Dossier Preparation

A: See Completing a Personalized Promotions Matrix on the Dossier Preparation website.

Q: What should (or shouldn’t) I submit as Supplemental Materials? 

A: See Guide to Supplemental Materials on the Dossier Preparation website.

Q: How long should my dossier be? 

A: Rather than thinking about a total dossier length, consider each component. Your cover letter will typically be 3-5 pages. Your personalized promotions matrix will likely be a few pages. Your CV will be of variable length (see CV Format for a suggested template). Your Supplemental Materials will usually be less than 25 pages, excluding teaching evaluations. A longer dossier is not necessarily better and does not enhance your likelihood of being promoted. That said, different faculty will require different amounts of space to highlight their accomplishments and demonstrate their fulfillment of the Promotion Criteria.

Q: Why is this new format being adopted this cycle? It feels very rushed and chaotic. 

A: The timing was definitely not ideal, however given the frustration expressed by many faculty with the legacy dossier format, the decision was made to give faculty applying for promotion this year the option to use the new format rather than forcing them to stick with a format that many found cumbersome.

Q: Given all the uncertainty around dossier preparation and evaluation, will it be harder to get promoted in 2025-2026? 

A: No. The promotion criteria themselves have not changed. If your accomplishments are sufficient to warrant promotion, then the “bar” for achieving this has not moved. Everyone involved in the process recognizes that there will be some variability in dossiers for the 2025-2026 promotions cycle and applicants will not be penalized, however the high standards required for promotions dossiers will be maintained.

Q: Is there a specific amount of time required before I can promote from Associate Professor to Professor? Are there differences based on my track? 

A: No. This is a decision that is made in consultation with your mentors and department leadership. We have a criterion-based promotions system, so whenever you have met the criteria to advance to the next level, you are eligible to apply.  Keep in mind that you are evaluated based on achievements at your current rank, which should be the focus of your Cover Letter and Supplemental Materials.

Q: Can I be an Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice for 10 years, then promote to Associate Professor in the Tenured and Tenure-Eligible track? 

A: No. If you are an Assistant Professor in the Clinical Practice track and wish to promote within the Tenured and Tenure-Eligible track, you must do so by the start of your 7th year at rank. If you have spent more than 7 years as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice, you are only eligible to apply for promotion to Associate Professor of Clinical Practice.

Q: I’ve been an Associate Professor of Clinical Practice for 15 years, but have done lots of scholarship. Can I promote to Professor in the Tenured and Tenure-Eligible track? 

A: Yes. So-called “track switching” is unrestricted for the advancement from Associate Professor to Professor. Thus, an Associate Professor in the Tenured and Tenure-Eligible track may apply for promotion to Professor in either the TTE track or the Clinical Practice track. Similarly, an Associate Professor of Clinical Practice may apply for promotion to Professor in either the TTE track or Clinical Practice track, as determined by your career focus. There is no time limit on this advancement, regardless of track.

Q: I've been an Assistant Professor for 4 years and plan on applying for promotion to Associate Professor of Clinical Practice in 2 years. Do I need to switch tracks to become an Assistant Professor of Clinical Practice?

A: No. By the start of your 7th year at the rank of Assistant Professor you need to either: apply for promotion to Associate Professor (any track), apply for an extension to the time-clock (contact your department administrator for assistance), or switch into the Clinical Practice or Research Professor track.  The last option of switching tracks as an Assistant Professor is only necessary if you will not be applying for promotion by the start of your 7th year at rank. 

Q: Are there standardized criteria for the advancement from Instructor to Senior Instructor or Assistant Professor (any track)? 

A: No, or at least not yet. That progression happens at departmental discretion. There is an Advancement Working Group being convened which will look at how different departments are structuring this process, and it is possible that some generalized guidelines will be developed, but there are none in place at the moment.