POLICY 4.10.3.2 - Summary of Evaluation Areas and Materials

• Application form—The appropriate form may be obtained from the Office of the Provost and should be included as the first page of the portfolio.
• Current curriculum vitae providing a comprehensive review of activities in each of the primary areas of evaluation: teaching, scholarship, and service
• Reflective self-assessment of contributions and achievements, strengths and limitations, and goals for continued development in each of the areas of evaluation
• Evidence documenting achievement of the minimum expectations as specified below for each of the primary areas of evaluation
• Letters of reference that address the applicant’s teaching effectiveness, scholarly or creative activity, service, professionalism or a combination of these areas

(Section amended by FEC & Approved by Academic Cabinet 12/14; added to handbook 11/3/15)

The candidate is the owner of the portfolio. No documents may be added by anyone else without the approval of the candidate, except for materials provided by the FEC and other academic administrative officers who are part of the review procedure. At each step in the process, the candidate may update existing information they believes is appropriate prior to the FEC’s recommendation to the provost (e.g. a submitted manuscript that has been accepted for publication or teaching evaluation from the fall semester). The candidate also has the right to withdraw an application for career faculty contract and/or promotion in rank at any time during the process. Candidates are required to submit an electronic portfolio using the designated platform. All candidates will use the Google Sites template provided through the Center for Teaching and Learning. The portfolio should address all items in the outline included in this template. Instructions for creating the electronic portfolios will also be made available through the Center for Teaching and Learning.

The following outline is recommended for portfolio organization:

1. Application
2. Curriculum Vitae
3. Required and requested letters of reference
4. Teaching
5. Scholarship
6. Service

If a faculty member’s experience at another institution is included in the candidate’s time at rank, the faculty member’s accomplishments prior to their faculty appointment at Shenandoah University should be included in the portfolio for consideration in meeting the expectations for promotion and/or a career faculty contract.

Required letters of reference should come from faculty within the department, faculty in other departments, faculty at other universities or other professionals. The applicant should ensure that, as a group, the letters address all of the three evaluation areas. Additional letters of reference may come from current students, former students or members of the community. All letters should be submitted directly to the candidate’s dean or director. If a letter of reference is provided from a member of the FEC, that individual will be unable to participate in the discussion of the candidate. For promotion to associate professor, at least three letters are recommended, with at least one external to the university. For promotion to professor, at least five letters are recommended, with three external to the university.

The following table shows the number of reference letters that are required or recommended for promotion to assistant professor, associate professor or professor. Applicants for career contract without promotion should follow the guidelines for their current rank.

The candidate should discuss the appropriate selection of external reviewer(s) with their dean or director. The external reviewer(s) should be provided the relevant school’s and the university’s promotion criteria for teaching, service and scholarship. The applicant should request that the letters address each of these three areas and be submitted directly to their dean or director. Additional letters of reference can come from current students, former students or members of the community. Following the promotion and/or career faculty contract review period, these letters will be kept on file in the office of the provost.

Revision Dates: (Revised by Academic Affairs September 2015)