POLICY	
	Academic Promotion	
Contact Officer	Director, Human Resources	

Purpose	To document the University’s administration of Academic Promotions for Levels B, C, D and E.	
Overview	Promotion offers academic staff recognition and reward for demonstrated and sustained excellence in scholarship.

At Macquarie University scholarship embraces the three elements of academic endeavour – research, learning and teaching, and community engagement.  In each of these areas, ideas and actions are informed by a critical reflection on existing knowledge and practice.  Equally, the outcomes of academic work contribute to scholarship through the development of new knowledge and enhanced practice.  The three academic elements are mutually supporting; each contributing to the development of the others in ways that are jointly productive and beneficial.  Each activity is valued.

The University values an interdisciplinary approach at all levels and in each of the three elements – research, learning and teaching, and community engagement.	
Scope	This policy applies to all fixed-term, permanent part-time and permanent full-time academic staff seeking promotion from:
Level A (Associate Lecturer), Level B (Lecturer), Level C (Senior Lecturer) or Level D (Associate Professor)
to 
Level B (Lecturer), Level C (Senior Lecturer), Level D (Associate Professor) or Level E (Professor).	
The Policy	Promotion will be on the basis of merit.

Academic Standards
Applicants for promotion are to demonstrate how they meet, or provide evidence of their capacity to meet, the criteria of the level to which they seek promotion. They must also demonstrate that their all-round performance clearly exceeds the expectations and criteria of their current level.

Applicants must demonstrate their achievement in all three elements of scholarship whilst emphasising at least one.

Applicants need to demonstrate that they have maintained active and effective scholarship in their disciplines by contributions to learning and teaching, research and community engagement.

As academic staff progress through promotion levels there is an expectation that:
•	they will demonstrate how the three elements of their scholarship have contributed to one another
•	they will be able to demonstrate an increase in the quality, impact and effectiveness of their scholarship, as appropriate to their discipline
•	their contribution to their discipline will be increasingly influential
•	they will demonstrate increasing quality and impact in their leadership and mentoring

The University does not impose quotas on the number of positions available at any of the levels to which promotion may be sought.

A written offer of appointment to a higher level from another university may be used by a staff member to demonstrate that they have met the requirements for promotion to the stated level. The University reserves the right to determine whether or not to rely on another University's decision as evidence to promote the staff member. In such cases, the effective date will be as determined by Macquarie University.

Equal Opportunity
The University will adhere to the principles of equal opportunity and its Code of Conduct Policy.

Effective Date
A promotion will be effective from 1 January of the year following the lodging of the successful application. 

Selection Criteria (see Appendix A)
An applicant's whole career will be taken into account but special attention will be paid to the applicant's achievements relative to opportunity since appointment or promotion to their current level at the University.

All three elements of scholarship are to be addressed in an applicant’s promotion portfolio. An applicant is to indicate the relative contribution of each element to their scholarship (see below for Research-focussed staff).

The greatest weight will be to the advancement of knowledge through research, and learning and teaching. Community engagement is regarded as important, but should not comprise the majority of an applicant’s portfolio.

The weight given to each element of scholarship will take account of an applicant’s workload allocation and nature of appointment. 

Promotions Committee
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Provost) will establish one committee for each level.

Appeals Committee
The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Provost) will establish a committee for appeals. The Appeals Committee will consider appeals only if it is possible to identify and demonstrate that the Macquarie University academic promotion procedure was not followed.

Management
The Director, Human Resources, will ensure the academic promotions cycle is managed efficiently and effectively.

Review Cycle
At the end of each promotion cycle, a review will be undertaken to inform the next cycle.

Confidentiality
All staff involved in academic promotions will maintain complete confidentiality at all times.
	
Keywords	Scholarship, Academic Promotion, Promotion, Learning and Teaching, Research, Community Engagement	

Date Approved	Draft – 15 September 2008	
Approval Authority	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Provost)	
Date of Commencement	tbc	
Amendment Dates	New	
Date for Next Review	Three years from date of commencement	
Related Policies, Procedures and Guidelines	Procedure – Academic Promotion
Procedure – Applying for Academic Promotion
Procedure – Appealing against an Academic Promotion Decision
Guidelines – Evidence Required for Academic Promotion
Macquarie University – Enterprise Agreement

Guidelines for Applicants, Promotions Committee members, Chairs of Promotions Committee, Referees, Deans, Appeals Committee members, Vice-Chancellor and Human Resources’ section – to be revised

EEO Policy	
Policies Superseded by this Policy	Human Resources Policy 22.09: Academic Promotions – Levels B, C, D and E	

APPENDIX A
SELECTION CRITERIA FOR ACADEMIC PROMOTION
The criteria listed in this document are a statement of the minimum level of experience, skills and knowledge expected at each level.  These criteria are stated with regard to the form and level of contribution a person can be expected to make to the three elements of scholarship – research, learning and teaching, and community engagement – at each academic level.  The criteria are indicative only, and if overall performance is of the appropriate standard not every criterion will need to be met.

It is also understood that experience will be subject to opportunity and the relevant requirements of the discipline area; and that the University values an interdisciplinary approach at all levels and in each of the three elements – research, learning and teaching, and community engagement.

The criteria are cumulative such that the requirements of each previous level must also be met. 

	Research	L&T 	Community Engagement	
Level A	•	Engaged in scholarly and research activities appropriate to the discipline under limited supervision either independently or as a member of a team. 
•	Evidence of working towards publishing or may have published the results of the research conducted as sole author or in collaboration.  
•	Four years of tertiary study or equivalent qualifications and experience.
•	Will normally hold a relevant higher degree.
•	Will normally have commenced PhD.
	•	Demonstrated ability to deliver units primarily at undergraduate and graduate diploma level. 
•	A research academic may supervise at undergraduate levels.	•	Evidence of contribution primarily relating to activities at the University.

