If you read The Chronicle of Higher Ed, Inside Higher Ed or similar publications, you've seen horror stories about faculty who have had their promotions blocked by administrators or who have been undermined by colleagues. Or maybe you've heard it directly from peers at other institutions.

Fortunately such narratives are not rife at SCCC, and that's because the majority of FA members who attend our promotion workshops and adhere the guidance provided typically do get promoted. We can't promise that the process won't engender the common feelings of worry, fears of inadequacy or even that sense of "imposter syndrome" we suffered when entering grad school—these are common emotions to experience in promotion processes most anywhere—but we can assure you that attending the promotion workshops really does make a difference.

We're here to help you!

In the coming weeks faculty who meet the time-in-rank requirements for promotion will receive letters from the college informing them of their eligibility for promotion.
Although I am not part of the final decision-making process (that belongs to the college promotion committee which is composed of the three executive deans and college AVP’s and VP’s), along with the individual CPC reps, I am here to advocate for you and assist you through the entire process, which includes the development of your application.

If you’re up for promotion now or in the near future, the first thing you should do is attend one of the upcoming campus promotion workshops. These workshops are led by me and your campus executive dean: Wes Lundburg (Ammerman), Irene Rios (Eastern) and Jim Keane (Grant). During the workshop faculty will learn the specific process regarding promotion, the procedures for applying for promotion and the evaluation process.

Because faculty are held to the same standard on all three campuses, it doesn’t matter which workshop you attend; you will get the same advice from me and all three executive deans.

All faculty will receive the official workshop announcement and RSVP, via email, in the next couple of weeks. The events are already listed on the FA website and are open for registration. For planning purposes please note that promotion workshops will be held on the following dates and times:

• Grant: April 4, from 11 to 12, in Sagtikos 255
• Ammerman: April 11, from 11 to 12, in Southampton 22
• Eastern: April 18, from 11 to 12, in Montaukett 108

So, why should you attend, especially if you’ve attended one in the past?

1. The expectations for promotion are different for each rank.
2. Each applicant has a unique situation—individual experiences with teaching/working, service and professional development—so this is your chance to get answers to your own questions from me and your campus executive dean.

Eligibility for adjuncts and full-time faculty

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 to your chair or immediate supervisor by May 15, 2018.

If you are an adjunct, the full application is due by April 27, 2018.

Applying for assistant professor

For this year’s promotion cycle, all full-time faculty hired with the rank of instructor on or before September 2016 or hired January or February 2017 are eligible to apply for promotion to assistant professor by June 15, 2018. Adjuncts who have served for at least 10 semesters with 39 teaching hours need to apply by March 2018 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 2015 or hired January or February 2016 with the rank of assistant professor are eligible to apply for promotion to associate professor by June 15, 2018. Adjuncts who have served for at least 14 semesters or obtained 54 teaching hours as adjunct assistant professor need to apply by March 2018 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 2014 or hired January or February 2015 with the rank of associate professor are eligible to apply for promotion to professor by June 15, 2018. Adjuncts who have served for at least 18 semesters or obtained 69 teaching hours as adjunct associate professor need to apply by March 2018 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 2015 or hired January or February 2016 with the rank of PA, PA1 or specialist are eligible to apply for promotion to PA1, PA2 or specialist 2 (respectively) by June 15, 2018. Adjuncts who have served for at least 14 semesters adjunct professional assistant 1 need to apply by March 2018 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 2018) will be effective September 2019. Adjunct faculty promotions (for those who apply in March 2018) will be effective in September 2018.

If you have any questions regarding the promotion process feel free to contact me and definitely attend the promotion workshop on the campus most convenient to you so we can help you avoid those horror stories and instead be one of our many success stories.