Vanderbilt University School of Medicine (VUSM) predominantly employs five academic tracks for appointment of individuals to the employed status faculty. These tracks are complementary in that they are designed to accommodate faculty who engage in the wide variety of activities supporting the School’s mission, including research, teaching, clinical and administrative service. Significant accomplishments in any of these areas represent important contributions that warrant careful consideration in the evaluation of faculty nominated for appointment or promotion. This information has been designed to assist faculty members in understanding the policies and process governing appointments and promotions on the major academic tracks and to assist in the preparation of the supporting documentation used by the School in its evaluations.
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The Investigator track is further subdivided into Basic Science Investigator or Physician Scientist Investigator track and is used for faculty with major efforts in research and teaching. This is the only track that leads to Tenure. Appointments and promotions to senior ranks on this track are subject to review by the processes defined below.
Appointments and Promotions to Senior Ranks
On the Investigator track, teaching is an important criterion for appointment and promotion to senior ranks. Teaching is one of the core missions of the School of Medicine, and it can take numerous forms and involves a variety of learners. Teaching occurs in lectures, small discussion groups, during clinical rounds and procedures, and in the context of research training and mentoring. Faculty members may participate in the education of medical and graduate students, allied health professionals, residents and post-doctoral fellows, practicing physicians, faculty investigators, and others in the community. Faculty on this track make scholarly contributions to the institution and are awarded the titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor of the Department of appointment (e.g., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Professor of Health Policy).
Probationary Period to Tenure
In the School of Medicine, appointment as an Assistant Professor on the Investigator track requires that the faculty member be evaluated and approved for tenure within (9) nine years of the time of initial appointment. The awarding of tenure usually accompanies promotion to the rank of Associate Professor for faculty on the tenure track. Appointment renewals recommended for Assistant Professors on the investigator track must include a departmental statement affirming the faculty member’s progress toward being proposed for promotion and tenure.
Process of Appointment and Promotion
Recommendations for appointments and promotions on all tracks originate with department chairs, who act with the advice of Departmental Appointments and Promotions Committees. These committees consist of all full-time tenured full professors within a department or in the case of large departments at least six full-time tenured full professors. Recommendations from the chairs are forwarded to the Dean, who seeks the advice of the School of Medicine’s Committee on Faculty Appointments and Promotions. This committee consists of sixteen faculty members at the rank of Professor representing diverse disciplines within the School of Medicine and representing the three major tracks. Upon a favorable recommendation from this committee, the Associate Dean forwards the recommendation to the Executive Committee of the Executive Faculty (ECEF) of the School of Medicine, which acts on behalf of the faculty of the School of Medicine in reviewing and endorsing the recommendation. Recommendations acted on favorably are forwarded to the Executive Vice Dean for Academic Affairs. In the case involving a recommendation for award of tenure, the Executive Vice Dean forwards recommendations for tenure to the Chancellor, who requests endorsement by the Vanderbilt University Board of Trust. Appointments to tenure are not official until approved by the Board of Trust. In the case involving a recommendation for promotion to full professor, the Executive Vice Dean forwards the recommendations for promotion to the Chancellor. Appointments or Promotions to full professor are not official until approved by the Chancellor. Negative decisions for promotion may be appealed by the department chair or by the faculty member according to the procedures in the Faculty Manual.
Documentation Requirements
See Criteria for Appointment / Promotion on Investigator track for documentation requirements for appointment and promotion.
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The Educator track is further subdivided into Basic Science Educator and Clinician Educator track and is used for faculty with major efforts in teaching and service. Appointments and promotions to senior ranks on this track are subject to review by the processes defined below.
Appointments and Promotions to Senior Ranks
On the Educator track, teaching is an important criterion for appointment and promotion to senior ranks. Teaching is one of the core missions of the School of Medicine, and it can take numerous forms and involves a variety of learners. Teaching occurs in lectures, small discussion groups, during clinical rounds and procedures, and in the context of research training and mentoring. Faculty members may participate in the education of medical and graduate students, allied health professionals, residents and post-doctoral fellows, practicing physicians, faculty investigators, and others in the community. Faculty on this track make scholarly contributions to the institution and are awarded the titles of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor of the Department of appointment (e.g., Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Associate Professor of Health Policy).
