GUIDELINES FOR APPOINTMENT, PROMOTION, AND TENURE

Department of Theatre and Dance

5/2/91

Revised: 9-5-00

The Department of Theatre and Dance supports the mission of Appalachian State University with its focus on teaching supported by scholarship/creative activity and service. Faculty members are expected to support and enhance their teaching skills by regular scholarship/creative activity and to contribute to the department, college, community and professional organizations.

There are individual differences in abilities and interests that require flexibility in evaluating performance in each area. Each person will contribute to the department in different ways and each one must be able to determine the weight for each of the areas in annual evaluation. The usual individual allocation in the three areas will be 50% for teaching, 25% for scholarship and 25% for service. The percentage may vary for each faculty member and will be negotiated in the spring evaluation conference. Teaching will generally range from 40-70%, service and scholarship from 10-35% each. It is expected that each faculty member will engage to some extent in all areas.

In addition to the amount of time spent in each area, it is important to evaluate the quality of the work being done. Minimum qualifications for promotion and tenure are stated in the Faculty Handbook. The following guidelines augment those minimal criteria and make them more explicit. The Department of Theatre and Dance expects that faculty members will go beyond the minimum qualifications and contribute in both the areas of scholarship and service.

The Department of Theatre and Dance recognizes the MFA as an appropriate terminal degree in the areas of performance, choreography, design, and production.

For the purpose of this document, the Department of Theatre and Dance includes the following definitions and indicators:

Teaching:

1. Effective classroom teaching is characterized by the presentation of appropriate subject matter using a variety of techniques. In addition effective teaching may include but is not limited to the following:

a. pertinent and well prepared materials

b. current professional content

c. the ability to deal with the spontaneous nature of creativity in appropriate courses

d. the ability to motivate students and stimulate student creativity

e. the ability to relate effectively to students

f. fairness and objectivity in instructional procedures

g. quality of student work

2. Classroom teaching may be documented by the following materials contained in a teaching portfolio:

a. list of classes taught at Appalachian and elsewhere

b. complete and organized syllabus

c. class handouts and tests

d. departmental student evaluations

e. other student evaluations as appropriate

f. peer evaluation at the request of the faculty member including departmental colleagues, other university colleagues, or outside faculty in the discipline

g. evidence of additional workshops or research leading to improved classroom materials

h. evaluation by graduates

i. self evaluation by the faculty member

j. other pertinent materials

3. Teaching in theatre and dance is also accomplished through interaction with students in the production process. The evaluation of the effectiveness of the teaching process may be measured by the final creative product and by student evaluation where appropriate and requested by the faculty member.

Scholarship/Creative Activity:

1. The Department further recognizes that an important component of scholarship/ creative activity is in the production and performance of works of theatre and dance which is a significant part of the departmental mission.

a. While the production of the performance is a part of the teaching activity of the department, the creation of the work by faculty performers, directors, choreographers, and designers should be evaluated as scholarship/creative activity for the the purpose of promotion, tenure, and merit pay considerations.

b. The Department accepts the guidelines recommended by the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, The National Dance Association, and the United States Institute of Theatre Technology as guidelines for the evaluation of creative activity which include but are not limited to the following:

1) systematic evaluation by the chair

2) written peer evaluation by faculty or professionals from outside the university

3) written peer evaluation by departmental colleagues or other university colleagues

4) other written evaluations of work

5) a self analysis of the faculty member's creative work

2. Theatre and Dance recognizes that scholarship is the systematic inquiry which includes but is not limited to the following:

a. the advancement of knowledge through scholarly articles and publications

b. the integration of knowledge through

1) presentations at professional meetings

2) curriculum development

c. the application of knowledge through

1) the enhancement of classroom teaching

2) the production of a creative work

3) workshops and demonstrations

4) book and theatre reviews

5) editing a scholarly journal

Service:

Service includes formal and informal activities on behalf of the department, college, university, the community at large, and the profession including but not limited to:

1. Departmental: participation on committees, special assignments, academic advising, work with student clubs, career and employment counseling and preparation

2. College/University: participation on committees and special assignments

3. Community. participation in local, state, regional, and national activities that are related to the discipline. This may include but is not limited to lectures, workshops, formal and informal consultancy.

4. Professional: active participation in professional organizations which may include but are not limited to serving as an officer, member of the board, serving on committees and organizing programs.

In each instance the higher rank includes the criteria for the previous ranks.

