The Art Institute of Philadelphia Faculty Titles  - Revised 1-23-08
Overview

The Art Institute of Philadelphia recognizes that academic titles confer prestige on the individuals who hold them as well as the institution. To that end, the following guidelines and standards are presented for those faculty members who wish to be considered for an academic title. Please note that participation in the title program is voluntary to the extent that faculty members who choose not to participate will be assigned the title of Instructor. Also note that individuals may enter the title program at any time.

 

General Criteria

A.  The following general criteria represent minimal requirements for any individual to be appointed as a full time or part time/adjunct faculty member:

1.      The degree held will generally be higher than the degree granted by the department for which the individual teaches (unless superseded by accrediting criteria and/or state regulatory requirements).  In emerging fields where exceptions are clearly defensible, individuals must hold at least an equivalent level degree to the department in which they are teaching.

2.      A bachelor’s degree from a nationally accredited institution will be considered appropriate; however, graduate degrees must be from a regionally accredited institution.

3.      All faculty members must have demonstrated effectiveness in teaching, practice, training and/or scholarship.       

4.      Scholarship, when required, will be in areas that are appropriate to the assignments and responsibilities to be undertaken by the faculty member.

B.  Faculty titles beyond that of Instructor shall be Senior Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Professor. (The appointment to Senior Instructor is reserved for instructors who are judged to be valuable members of the teaching community who do not wish to pursue a higher title.) [A1] These instructors will inform the Executive Promotion Board of their intention and the board will confer the title of Senior Instructor where appropriate.


C.  The Faculty Promotion Titles Committee and The Executive Promotion Titles Board

Initial faculty appointments and subsequent faculty Promotions Titles will be based on the recommendations of the Faculty Promotion Titles Committee and approved by the Executive Promotion Titles Board.

Before any faculty member receives an appointment or Promotion, Titles it is necessary that the institution conduct a thorough review of the faculty member and the contribution the faculty member has made to the institution. Since decisions to promote are important for the institution and the individual, those responsible for such decisions will exercise this responsibility carefully and impartially. Promotion Titles will not be unreasonably denied.

1.      The Faculty Promotion Titles Committee will be composed of four faculty members elected by the bargaining unit and four administrators appointed by the AiPH President.  No member of the Faculty Promotion Titles Committee can also be a member of the Executive Promotion Titles Board.  Any recommendation for initial appointment or Promotion Titles by the Faculty Promotion Titles Committee must first garner five a majority of affirmative votes before being forwarded to the Executive Promotion Titles Board. The Faculty Promotion Titles Board shall be considered a standing committee for the purposes of faculty membership and compensation.

2.      The Executive Promotion Titles Board shall be composed of the bargaining unit president, an experienced and credentialed faculty member elected by the bargaining unit, the President of the Art Institute of Philadelphia, the Dean of Academic Affairs at the Art Institute of Philadelphia and one additional administrator selected by the AiPH President who possesses sufficient academic credentials to be considered an academic officer.  This administrator may be drawn either from the AiPH staff, the Art Institutes International staff or the EDMC staff. No member of the Executive Promotion Titles Board can also be a member of the Faculty Promotion Titles Committee. Faculty members serving on Executive Promotion Titles Board shall be compensated as if serving on a standing committee. Any decision to grant an initial appointment rank or a Promotion Titles must garner at least four affirmative votes.

3.      Confirmation or denial of Promotion Titles shall be made in writing to the applicant and, in the case of denial, the reasons for denial shall be clearly laid out. A faculty member who has been denied Promotion Titles by either the Faculty Promotion Titles Committee or the Executive Promotion Titles Board may appeal his/her denial within six weeks of notification to the Board denying the Promotion Titles provided new or clarifying information is available for additional deliberation.

4.      Appointments and Promotions

The following criteria represent minimal requirements for any individual to be appointed or promoted as full time or part time/adjunct faculty with a title:

A.  Initial Appointment to Instructor

Appointment to the rank of Instructor requires the following:

1.   An earned degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution or the equivalent, if the degree is from another country.  The degree must be appropriate in discipline to the department in which the appointment is made, and generally at least one degree higher than the degree program in which the applicant is teaching (unless superseded by accrediting criteria and/or state regulatory requirements).   In emerging fields where exceptions are clearly defensible, faculty must hold at least an equivalent level degree to the department in which they are teaching.

2.   Demonstrated commitment to the profession.

B.  Initial Appointment or Promotion to Senior Instructor

Appointment to the rank of Senior Instructor requires the following:

1.   An earned degree from a nationally or regionally accredited institution or the equivalent, if the degree is from another country.  The degree must be appropriate in discipline to the department in which the appointment is made, and generally at least one degree higher than the degree program in which the applicant is teaching (unless superseded by accrediting criteria and/or state regulatory requirements).  In emerging fields where exceptions are clearly defensible, faculty must hold a degree at least equivalent to the degree offered in the program or the minimum credential required by the college’s national or regional accrediting body.

