UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA
MEDICAL SCHOOL
BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENTS
Departmental Statement Required by Section 7.12
Of Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure
Department of Neuroscience
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
This document describes the specific criteria and standards which will be used to evaluate whether candidates meet the general criteria in Section 7.11 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure. For a complete perspective, the reader is advised to review Section 7 in its entirety. Section 7.11 is printed in its entirety in III. Criteria forTenure (see below).
The criteria, standards and procedures are applied without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, handicap, age, veteran status or sexual orientation.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Medical School is to conduct high quality programs of research, education and service through which the college contributes significantly to the provision of excellent health care for the people of Minnesota.
The mission of the Department of Neuroscience is to:
1) conduct outstanding neuroscience research, 2) be an educational resource to the Medical School and the University by providing neuroscience education to undergraduate, medical, dental, graduate, and post-graduate students, 3) provide leadership and be a focal point for the strengthening of neuroscience across the University by enhancing research, educational, and funding opportunities, 4) provide a bridge for the transfer of advances in basic neuroscience into clinical practice with the goal of improving the health of the people of Minnesota, and 5) enhance the understanding and appreciation of neuroscience by the people of Minnesota.
CRITERIA FOR TENURE
Section 7.11 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure states: “General Criteria. The basis for awarding indefinite tenure is the determination that the achievements of an individual have demonstrated the individual's potential to continue to contribute significantly to the mission of the University and to its programs of teaching, research, and service over the course of the faculty member's academic career. The primary criteria for demonstrating this potential are effectiveness in teaching and professional distinction in research; outstanding discipline-related service contributions will also be taken into account where they are an integral part of the mission of the academic unit. The relative importance of the criteria may vary in different academic units, but each of the criteria must be considered in every decision.
The individual's participation in the governance of the institution and other services to the University and service to the academic unit may be taken into consideration, but are not in themselves bases for awarding tenure.
Indefinite tenure may be granted at any time when the candidate has satisfied the requirements. A probationary appointment must be terminated when the appointee fails to satisfy the criteria in the last year of probationary service and may be terminated earlier if it appears that the appointee is not making satisfactory progress toward meeting the criteria within that period.”
Standards for Tenure - Department of Neuroscience
The Department of Neuroscience accepts and subscribes to the statement on Criteria and Standards for Tenure of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with the following standards specific to the department.
RESEARCH/SCHOLARSHIP
Neuroscience is a research oriented discipline and thus tenure recommendations are primarily based on scholarly activity of the faculty. Scholarly activity will be judged on the following standards:
Publications in Rigorously Peer-Reviewed Journals
Scientific articles reporting high quality biomedical research that significantly advances the candidate's field of research should be published in rigorously peer-reviewed journals appropriate to the discipline of Neuroscience. There are a large number of journals which serve the discipline of neuroscience reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of the field. Furthermore, the list of appropriate journals is dynamic. It is expected that the candidate publish in those journals recognized as of the highest quality and highest impact. Contributions to prestigious review journals, monographs, etc. that are not peer-reviewed will be taken into consideration, but cannot be the primary basis for a decision.
2. Creative and Significant Scholarly Contributions
Letters of evaluation will be requested from peers within the Department of Neuroscience, the University and from national and international leaders in the candidate's field of research. They should provide evidence that the candidate's contributions are scholarly, creative and have contributed significantly to advancement of the field. The assessments will also provide clear evidence that the candidate has a national or international reputation in the discipline of Neuroscience.
External Research Funding
Every faculty member in the Department of Neuroscience must have an Independent research program, and as a principal investigator should acquire external funding, based upon peer review, from federal agencies, international agencies or from nationally competitive private agencies appropriate to the discipline.
Invited participation in Symposia, Meetings and Seminars
Faculty members should be invited by national and international scientific organizations to participate in symposia, meetings and conferences and should be invited to give seminars before peers in other institutions both nationally and internationally. However, this cannot be used as the sole criterion for tenure.
Service as an Editor or as a Member of the Editorial Board of a
Reputable Journal or Monograph in a Biomedical Discipline
Service such as this usually indicates peer recognition for the candidate's contributions, but cannot be considered as the sole basis for tenure.
Publications in Monographs, Reviews and Other Books
Publications such as these, which are not generally peer-reviewed, should be part of the activities of a faculty member, but cannot be considered as the sole basis for tenure.
