Faculty Appointment, Promotion and Tenure

The Tenure, Appointments and Promotions (TAP) Committee establishes the standards, criteria and procedures for reviewing and recommending faculty appointments, promotions and tenure. The TAP Committee takes into consideration evidence of accomplishment in teaching, research, patient care, administration and other professional activities. The guidelines used by the TAP Committee are available through the Office of Faculty Records.

The academic ranks in the School of Medicine include instructor, assistant professor, associate professor, and professor in any of the academic departments. Academic appointments above the rank of instructor follow one of three tracks:

• The academic or unmodified track consists of appointments as assistant professor, associate professor and professor. These ranks may be awarded in any of the academic disciplines at the College. To be eligible for appointment in this track a faculty member must be employed or assigned full-time at New York Medical College or an affiliate and participate in the academic programs of the College. This track is eligible for tenure at the rank of associate professor and above. Appointment or promotion to the rank of associate professor and above requires review by the TAP Committee.
• The clinical track consists of the ranks of assistant professor of clinical, etc. in any of the clinical departments of the College, e.g. professor of clinical medicine. The clinical track differs from the academic track in that excellence in teaching and clinical service may be weighted more heavily than achievement in research. This track requires full time employment or assignment at the College or an affiliate and participation in the academic programs of the College. This track is eligible for tenure at the rank of associate professor and above. Appointment or promotion to the rank of associate professor of clinical and above requires review by the TAP Committee.
• The voluntary track consists of appointments to the ranks of clinical assistant professor etc. in any of the academic departments of the College. Progression through this track is based on achievement in teaching, clinical service and research. This track is not eligible for tenure. Appointment or promotion to the rank of clinical associate professor and above requires review by the TAP Committee.

Other modifiers of academic rank include those of research, adjunct and visiting. The research modifier, e.g. research associate professor, is reserved for faculty exclusively involved in research in any of the Colleges academic departments. The designation as adjunct is for individuals who maintain primary faculty appointments at other academic institutions. Faculty from other academic institutions may be designated with visiting rank at New York Medical College for a limited period of time.

Recommendations for faculty appointments or promotions are initiated when a department chairman proposes the actions to the Dean. Standard "Recommendation for Appointment/Promotion" forms are available in department chairmen offices. A faculty member may not maintain an appointment at another academic institution except in an adjunct or visiting capacity. The TAP Committee reviews all proposed appointments or promotions to the rank of professor, professor of clinical, research professor, clinical professor, associate professor, associate professor of clinical, research associate professor and clinical associate professor and makes recommendations to the Dean. If a faculty member feels that the department chairman has not proposed him or her for consideration of promotion or tenure in a timely and reasonable fashion, an alternative pathway mechanism may be employed as described in the Faculty Constitution and By-laws.

New York Medical College seeks to build and maintain an excellent faculty. It believes that justice and academic freedom as well as the College’s interests are assured by providing tenure to its foremost scholars. Tenure is awarded to a faculty member in order to protect the individual's academic freedom and allow the faculty member to pursue his or her academic activities without worry of undue termination. The granting of tenure vests responsibility on the faculty member to adhere to the continuing commitment to excellence. The TAP Committee reviews recommendations for tenure and makes recommendations to the Dean. New York Medical College’s policy on tenure is contained in the Faculty Constitution and By-laws.

Page Updated  June 18, 2007