Faculty handbook at Loma Linda University gives the following criteria for promotion from assistant to associate professor:
1. Demonstration of independent research ability and success as a researcher capable of attracting major outside funding.
2. Equivalent of seven papers as first or senior author for faculty with 50 percent or more time assigned to research. At the discretion of the committee, the minimum number of publications may be decreased for a faculty member who carries a heavy teaching load and is a superior teacher.
3. Favorable evaluation of significant administrative contribution.
4. Evaluation as an effective teacher.
I would like to ask my research gate friends to tackle bullet number 1 for me in this first discussion. What is attracting major outside funding? Does a R21 count or should it be a renewable award? Does being part of a program project with an RO1 equivalent count or does it have to be independent? Do multiple foundational awards count though they range from 25-75K each?
Also is it appropriate to link demonstration of research ability with funding attraction or should it be an algorithm that takes into account the number of publications, their impact factors and the money the lab had available to achieve those publications that should be taken into account?
There are many drivers for change in promotion and tenure criteria. I absolutely agree that given the changes in our current economy and its impact on NIH funding, promotion must take that into consideration. In addition, NIH, through its CTSA (clinical and translational science awards) is redefining how research should be done, as is the push for inter professional education and research. To realize the goals of the CTSA and inter professional education we really must reward collaborative research in our promotion and tenure process.
I asked this question 3 years ago at Research Gate "Should promotion standards be changed after the decline of the quality of university graduates?".
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Should_promotion_standards_be_changed_after_the_decline_of_the_quality_of_university_graduates
There were valuable contributions from several great scholars who belong to a variety of countries.
What I concluded, from their "scientific" comments, is that many educational systems are administered by incompetent persons who design & implement "sloppy" policies that will eventually end up with "disasters".
The educational systems have been much commercialized & politicized. Those, who hold top positions & practice "real" failures, will have shielding or protection from "corrupt" politicians or groups or agencies or "greedy" filthy rich persons.
The universities, in many parts of the world, hold just the names but they have been "really" turned into something else.
Anyone, with a sense of humanity, ought to call for an overhaul of the educational systems before they become entire "casinos".
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