	

Level B	•	Meet the requirements of Level A, plus:
•	Demonstrated ability to conduct independent (and where appropriate team) research in their discipline or related area. 
•	A completed PhD OR evidence of peer reviewed, independent research and/or standing/reputation considered to be of an equivalent standard in the discipline area. 
•	Experience in research which has resulted in a well regarded record of publications in refereed journals, or other demonstrated scholarly activities.
•	A demonstrated ability to manage research projects.
•	Professional standing as evidenced by some of the following:  refereeing for scholarly journals, examining HDR theses, citations, acceptances to present at national conferences.
•	A demonstrated ability to successfully supervise postgraduate research students.

	•	Meet the requirements of Level A, plus:
•	Demonstrated ability to design and deliver curriculum and unit material at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate level, to an appropriate level of quality and effectiveness as evidenced by student, supervisors and / or peers.
•	Evidence of a considered reflective approach to the design and development of teaching and learning experiences.
•	Demonstrate ability to design presentation methodologies and assessment tasks which reflect the learning needs of the students and the nature of the discipline. 
•	Evidence that current research and practice informs learning and teaching practice.  
•	Demonstrated ability to co-ordinate and/or lead the activities of other Staff in teaching units, as appropriate to the discipline. 
	•	Meet the requirements of Level A, plus:
•	Administration primarily relating to activities within the Department or Faculty at the University.
•	Ability to administer and co-ordinate units. 
•	Involved in initiatives to improve information to students, and/or improving the student experience.
•	Contribution to Department committees and/or projects.
•	Student Advising or other roles representing the University to potential and current students.
•	A demonstrated ability to communicate with colleagues, students, and the community in an inspiring and engaging manner.

Level C	•	Meet the requirements of Level B, plus:
•	Evidence of independent and original contributions to research which have a significant impact on their field of expertise.
•	A strong record of high quality refereed publications or other demonstrated scholarly activities.
•	National recognition within the area of research speciality.
•	An active research program and a history of successful research programs in an area of interest.
•	Evidence of capacity to build productive research collaborations. 
•	A demonstrated ability to attract internal or external research funding.
•	A demonstrated ability to attract and successfully supervise postgraduate research students to completion.

	•	Meet the requirements of Level B, plus:
•	Significant university teaching experience in design and delivery of curriculum and unit material at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate level, to an appropriate  level of quality and effectiveness as evidenced by student, supervisors and / or peers.
•	Evidence of a developed and explicit teaching philosophy. 
•	Evidence of leadership in teaching activities of an organisational unit or an interdisciplinary area at undergraduate, honours and postgraduate level.
•	Display innovation in teaching, both redefining fields of study and pedagogy.
•	Evidence that current pedagogical research informs learning and teaching practice.
•	Evidence of capacity to build productive learning and teaching collaborations.
•	A demonstrated ability to attract internal or external learning and teaching funding.	•	Meet the requirements of Level B, plus:
•	Evidence of ability to administer and co-ordinate an award program.
•	Evidence of a significant contribution to professional activities relevant to the discipline and/or community at a national level.
•	Demonstrated ability to improve information to students, dealing with diversity and/or improving the student experience.
•	Evidence of significant contribution to Faculty committees and/or projects.
•	Positively raised Macquarie University’s profile by involvement in media, or higher level public discussion. 
	
Level D	•	Meet the requirements of Level C, plus:
•	Evidence of major original contributions to the field of study, that influenced thinking and/or practice in the field.
•	An active research program and a substantial record of academic publications and/or of successful research programs in the area of interest.
•	Leadership at a national level in the area of research speciality.
•	Demonstrated ability to build research collaborations. 
•	A record of invitations to examine theses, assess competitive grant applications, present invited papers, and/or other peer esteem indicators.
•	A demonstrated ability to attract external research grants.
•	A demonstrated ability to attract and successfully supervise a significant number of postgraduate research students to completion.

	•	Meet the requirements of Level C, plus:
•	A demonstrated ability to deliver influential teaching of undergraduate and/or postgraduate courses.
•	An ability to develop curricula and actively participate in teaching at all student levels.
•	Evidence of a well developed and explicit teaching philosophy recognised by peers.
•	Evidence of original and innovative contributions to learning and teaching.  
•	Demonstrated leadership in incorporating research into learning and teaching.
•	Demonstrated leadership in disseminating good practice in learning and teaching.	•	Meet the requirements of Level C, plus:
•	Evidence of a contribution to the governance and collegial life within the University
•	Evidence of a major contribution in University committee work and/or contributions to the wider community
•	Positively raised Macquarie University’s profile as recognised expert in a field.	
Level E	•	Meet the requirements of Level D, plus:
•	Evidence of recognition as a leading authority in their discipline at an international level.
•	Evidence of innovative and distinguished contributions to the field of research, which is demonstrated by sustained and distinguished performance.
•	Demonstrated ability to lead research teams or collaborations.
•	A demonstrated ability to attract external research grants at a substantial level, including funding for major projects and/or research centres.
•	A demonstrated ability to attract and successfully supervise a significant number of postgraduate research students to completion; and mentoring of junior staff as supervisors.	•	Meet the requirements of Level D, plus:
•	Evidence of recognition as a leader in teaching.
•	Evidence of an influential and explicit teaching philosophy which has led a discourse with discipline colleagues and is incorporated into the coaching of junior colleagues.
	•	Meet the requirements of Level D, plus:
•	Evidence of leadership and excellence in a field of research, teaching and policy development within the University and within the community, professional, commercial or industrial sectors.
•	Proactive involvement in initiatives to promote the sustainability and growth of the University. 
•	Evidence of a leadership role in University operations and/or the wider community.