Who ultimately grants or denies promotion?
For basic science and all tenure track/tenured faculty, the only individual who can grant/deny promotion is the Provost of the University. All other levels of the process - the internal department review committee, the department Chair, the SOM Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee, the SOM Dean, and the University Committee on Academic Rank and Tenure - only vote whether to recommend or not recommend the awarding of promotion to the Provost.
For clinical non-tenure track faculty, the only individual who can grant/deny promotion is the Dean of the School of Medicine. All other levels of the process - the internal department review committee, the department Chair, and the SOM Appointment, Promotion and Tenure Committee - only vote whether to recommend or not recommend the awarding of promotion to the Provost.
To be clear, this means that a faculty member can be "not recommended" by each level and still have their promotion packet moved forward in the process. Only the applicant - not any committee or other individual - has the right to decide whether an applicant's dossier continues forward at any stage of the process.
In the past, the Provost has approved promotion for individuals who were not recommended by previous committees. On the flip side, the Provost has also denied promotion for individuals who were recommended by previous committees.
When am I eligible to apply for promotion?
Non Tenure Track and Tenure Track: In most cases, faculty are prepared to apply promotion after rank has been held for at least five years.
Note: The Faculty Manual states, "Early applications for promotion and/or tenure must demonstrate they have met the applicable standards - not that they have exceeded them."
When will my promotion be made effective?
For the coming cycle, all promotions are effective July 1, 2026.
How many letters of evaluation do I need?
At least five. Every dossier must include two letters of evaluation from department colleagues in addition to three non-departmental letters of evaluation. The evaluator criteria for these additional three letters varies depending on track and rank requested. Please see the Letter Guide for specifics.
If my request for promotion is denied, can I try again next year?
Yes.
How do I appeal the Dean's/Provost's decision?
If the Provost denies the request for promotion and/or tenure, the applicant may ask for the grounds of the denial and may appeal the Provost's decision to the President of the University, whose decision is final and not subject to further appeal.
If appealing to the President of the University, after receiving and reviewing the Provost's explanation of the denial, the applicant can electronically send a formal letter to the President of the University requesting an official review of their promotion and/or tenure request. When emailing this letter, the faculty member will copy their department chair and Andy Griesenauer (andy.griesenauer@health.slu.edu). When the President has made a final determination, a letter will be sent to the faculty member.