Frequently asked Question's

Find answers here.

Below are a series of questions commonly asked about the process of academic development of professorship for the Department of Psychiatry. If your questions are still unclear, please contact us on the Contacts Page.

What are the benefits of a USU Academic Appointment or of being promoted?

Formal recognition of your academic accomplishments (listed in your credentials publication submissions)
A faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor rank is required of ALL clinicians, researchers, and supervisors of USU medical students
Promotion is evidence of the progression of your career (perhaps superseded by one above)
Higher academic rank may increase the chance of grant funding and selection for national committee service.
Faculty members may write letters of recommendation for all faculty aspiring to be appointed or promoted to the same (or lower) academic rank
Allows ease of collaboration within and outside USUHS among PURE platform participants

How do I know if I am ready for promotion?

You should discuss your readiness for promotion every year during your annual review with your supervisor, section chief or department/division chair to clarify what you must do to be promoted and if you are on track.
In general, faculty require a minimum of 4 years as an Assistant Professor and several years as an Associate Professor to be considered for the next higher academic rank, assuming other requirements are also met.

Does committee service count in promotion?

Service to the university (Institutional Citizenship) is necessary but insufficient for promotion.
Service/citizenship requirements are higher for associate and full professor ranks.

What aspects of external recognition are sought in recommendation letters?

Letters for Associate Professor and full Professor appointment/promotion should be written by academic faculty at the sought rank or higher from an outside (non-USU) institution and should attest to:
1. 1. - National reputation/impact for associate professor candidates
    - Strong national or international reputation/impact for full professor candidates
    - Eligibility for candidate promotion to the same rank at a letter writer’s institution
    - Scholarship and its impact

What are some pointers for making sure letter-writers can serve among the 6 required for associate or full professors?

Letters must not:

- Indicate that the candidate is a friend, mentee, or supervisor (must be greater than arm's length). If a national/international collaborator, the nature of the collaboration must be made clear. Committee collaboration is generally acceptable as co-authorship, provided most of the reviewed manuscripts do not share authorship.
- Be written by a faculty holding only a modified (aka "prefixed" title, such as Clinical, Research, Adjunct); lacking a faculty appointment, or holding a rank lower than the rank aspired to by the candidate.

Do you know if mentoring counts?

Associate and full professors are expected to indicate their mentoring activity in their personal statement and in their Educator's Portfolio.

What is a modified or prefixed title?

A modified title is any prefix to the academic rank, e.g., research, clinical, adjunct, or emeritus

Can a clinician who does not have national recognition or scholarly dissemination be promoted?

Faculty predominantly responsible for clinical activities with few administrative or scholarly activities or responsibilities may be promoted with clinical modifiers.
Criteria for promotion include:

- Local reputation
- Measures of patient volume and patient and student satisfaction
- Time in rank
- Teaching activities
- Other contributions to the medical center or its affiliates

If my title has a clinical or research modifier, can I be promoted to an unmodified title?

If you meet the criteria for the unmodified title, you can be promoted from a modified title to an unmodified title

Does teaching or clinical service count towards promotion?

Educational or clinical service are both important missions of the medical school.
Clinicians should publish new clinical studies or quality improvement initiatives, and educators should publish curricula and educational scholarship in Med Ed Portal, Academic Medicine, or other peer reviewed journals, including professional society journals.
Teaching (and clinical service for clinicians) are part of the citizenship requirements for promotion. Thus, concisely summarize your teaching and clinical responsibilities and include a Teaching Portfolio for demonstration.
You may detail teaching and clinical service in your personal statement.
Highlight scholarly contributions in your CV.

How do I document recognition of my education scholarship?

Peer reviewed publications of new curricula (in Med Ed Portal or Academic Psychiatry, Academic Medicine, or your professional society journal) provides the best documentation.
If you have a website with curricular materials, please note number of:

- Unique visitors
- Institutions that use the resource
- Countries in which website is accessed
- Downloads

Teaching your curriculum at a national meeting or workshop
Invited visiting professorships at respected universities
Mentees in your area of curricular expertise for whom you have served on thesis committees
Co-published with faculty in positions at respected universities.
Leadership roles in professional societies
Participation on a certification committee
Broadcast and print media contributions on your education innovation

After a promotion, when should I begin thinking about what I need for my next promotion?

The next day.
Seek mentorship from respected leaders in the Department and in your area of specialty
Identify the strategies necessary to advance to the next academic rank to minimize the number of years between promotions. The path to promotion is long and needs adequate preparation.
Maintain your CV so it is up to date, which minimizes omission errors and lone re-creation when asked for national or external awards and opportunities.
EVERY briefing is an example of your expertise, reach, and teaching skills, so be sure to keep track and record these.
Take opportunities that present unexpectedly (e.g., invitations to speak nationally or internationally).

What are strategies to prepare to be promoted to associate and full professor?

For an associate professor you need national recognition.
Candidates for full professor need strong national and ideally international recognition.
Build your scholarly focus and academic identity; publish outstanding papers, develop innovative curricula
Find colleagues from other institutions with whom to interact or collaborate.
Establish your academic home in an organization within your specialty and get involved.
Take advantage of opportunities that will lead to national credibility and recognition.
Seek out opportunities to enhance Service to the University (remote or in-person).

What is the minimum number of years I must be in rank before going up for promotion?

You must be at the rank of Assistant Professor for 4 years before being promoted to the level of Associate Professor in the non-modified tenure track
You must be at the rank of Associate Professor for a minimum of 4 years before being reviewed for promotion to the level of Professor in the non-modified tenure track.

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