Process of Appointment and Promotion
Recommendations for appointments and promotions on all tracks originate with department chairs, who act with the advice of Departmental Appointments and Promotions Committees. These committees consist of all full-time tenured full professors within a department or in the case of large departments at least six full-time tenured full professors. Recommendations from the chairs are forwarded to the Dean, who seeks the advice of the School of Medicine’s Committee on Faculty Appointments and Promotions. This committee consists of sixteen faculty members at the rank of Professor representing diverse disciplines within the School of Medicine and representing the three major tracks. Upon a favorable recommendation from this committee, the Associate Dean forwards the recommendation to the Executive Committee of the Executive Faculty (ECEF) of the School of Medicine, which acts on behalf of the faculty of the School of Medicine in reviewing and endorsing the recommendation. The Associate Dean communicates the final approval or disapproval of the ECEF to the department. Negative decisions for promotion may be appealed by the department chair or by the faculty member according to the procedures in the Faculty Manual.
There are no time limits for promotion to Associate Professor on the Educator track. Likewise, there are no time limits for promotion from Associate to full Professor on any track. Note that appointment to the Educator track does not preclude the attainment of tenure if qualifications for tenure are met within the time limit defined in the Faculty Manual by the probationary period for tenure.
Documentation Requirements
See Criteria for Appointment / Promotion on Educator track for documentation requirements for appointment and promotion.
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The Clinical Practice track is primarily for faculty whose primary contributions are to the clinical service mission of the School. Appointments and promotions to senior ranks on this track are subject to review by the processes defined below.
Appointments and Promotions to Senior Ranks
The Clinical Practice track is appropriate for faculty within the clinical departments whose primary contributions occur within in the clinical realm and for whom teaching is performed predominantly in the course of clinical duties, rather than in lieu of clinical duties. Faculty on the Clinical Practice track are identified by similar rank titles: Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor. However, in the case of the Clinical Practice track, the term “Clinical” is inserted just before the department designation (e.g., Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics).
Process of Appointment and Promotion
Recommendations for appointments and promotions on all tracks originate with department chairs, who act with the advice of Departmental Appointments and Promotions Committees. These committees consist of all full-time tenured full professors within a department or in the case of large departments at least six full-time tenured full professors. Recommendations from the chairs are forwarded to the Dean, who seeks the advice of the School of Medicine’s Committee on Faculty Appointments and Promotions. This committee consists of six faculty members at the rank of Professor on the Clinical Practice track. Upon a favorable recommendation from this committee, the Associate Dean forwards the recommendation to the Executive Committee of the Executive Faculty (ECEF) of the School of Medicine, which acts on behalf of the faculty of the School of Medicine in reviewing and endorsing the recommendation. The Associate Dean communicates the final approval or disapproval of the ECEF to the department. Negative decisions for promotion may be appealed by the department chair or by the faculty member according to the procedures in the Faculty Manual.
There are no time limits for promotion to Associate Professor on the Clinical Practice track. Likewise, there are no time limits for promotion from Associate to full Professor on any track.
Documentation Requirements
See Criteria for Appointment / Promotion on Clinical Practice track for documentation requirements for appointment and promotion.
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The Research Track is appropriate for faculty involved in time-limited research programs with no or minimal teaching responsibilities. Appointment and promotion on this track are recommended by the chair of the department, and approved by the Dean’s Office.
Process of Appointment and Promotion
Recommendations for appointments and promotions on all tracks originate with department chairs. Upon a favorable recommendation from the chair and any departmental appointments and promotions committee, the Associate Dean communicates the final approval or disapproval to the department. Negative decisions for promotion may be appealed by the department chair or by the faculty member according to the procedures in the Faculty Manual. Faculty on the Research track are identified by similar rank titles: Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, and Professor. However, in the case of the Research track, the term “Research” is inserted just before the rank designation (e.g., Research Assistant Professor of Pediatrics).
There are no time limits for promotion to Research Associate Professor on the Research track. Likewise, there are no time limits for promotion from Research Associate to Research Professor.
Documentation Requirements
See Criteria for Appointment / Promotion on Research track for documentation requirements for appointment and promotion.
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The Assistant In/Associate In Track is for faculty whose discipline is not formally represented in the departmental organization of the VUSM (e.g., social work, nursing), but who contribute to the mission of the school. Appointment and promotion on this track are recommended by the chair of the department, and approved by the Dean’s Office.
Process of Appointment and Promotion
Recommendations for appointments and promotions on all tracks originate with department chairs. Upon a favorable recommendation from the chair and any departmental appointments and promotions committee, the Associate Dean communicates the final approval or disapproval to the department. Negative decisions for promotion may be appealed by the department chair or by the faculty member according to the procedures in the Faculty Manual. Faculty on the Assistant in / Associate in track are identified by rank titles: Assistant in, Associate in, and Senior Associate in, followed by the department designation (e.g., Assistant in Pediatrics).
There are no time limits for promotion to Associate in on the Assistant in / Associate in track. Likewise, there are no time limits for promotion from Associate in to Senior Associate in.
Documentation Requirements
See Criteria for Appointment / Promotion on Assistant in / Associate in track for documentation requirements for appointment and promotion.