2.  Demonstrated involvement in the professional community since the time of hire (at least five years of experience is preferred).

3.  Demonstrated commitment to the profession.

C.  Initial Appointment or Promotion to Assistant Professor

Appointment to the rank of Assistant Professor requires the following:

1.    A graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent if the degree is from another country.

2.    Five years of experience within the field if a new hire; or five years of demonstrated continuous experience in the field in the case of application for Promotion to this rank. 

3.    Demonstrated commitment to the profession.

4.   Documented participation in some aspect of the academic area relevant to the appointment.

5.   Active membership in one or more professional organizations.

D.  Initial Appointment or Promotion to Associate Professor

Appointment to the rank of Associate Professor requires the following:

1.  A graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent if the degree is from another country.

2.   Eight years of experience within the field if a new hire; or eight years of demonstrated continuous experience in the field in the case of application for Promotion to this rank.

3.   Evidence of outstanding teaching effectiveness. Also, the candidate must present evidence of achievement in either student mentoring and support or in at least two categories listed under the section entitled Evaluation of Professional, Community and Art Institute Service and Scholarship Contributions.  Evidence of outstanding teaching effectiveness and achievement in student mentoring and support.  Also, the candidate must demonstrate achievement in at least two categories listed under the section entitled Evaluation of Professional, Community and Art Institute Service and Scholarship Contributions.  Faculty members should be able to demonstrate the relevance of these activities in relationship to the college and its students. It is recognized that faculty may choose to concentrate efforts in a few of these areas or distribute their time among several activities.

E.  Initial Appointment or Promotion to Professor

Appointment to the rank of Professor requires the following:

1.         An advanced degree A doctorate or terminal degree from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent if from another country.

2.         Twelve years of demonstrated continuous experience in the field.

3.    Evidence of outstanding teaching effectiveness and achievement in student mentoring and support.  Also, the candidate must demonstrate achievement in at least four categories listed under the section entitled Evaluation of Professional, Community and Art Institute Service and Scholarship Contributions. It is recognized that faculty members may choose to concentrate efforts in a few of these areas or may distribute their time among several activities.

PROMOTION SCHEDULE

Faculty members will be promoted advanced according to the following schedule:

A. Instructors who attain the criteria will be eligible for consideration for Promotion advancement to the rank of Senior Instructor or Assistant Professor at their next appointment renewal or annual review. the next Titles review cycle.

B.   Assistant Professors are eligible for consideration for Promotion advancement to the rank of Associate Professor after a minimum of two years as Assistant Professor.

C. Associate Professors are eligible for consideration for Promotion advancement to the rank of Professor after a minimum of two years as Associate Professor.

Faculty members demonstrating extraordinary accomplishments may request to be considered for Promotion advancement prior to the timeframes outlined above. 

EVALUATION PROCESS AND SCHEDULE

(This schedule outlines a typical cycle.  Implementation during the first, second and third years may require a different timeline.)

Initial appointment of title will be based on a review of documents presented by

the  faculty member.  Thereafter, title appointments will be considered based on the following events:

A.  The faculty member will inform a designated college official appointed by the president r his or her Academic Director the Director of Training of intent to apply for title Promotion no later than October 31 in the year prior to consideration of Promotion advancement. 

B.  By December January 31 of the following calendar year, the faculty member will have submitted required documentation and any other relevant materials to the Designated College Official. written self-evaluations any other relevant materials to the Academic Director the Director of Training along with any other relevant materials that may have been requested.

B.  The Academic Director will ensure all required material is provided before submitting the information to the faculty Promotion committee.  The Academic Director will schedule at least one meeting with the faculty member to review the self-evaluation material and any other material the faculty member desires to submit.  If there is any missing documentation, the faculty member will present such by January 31, or be denied application for title Promotion.

C.  The Faculty Promotion Titles Committee will be convened on or before February 15, and will submit a recommendation to the Executive Promotion Titles Board by March 15. 

D.  The Executive Promotion Titles Board will review the committee’s recommendation along with documentation submitted and will make the decision whether or not to approve the Promotion advancement in title.

E.  All decisions made in regards to Promotion advancement in title will be made by April 30 with notification to the faculty not later than May 15.

