Academic Promotions Applicant Information Session

Academic PromotionsApplicant Information Session Monday 20 February 2012 Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Stephen Garton

Academic promotion policy • Promotion is one strategy to reward and support retention of high performing staff – other options exist • Applicants must provide current evidence of their ability to perform at the level for which promotion is sought (i.e. promotion is not a reward for lifetime achievement, or time served) • Teaching and research are core activities • Service – University, discipline/profession, community • Assessment is by a committee of peers with ability to “benchmark” promotion across the University

Preparing yourself for promotion • Read the policy on academic promotions and guidelines for applicants • Overtly incorporate promotion criteria into your application • Focus on achievements since appointment or last promotion • Provide independently verifiable evidence • Don't double-dip in the use of evidence

Preparing yourself for promotion • No interviews for Levels B – D • Familiarize yourself with the criteria required for promotion particularly via the Education and Research-focused streams • LPC can change stream in which an applicant has applied (but only where they would otherwise be unsuccessful)

Three Promotion streams The University of Sydney recognises three streams for promotion: • Teaching and Research • Education-focused • Research-focused

Minimum Standards Required for Promotion Teaching and Research Staff

Minimum Standards Required for Promotion Education-focused Staff

Minimum Standards Required for Promotion Research-focused Staff

Regardless of Pathway Promotion does not change the type of role to which you have been appointed – either teaching and research, research or teaching intensive

Preparing the case for promotion • Providing verifiable evidence – USE information, grants, awards, publications, • Focus on personal achievement and development since appointment or last promotion • lifetime record a factor, but not as important • Resist the temptation to overstate achievement, for example • carefully document your part in shared activities • don’t recycle achievements • Relative to opportunity

Preparing the case for promotion • Get help! • Seek advice from your mentor/discipline head • Get someone to read through the application • Reflect honestly on your competitive position

Promotion profile • 2011: 229 Applications – 187 Promotions (81.65%) • 2010: 225 Applications – 195 Promotions (86.67%) • 2009: 208 Applications - 184 Promotions (88.46%) • 2008: 154 applications – 137 promotions (89%) • 2007: 148 applications – 124 promotions (83%) • 2006: 124 applications – 101 promotions (81%) • 2005: 140 applications - 114 promotions (81%) • 2004: 113 applications – 85 promotions (75%) • 2003: 103 applications – 77 promotions (75%) • Female application rate is improving annually • Female success rates have been improving since 2003

Points to Remember • Build Relationships: • Mentor, supervisor, the Dean, referees (international) • Communication: • Written application - Get someone else to read it • All three promotion criteria are valued • Balanced approach to performance • You will not succeed on any one criterion alone • If you’re unsuccessful in applying for Promotion • Discuss with your supervisor, Dean, Chair of LPC

Academic Promotions Applicant Information Session