Faculty Handbook

3. Faculty Rank

See the Rochester University Faculty Handbook for additional details regarding faculty rank, promotion, and tenure. Commitment to the mission of Rochester University School of Nursing, nursing practice, teaching performance, scholarly or professional activity, and involvement in the university community are additional criteria for faculty rank and promotion as outlined in the Indicators for Evaluation and Promotion (IEP).

Rochester University School of Nursing Indicators for Evaluation and Promotion (IEP)

EFFECTIVE TEACHING - Indicators by Rank
CRITERIA Instructor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor Distinguished Professor
Evidence-Based Teaching • Current literature reflected in teaching materials for clinical and classroom.
• Engages students in meaningful class discussions.
• Critically evaluates media, and reading.
• Fosters critical thinking and problem-solving.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Shares expertise with other faculty.
• Incorporates current and future trends/research in courses taught.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Sought as a consultant within university for expertise in teaching.
• Provides leadership for coaching and development of faculty.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Sought as a consultant at professional meetings or outside of university for expertise in area(s) of teaching responsibilities.
• Recognized as a specialist in the field.
Evidence: peer reviews, election to committees, conference proceedings, thank you note/letters
Curriculum-Development • Develops course syllabus/materials in area(s) of expertise.
• Reflects RC-SON conceptual framework, objectives, and mission in courses taught.
• Utilizes current trends/research in courses taught.
• Socializes new faculty to teaching role.
• Competent in teaching role and assumes leadership role in classroom and clinical teaching.
• Facilitates course and syllabus development which reflects RC-SON conceptual framework, objectives, and mission.
• Utilizes technology effectively.
• Demonstrates high quality in teaching and leadership.
• Utilizes technology innovatively.
• Evaluates media for publishers.
• Serves in a leadership position on RC-SON committees, and provides input on curriculum committee.
• Demonstrates excellence in teaching and leadership
• Serves as mentor for others in areas of curriculum and course development.
• Recognized as a specialist in the field.
Evidence: evaluations/analyses of student course surveys, peer evaluations, letters/emails of assignments/appointments
Teaching Effectiveness • Well organized presentations.
• Competent with technology utilized in the teaching role.
• Facilitates student learning, and conveys a positive attitude toward student education.
• Seeks guidance for development of teaching skills.
• Receives a minimum average rating of 4 on student course surveys.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Collaborates with peers to assess/evaluate teaching effectiveness.
• Develops/tests new teaching strategies.
• Competently identifies, advises and/or refers at-risk students for appropriate intervention.
• Receives average rating ≥ 4.3 on student course surveys.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Recognized regionally or nationally for teaching or expertise.
• Mentors junior faculty.
• Demonstrates excellence on student course surveys (≥4.4).
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Mentor/role model for faculty.
• Demonstrates teaching excellence.
• Recognized as a specialist in the field.
Evidence: evaluations/peer reviews, student projects, presentations, student course survey scores
Evaluation of Student performance • Maintains standards of performance.
• Exams and course assignments reflect course objectives.
• Assists students to identify strategies for meeting course objectives.
• Appropriately identifies, counsels, or refers at-risk students.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Evaluates course outcomes of student performance.
• Monitors and evaluates group data for success/failures.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Assesses and revises, tools for evaluating student performance.
• Develops strategies for students to be successful on NCLEX-RN.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Assesses, revises, and develops tools for evaluating student performance.
• Recognized as a specialist in the field.
Evidence: evaluation tools, student remediation plans, Kaplan IT reports, CV
SCHOLARSHIP – Indicators by Rank
CRITERIA Instructor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor Distinguished Professor
Discovery, Integration, Engagement, and Teaching (See Effective Teaching) • Formal graduate study, and earned at least MSN degree.
• Participates in seminars on scholarly projects or activities.
• Maintains practice licensure and certifications.
• Participation in workshops, seminars, and refresher courses.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Participates as book reviewer for publishers.
• Presents research activities/plans to internal audiences.
• Mentors 1 scholarly project group.
• Includes all previous indicators and formal graduated study with earned terminal degree.
• Presents at local, regional or national conferences/meetings.
• Mentors faculty (through manuscript development, formal presentations, poster presentations, and/or graduate practicum).
• Includes all previous indicators and formal graduated study with earned terminal degree.
• Publications (PI in journals or chapter author for a book).
• Participates as test item writer for professional groups (NCLEX, ANCC)
• Participates on committees setting standards of practice.
• Participates in professional organizations.
• Involvement with policy or local government.
• Recognized as a specialist in the field.
Evidence: publications, presentations, section of conference brochure, citations of work, face page of book or chapter, licensure and certifications, relevant materials related to policy work
SERVICE - Indicators by Rank
Indicator by Rank
CRITERIA Instructor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor Distinguished Professor
Service as adviser or other support for student committees, organizations, or social clubs • Supervises at least 1 student project.
• Assists students with gaining entrance to professions or graduate study.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Serves as faculty mentor for student committee, organization, or social club.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Assists students to secure scholarships or fellowships.
• Recognized as a specialist in the field.
Working with field experiences • Teaches in the clinical setting.
• Maintains positive relationships with health care partner institutions.
• Teaches in the clinical setting.
• Assesses/ evaluates appropriateness of clinical experiences.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Teaches in the clinical setting (non-administrative roles).
• Mentors junior faculty to create effective clinical experiences.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Teaches in the clinical setting (non-administrative roles).
• Assesses/ evaluates potential clinical experiences and sites.
Committee assignments • Participates in RC-SON and RC committees. • Participates in RC-SON and RC-Committees.
• Functions as a committee chair for RC-SON.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Serves on local or regional professional or community committees.
• Serves on state or national professional committees.
Community involvement • Participates as a member of a professional nursing organization. • Volunteers for service programs or projects.
• Participates in community service activities.
• Participates as a member of a professional nursing organization.
• Assists in community development efforts.
• Serves in a leadership capacity with professional nursing organizations.
• Collaborates with the community in the development of programs and/or services.
Professional Membership and Leadership Activities • Collaborates with interdisciplinary or community-based teams to make a positive impact on community. • Serves on regional or state professional organization committees. • Serves on regional or national professional organization committees.
Evidence: CV, emails/letter of appointment.
PRACTICE - Indicator by Rank
CRITERIA Instructor Assistant Professor Associate Professor Professor Distinguished Professor
Quality of practice, and Evidence-based practice and Mentoring • Active in nursing practice
• Maintains ethical principles and standards
• Participates in peer evaluation
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Serves as role model/preceptor for students
• Contributes education or practice expertise to local and/or state groups addressing nursing education or practice issues.
• Assists in mentoring new faculty in the practice setting
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Recognized as an expert at regional and/or national level
• Participates in policy activities
• Mentors junior faculty
• Mentors others in using best evidence for effective teaching and practice.
• Includes all previous indicators.
• Provides leadership in nursing practice or education
• Contributes to population health centered legislation
• Mentors others in nursing leadership roles.
• Recognized as a specialist in the field.
Evidence: CV, articles, awards, presentations, relevant materials related to policy work.