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With snow on the ground and record-breaking low temperatures, it’s hard to remember we are in the spring semester, but it’s true and that means it’s time to start thinking about promotion applications. For those who are in the promotion application process, notifications regarding promotion decisions should be received in March.

Recognition of our labor

Applying for promotion may seem like a daunting task, but the FA is here to assist all our members who navigate the process. Promotion is an important recognition of the work of our members who are consistently going above and beyond in their roles to support students and improve the efficiency and functionality of the many departments our members serve.

Service to the college, service to the community, and personal and professional growth are areas assessed during promotion. Reading promotion applications every year reminds me how amazing our members are; they are indeed going above and beyond in their classrooms and offices, engaging in scholarly research, improving the student experience and demonstrating to the larger community the value and excellence of what we have to offer current and prospective students. I learn so much about who we are and how valuable our work is each year.

Application process and deadlines

Full-time employees who are eligible to apply should receive a letter of eligibility from the office of their executive dean or respective vice president in March or earlier. Those who meet time-in-rank requirements as outlined in our promotions guidebook will receive notification. Members are still responsible for ensuring they meet any educational requirements and have up-to-date transcripts in their personnel files.

• If you are full time and plan to apply, remember that although the full application is not due until June 15, you must submit the cover page of the A form application to your campus executive dean or respective vice president’s office by May 15, 2026. The cover page simply signals your intent to apply and acts as a placeholder; you can decide to withdraw at any time, but you cannot decide to apply after May 15. So if you are eligible but undecided, it is always best to submit the cover page to ensure you have the option of following through with the full application should you decide you are ready to do so.


• If you are adjunct faculty and eligible to apply, you will receive notification from Dean Gherardi’s office in early February, with applications due March 5 and observations due April 24.

Promotion workshops and deadlines

Full-time and adjunct promotion workshops have been scheduled, both in person and on Zoom, for members who are interested in hearing more about the process. The workshops offer some very helpful information and conversation. All members are encouraged to attend, even those who are not applying this semester.

It’s never too early to start thinking about promotion; most newly hired full-time employees can begin the application process in their second year, so it is very important to hear about what you should be doing to fulfill the requirements and get advice on how to document what you are doing.

Even if have gone through the process and you are a year or two away from applying for your next rank, being reminded of the process can be very helpful. Here are the dates, times and locations of upcoming promotion workshops:

Here are important due dates for you to know:

• Thursday, 3/5 — Adjunct promotion applications due
• Friday, 4/24 — Adjunct observations due
• Friday, 5/15 — Full-time application cover sheets due
• Monday, 6/15 — Full-time complete application due

Timeframes by rank

Finally, you should be aware of the following eligibility timeframes by rank.

Applying for assistant professor

For this year’s promotion cycle, all full-time faculty hired with the rank of instructor on or before September 2024 or hired January or February 2025 are eligible to apply for promotion to assistant professor by June 15, 2026. Adjuncts who have served for at least 10 semesters with 39 teaching hours are eligible for promotion to adjunct assistant professor.

Applying for associate professor

Full-time faculty hired with the rank of assistant professor or granted a promotion to assistant professor on or before September 2023 or hired January or February 2024 with the rank of assistant professor are eligible to apply for promotion to associate professor by June 15, 2026. Adjuncts who have served for at least 14 semesters or obtained 54 teaching hours as adjunct assistant professor are eligible for promotion to adjunct associate professor.

Applying for professor

Full-time faculty hired with the rank of associate professor or granted a promotion to associate professor on or before September 2022 or hired January or February 2023 with the rank of associate professor are eligible to apply for promotion to professor by June 15, 2026. Adjuncts who have served for at least 18 semesters or obtained 69 teaching hours as adjunct associate professor are eligible for promotion to adjunct professor.

Applying for PA and specialist ranks

Full-time faculty hired with the rank of PA, PA1 or specialist or granted a promotion to PA, PA1 or specialist on or before September 2023 or hired January or February 2024 with the rank of PA, PA1 or specialist are eligible to apply for promotion to PA1, PA2 or specialist 2 (respectively) by June 15, 2026. Adjuncts who have served for at least 14 semesters adjunct professional assistant 1 are eligible for promotion to adjunct professional assistant 2.

Note: If you were an adjunct for at least 30 credit hours and then hired as full-time faculty member, the time in rank needed for the first promotion is reduced by one year.
Finally, all full-time promotions (for those applying in June 2026) will be effective September 2027. Adjunct faculty promotions (for those who apply in March 2026) will be effective in September 2027.