B. TEACHING
Research will usually be the primary basis for tenure. Competence in teaching will also be required. The Department of Neuroscience accepts the Criteria and Standards for Tenure of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School with respect to competence in teaching. The following are areas in which competence in teaching can be demonstrated:
Participation in teaching and advising professional students (including students in the M.D. curriculum, dentistry, or other professional education programs) in the subject of Neuroscience, and graduate students in Neuroscience.
Service as a thesis adviser to candidates for advanced degrees (Master's degree and/or Ph.D.) in the discipline of Neuroscience, or in interdisciplinary graduate programs.
Service and distinction as a faculty sponsor for a postdoctoral fellow(s) in Neuroscience or in a collaborative research program.
Participation in neuroscience teaching of undergraduate (pre-baccalaureate) students (such as those pursuing a major in neuroscience) including students in other colleges of the University of Minnesota
Service as a faculty mentor to students in any of the above categories who engage in research activities in the Department of Neuroscience.
Participation in outreach programs that provide neuroscience education outside of the University (e.g. Brain Awareness Week, etc.)
Competence in teaching is based on:
Review of courses taught, directed or developed by the candidate at both undergraduate and graduate levels.
Degree candidates advised in both professional and graduate schools.
Evaluations by students.
Written statements by the Head of the department and other faculty familiar with the candidate's teaching performance.
In rare instances, distinction in teaching may appropriately be considered to be the primary basis for tenure. Competence in research will also be required.
Distinction in teaching is based on:
The four items given above as sources of evidence for assessment of competence in teaching.
Evaluation of publications, such as books, peer reviewed journal articles, audiovisual aids, and/or other significant contributions to educational advances in the discipline, that are distributed at a national level.
Letters from leading educators in the discipline attesting to the candidate's national reputation, and assessing the candidate's contributions to development of advances in education in the field.
Participation in national organizations, such as The Society for Neuroscience, that have significant activities devoted to education and educational developmental. Evidence of leadership in such an organization (such as by election to an officer position) would be of particular value.
PROMOTION
Standards for Promotion - Department of Neuroscience
The Department of Neuroscience accepts and subscribes to the statement on Criteria and Standards for Promotion of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with the following standards specific to the department.
To Assistant Professor
A candidate for promotion to Assistant Professor is judged according to the following standards:
Awarding of an earned doctoral degree (Ph.D., M.D. or equivalent) and postdoctoral (or equivalent) research experience in a department or laboratory with a high professional reputation.
Evidence of participation in high quality research that has been or is about to be published in leading refereed journals and evidence that the candidate has potential for conducting independent research.
Documentation through courses taught and/or seminars given of excellence in teaching and communicative skills.
B. To Associate Professor
The criteria and standards for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor are those stated for consideration of tenure (see III. above).
A recommendation for promotion to Associate Professor is made when an eligible faculty member has fulfilled the general criteria applicable to tenure, as stated in Section 7.11, and the specific criteria and standards for promotion to Associate Professor (same as for tenure) as stated by the Medical School and the Department.
C. To Professor
A candidate for promotion to Professor is judged according to the following standards:
Continued adherence to the standards on which promotion to Associate Professor was based, with respect to performance and accomplishments in teaching and research, and, in addition:
Establishment of a training program for pre-and/or postdoctoral trainees that has resulted in placing of trainees in academic or industrial positions in the field.
An international reputation, as demonstrated by invitations to international symposia, election to prestigious scientific organizations, editorial boards, national review panels and holding offices in international societies.
Letters from authorities in the candidate's field, assessing the candidate's scientific contributions and demonstrating that she/he is among the leaders of his/her field.
PROCEDURES
In considering proposals for tenure and/or promotion in rank, the Medical School and its Departments comply with the procedures described in the document, “Procedures for Reviewing Performance of Probationary Faculty”, distributed annually by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. These procedures are provided for by Sections 16.3, 7.4 and 7.61 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure.
The Medical School issues annually to each department, for distribution and information to faculty members, a set of instructions, memoranda, and other documents, giving detailed information on the procedures to be followed in the preparation and consideration for each proposal for tenure and/or promotion in rank. The pertinent documents are identified as exhibits enclosed with a cover memorandum from the Dean.
Designated non-tenure faculty members holding appropriate appointment and rank at affiliated hospitals are eligible to vote on proposals for promotion in rank of candidates, in accordance with approval for this procedure granted by the University Tenure Committee and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
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NSC Prom & Tenure Document