Adapted from the Criteria for Tenure and Promotion published by Rutgers University
In accordance with Rutgers University’s criteria for tenure and promotion, the Department of Mathematical Sciences evaluates candidates for tenure and promotions on the basis of their teaching, scholarship, and service. Candidates for reappointment, tenure, and promotion are advised to consult the department guidelines and Rutgers Policy.
While the Department of Mathematical Sciences emphasizes the importance of being a good teacher and having good service work, its most important factor in tenure decisions is excellence in scholarship.
Teaching
The Department of Mathematical Sciences expects all candidates for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor and higher ranks to be effective teachers. Candidates must “demonstrate depth and breadth of knowledge in their discipline” and the ability to “communicate knowledge” to their students. In the classroom, effectiveness in teaching is assessed via student evaluations, and faculty observations. Outside the classroom, effectiveness in teaching is indicated by involvement in advising and mentoring; supervising student research; updating courses; and creating new courses, minor or major programs.
Scholarship
The Department of Mathematical Sciences places highest priority and importance in excellence in scholarship and considers research as the fundamental endeavor of all its faculty members. Scholarship is measured by peer recognition of its originality, impact on, and importance to the faculty member’s field of study. Peer recognition means publication in refereed scholarly journals and monographs with noted publishers. The impact and importance of scholarship is measured by presentations at national and international professional conferences, keynote and plenary lectures, prestigious memberships in academic associations, and by funded awards from external sources or competitive grants, prizes and other awards and recognitions. In the tenure and promotion process, the Department of Mathematical Sciences solicits external letters from world-renowned scholars at peer institutions. Outside evaluators are asked to evaluate the candidate’s contributions to the discipline and to indicate whether the candidate would receive tenure or promotion at his or her home institution. Evidence of continuing scholarly productivity is expected of all candidates and the records of candidates for tenure are expected to provide evidence of the prospects for future productivity.
The same criteria and review processes are applied to candidates for tenure and promotions through PII. The expectations for promotion to PI are that the candidate has achieved national and international recognition and that his or her scholarly productivity is equal to that of full professors at peer institutions. Advancement to the rank of PII requires evidence that the candidate’s scholarly contributions to the discipline have been recognized and considered truly outstanding at the national and international level.
Service
Service to Rutgers University is usually demonstrated by membership in standing or ad hoc committees at the department, campus, and university levels. The expectation for tenure and promotion to Associate Professor includes membership in some committees. Active participation in committee memberships is expected beyond the Associate Professor level. Service also includes contributions to the candidate’s academic profession, e.g., serving as reviewers for journals or publishers, editorial board members, proposal reviewers for funding sources, and active membership in professional organizations.
Note: Direct quotations above are from Rutgers Policy 60.5.14, Criteria for Academic Appointments, Reappointments and Promotions.