I. Assistant Professor

A. Appalachian Handbook: Minimum criteria for consideration of appointment/promotion

1. The earned terminal degree from an accredited institution, unless there are exceptional circumstances.

2. Evidence of ability in teaching and at least one of the following: research or other germane creative activity; or in professional service to the university and/or the public.

B. Teaching—examples include but are not limited to:

1. evidence of effective teaching as measured by the departmental evaluation process

2. evidence of ability to organize course materials and content to attain high standards of teaching effectiveness

3. evidence of participation in self-development activities such as:

a. attendance and participation in campus teaching seminars and workshops

b. attendance at state, regional, national teaching workshops

c. attendance at state, regional, national panels and workshops in the subject area of the class

d. use of consultants and resource personnel in the classroom

4. willingness to participate in curriculum development activities

5. the potential to become an effective teacher

C. Scholarship/Creative Activity—examples include but are not limited to:

1. creative activity evidenced by the public performance of a theatrical or dance production to which the faculty member has made a creative contribution.

2. scholarship evidenced by papers or workshops at state or regional professional meetings

D. Service examples include but are not limited to:

1. evidence of willingness to serve on departmental and university committees

2. evidence of involvement with appropriate State/Regional/National professional organizations

3. evidence of involvement in local, state, or regional activities related to the professional field

II. Associate Professor

A. Appalachian Handbook: Minimal criteria for consideration of appointment/promotion

1. The earned terminal degree from an accredited institution, unless there are exceptional circumstances and at least five years of appropriate experience;

2. demonstrated skill in teaching and recognized accomplishments in at least one of the following: teaching, research or other germane creative activity; or professional service to the university and/or to the public; and

3. willingness to participate in institutional affairs.

B. Teaching - additional criteria may include but are not limited to

1. growth in teaching effectiveness as evidenced by the departmental teaching portfolio

2. continued professional development in one's field which may include workshops, professional meetings and faculty development activities

3. active participation in curriculum review and revision including the creation of new courses and/or the major revision of a course

4. recognition of teaching effectiveness outside the university

C. Scholarship/Creative Activity-additional criteria may include but are not limited to:

1. Creative Activity

a. evidence of growth in the artistic contribution to the production program

b. design, direction, and/or performance in plays outside of the university

c. choreography and/ or dance performance outside of the university

d. favorable critical and peer evaluation of performance/production activity

e. willingness and ability to work constructively with colleagues and students

2. Scholarship

a. workshops , panels, or performances at state, regional or national conventions

b. presentation of research at state, regional or national conventions

c. publication of articles, monographs, sections of books

D. Service - additional criteria may include but are not limited to:

1. leadership in departmental and college committees

2. membership on University wide committees

3. active role in student advising, audition preparation, or work with student projects or activities

4. involvement as a committee member, board member in state, regional, or national professional organizations

5. significant involvement with the community as a consultant or advisor in the professional field

III. Professor

A. Appalachian Handbook: Minimum criteria for consideration of appointment/promotion

1. the earned terminal degree from an accredited institution, unless there are exceptional circumstances, and at least ten years of appropriate experience

2. demonstrated skill in teaching and outstanding reputation in at least one of the following: teaching, research or other germane creative activity; or in professional service to the university and /or to the public, and

3. demonstrated ability in and willingness to participate in institutional affairs

B. Teaching - additional criteria may include but are not limited to:

1. leadership in curriculum and program development

2. leadership in the development of new methods of teaching

3. outstanding success and reputation in teaching

C. Scholarship/Creative Activity It is expected that for promotion to Professor there will be some evidence of research leading to the advancement and integration of knowledge as well as to the application of knowledge in teaching and creative activity. Additional criteria may include but are not limited to:

1. Creative Activity

a. awards, honors, citations for creative activity

b. significant professional involvement

2. Scholarship

a. publication of a textbook or professional book

b. publication in a juried journal

c. contribution to a professional book or videotape

d. production of a professional videotape

e. professional journal editor and/or editorial board member

D. Service - additional criteria may include but are not limited to:

1. leadership and active memberships on university wide committees

2. graduate faculty status

3. officer or program planner for a state, regional, or national professional organization.

4. service as a consultant at state, regional or national level.

IV. Tenure

A. In order to be considered for tenure the faculty member will meet the criteria for the assistant professor

B. In addition the following considerations will be used to evaluate the faculty member for tenure:

1. willingness to perform reasonable Departmental services and functions as needed

2. significant contribution to the Department through fulfillment of assign

3. willingness and ability to work constructively with colleagues and students

4. appropriateness of the faculty member's abilities and knowledge to the Department's present and future needs and priorities

5. constructive contribution to the growth and development of the Department