F. Promotions Advancement in title will become effective on July 1.

Methods for Evaluating Faculty

Faculty members will be evaluated in the context of the mission and purposes of the institution. Both the self-evaluation and the faculty review submission should indicate specifically how the faculty member has contributed to the mission and purposes as information generally is presented in the following areas:

A.    Evaluation of Teaching Effectiveness

As a career-oriented college, The Art Institute of Philadelphia values excellence in teaching above all other competencies. Teaching effectiveness involves a thorough review of teaching in a regular classroom setting. It includes course and curriculum development as well as classroom presentation, achievement of course outcomes, action plans for course improvements, and follow up on course outcomes improvements. The Faculty member’s contribution to learning centered instruction; ability to evaluate the learning styles of all students, and preparation of course material and presentations appropriate to different learning styles will be included in the review.

B.    Evaluation of Student Mentoring and Support

An essential aspect of a faculty member’s responsibility to the institution and to students is to provide advisement and direction. The evaluation of a faculty member for Promotion advancement will include a consideration of the faculty member’s willingness and skill at providing direction and support to students.

A.     Evaluation of Professional, Community, and Art Institute Service and Scholarship Contributions

Faculty will be evaluated on service and scholarship contributions to their profession, their community and the Art Institutes.  A positive evaluation can be earned by citing accomplishments from the following list:

1.    Leadership/participation in professional organizations appropriate to the faculty member’s discipline;

2.   Professional practice and consultation activities including but not limited to presentations, lectures, exhibitions and professional support offered to schools, governmental agencies and non-governmental organizations; 

3.   Active involvement in community organizations including service on boards and advisory committees

4.   Service to EDMC/AII and/or one’s local campus in curriculum and departmental development activities, evaluation, policy development, and  participation and leadership in organizational committees;

5.    Effective interaction with, advocacy on behalf of, and role modeling for students, as well as advising and supporting student groups, organizations and activities.

6.   Scholarship as evidenced by publications, research, artist’s residencies and the display of work in invitational, juried or other prestigious exhibitions.

7.   Completion of assignments and administrative responsibilities in a timely and professional manner, as well as consistent participation in portfolio reviews (where applicable) and graduations[A2] .

REVIEW DOCUMENTS

A.  Required Materials

[Note: Much of what is required below is also part of the Performance Review process, ACICS Data Sheet and the Individual Development Plan. Faculty members are advised to retain copies of these documents to ensure the accuracy of their application and to reduce the amount of effort necessary. reminded that transcripts and other documents may be obtained from Human Resources.]

The faculty member has the responsibility to maintain and submit a file an application that is accurate and complete, containing up-to-date information. on the faculty member. This file submission will contain the following, in the order below:

1.      Current vitae / resume containing professional-biographical data (degrees; institutions attended; training received; positions held[A3] ).

2.      Official copies of all college transcripts.

3.      A list of teaching activities including courses developed, course preparation, and courses taught.

4.      Documents from prior reviews and evaluation (student, peer, classroom observations, PPAR results.

5.      Evidence of effective interaction with, advocacy on behalf of, and role modeling for students, as well as advising and supporting student groups, organizations and activities.

6.      An indication of scholarly activities.

7.      A listing of honors and awards (local, national and international); offices held in professional associations; membership on significant professional committees.

8.      A listing of committee memberships, chairmanships; and offices held in local and campus settings.

9.      An indication of services provided to the professional community or the community at large.

10.  Documentation of license, certification, or registration, where required.

B.  Other Supporting Documents

While this file submission will contain standard information, for evaluation purposes the campus faculty member may  will need to supplement this with more detailed documentation obtained from a number of sources. The following documents are a sample of the materials the campus faculty member may choose to include in order to complete the review with appropriate thoroughness:

1.      Material used in classroom instruction such as syllabi, assignments/projects, readings and examinations.

2.      Information on additional committee assignments; and other special teaching activities. 

3.      Student course evaluations and surveys, as available, with particular regard to summary evaluations, versus individual student evaluations.

4.      A description Evidence of instructional improvement projects or activities developed or carried out, such as leadership in significant curricular changes or in the development of new courses.

5.      A description Evidence of the impact the faculty member has had on the faculty, students and the professional community.

6.      A description Evidence of the faculty member’s activity with professional organizations and the type of leadership or influence exercised.

7.        Copies of publications, presentations and research monographs completed by the faculty member.

8.        Documentation of exhibitions and artist’s residencies.

9.         Evidence of other scholarly activity, for example, advanced training.

Reevaluation of this Procedure

The parties agree to review this procedure one each year from its initial implementation to ascertain its effectiveness and revise its provisions as necessary

Faculty – Non Terminal Degree

A faculty member employed in a full time or part time teaching capacity at the Art Institute of Philadelphia prior to 1993 and is experienced in the field who meets all criteria required of a full professor and six out of the seven requirements but is credentialed and with a non-terminal master’s degree, may be granted the title of Professor provided there is a majority consent of the Executive Titles Board.


 [A1]insert of ( )

 [A2]order of #6 and #7 were reversed.

 [A3]the order of this list has been modified.