along with dossiers, evaluations, and relevant attachments, will be sent to the Executive Vice President & Provost for final decisions on promotion applications. [Library Faculty Meeting, 2/24/89]
Communications regarding promotion and tenure:
Announcements providing information about schedules and requirements for the submission of documentation for tenure and/or promotion will be sent to all library faculty.
Announcements providing information about the availability of documentation and schedules for review, discussion and balloting will be sent only to those library faculty eligible to participate in the process, i.e., tenured librarians for tenure candidates, and Librarian IV’s for Librarian IV promotion candidates.
Announcement of the successful achievement of tenure and/or promotion will be distributed to all Library employees.
[Library Faculty meeting, 12-14-98]
Rev. 12/14/98
3c-promotion.doc