Approved 3/2/01

DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES
PROMOTION AND TENURE GUIDELINES

This document provides an overview of the standards and other considerations for promotion and tenure in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics. The Department seeks to promote candidates who have displayed excellence in scholarly research, and/or creative expression in their disciplines, a high level of effectiveness in teaching, and a solid performance in the area of service.

Assistant Professors in the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics will ordinarily become candidates for promotion to the level of associate professor and for the award of tenure when they reach their sixth year of service in a tenure track position. For tenured faculty there is no limit on years in rank before promotion.

Scholarly Research and Creative Activity

As a research institution, Florida State University places high value on scholarship and publication, and expects its faculty members to be among the best of their peers. In evaluating each candidate for promotion and/or tenure, the Department of Modern Languages and Linguistics shall consider the quality and quantity of the work, including its significance to the candidate's field(s), to permit a reliable judgment and to assure continued commitment. As a general guideline it is suggested that the candidate have, by the beginning of the official promotion and tenure evaluation process to associate professor, one book in print or in press, and several significant articles accepted or in print, one or more of which reflects work on a second book-length project. Evidence of work in progress, for example manuscript copies and referees' reports, may be submitted with other materials during the promotion and tenure review process; however, the evaluation will focus primarily on works published or accepted for publication.

In terms of the types of publications that will be considered in the promotion and tenure evaluation, and the value ascribed to them, the hierarchy is as follows:

• Scholarly book-length publications such as critical studies and major critical editions. Editions are considered "major" when they include a substantial introduction, annotation and critical apparatus.
• Edited collections (by candidate) of scholarly or creative works.
• Articles in refereed or highly selective outlets: journals, edited books, proceedings; and the awarding of a major national or international grant or fellowship.
• Entries in encyclopedia; book reviews; and interviews of major figures published in professional journals.
• Presentations at well-regarded scholarly conferences, or workshops, may be listed in the research dossier.

For the award of tenure based on creative activity, the candidate should present accomplishments of high quality comparable to those expected of his/her peers seeking tenure based on scholarly research. Works presented as evidence of artistic production must have obtained significant recognition within the respective artistic tradition at a national level.

In the realm of the creative activity, projects within the candidate's disciplines will be evaluated on the following criteria:

• Publication of a volume of the author's own work, whether a novel, a collection of short stories, a book of poetry, drama, a book-length translation with a high quality press. The place of publication should be in a prestigious national or international small press, trade or university press.
• Short stories, poems, plays, novel excerpts, and essays, published in distinguished literary journals and outstanding outlets or collections, and publicly presented productions, readings or stagings of original drama, and critically or peer-reviewed productions or performances.
• Translations by the candidate of single short stories, poems, essays; collaborative authoring and performance art.
• Invitations from other universities to give solo readings or presentations of original work, invitations to speak at distinguished events.

Teaching

The Department expects its candidates to provide evidence of high quality instruction and to contribute substantially to its teaching mission. In evaluating the quality of each candidate's teaching, the Department will consider the candidate's teaching portfolio on the basis of criteria such as the following:

• Peer evaluations based on classroom observations by the chair, members of the third-year review committee (when applicable), and other senior faculty
• A narrative of teaching experience, including the candidates philosophy of teaching and an assessment of her/his effectiveness, and a complete chronology of courses taught
• Course materials, including syllabi and examinations
• Particpation on honors, MA and /or PhD committee, especially as directing or major professor
• Student evaluations, such as the SUSSAI and SIRS
• Extra or special teaching responsibilities, such as supervised research, DIS's, honors, or Gordon Rule; serving as overseer of internships
• Award of or nomination for teaching and/or advising recognition
• Development of new courses and/or materials
• Receipt of grants for developing new courses, materials or curricula
• Participation in professional development workshops, conferences, and seminars
• Unsolicited letters from students and peers
• Pre-professional development activities for students such as workshops, mock interviews, etc.
• Advising responsibilities

Service

In addition to teaching and research, a faculty member is expected to demonstrate a solid record of service. Service activities fall into three general categories: service to the institution, service to the profession, and service to the public. At the institutional level, service activities contribute to the efficient operation of the department or enhance the academic life of the Florida State University community. The department also encourages faculty members to use their professional expertise beyond the university community to support local, state, regional, or national endeavors. Moreover, the department recognizes service to the discipline through participation in professional and scholarly organizations and encourages cooperation with our colleagues at every educational level to promote the study of languages, literature, and culture. While service cannot be proposed as the main category in tenure and/or promotion cases, neglecting or failing in it, diminishes the candidate who is outstanding in research and/or teaching service. Service includes both assigned and unassigned activities. Satisfactory performance in service, as assigned by the department, will be considered sufficient for promotion to associate professor and recommendation for tenure.

Promotion to Full Professor

In general, the procedures to be followed for promotion to full Professor are the same as those specified above for consideration for the award of tenure and promotion to associate. However, the indicators of excellence in scholarship (see Scholarly and Creative Activity) shall be substantially developed and recognized at a national or international level. A distinguished record in research normally includes a second published book. In special cases, the Department may recommend promotion on the basis of one very important and well-received book and a substantial body of articles or creative works. In addition, the candidate must demonstrate outstanding teaching and sustained participation in professional life, including a record of significant involvement in regional and national organizations and in departmental, college, and university committees.

Other promotion and tenure guidelines specific to an individual candidate's field may be appended to this document.