Applying for Academic Promotion: Why? When? What?

Why? Appropriate motivation is essential to preparing the optimal application for academic promotion. Recognition of the multiple potential benefits of a successful promotion for individuals, colleagues, programs, and others enhances motivation to apply for promotion and sustains momentum during the process. When? Ideally, application should be made when the applicant can document meeting all expectations for the requested promotion and the chance of success is high. Some institutions require or recommend application for promotion after a specified number of years in grade. Tenure track faculty members are required to apply for tenure after a set number of years, and this award may be linked with promotion to associate professor. What? The documentation required for promotion usually includes curriculum vitae (CV), internal and external assessments, and other information. Required formats for documentation and timelines for submission differ among schools but are strictly enforced.