Faculty Policies Handbook:

3. Faculty

3.1.3 Criteria for the Review of Faculty Performance
Excellence in teaching is the most important consideration in the granting of tenure and/or promotion. Deficiencies in teaching cannot be offset by accomplishments in other areas. A record of excellence in scholarship/creative activity is required, and service to the University, one's profession, students, and the community is also important. See also 4.7 in this handbook.

3.1.31 Teaching
Excellent teaching as defined for purposes of tenure and/or promotion encompasses three broad dimensions:

   a. Expertise in the discipline or interdisciplinary areas and mastery of the subject matter one teaches;

   b. Ability to define instructional objectives, organize materials and activities for the accomplishment of these objectives, and evaluate student achievement;

   c. Ability to present materials clearly; conduct classroom, laboratory, studio, or tutorial activities purposefully; engage students' minds and motivate them to perform to the best of their ability; and develop students' skills consistent with course objectives.

In addition, teaching includes:

   d. The development of models, equipment, inventions, computer-based instructional materials, or audiovisual materials that further the teaching of a discipline;

   e. Other activities the candidate's Department identifies and justifies as meriting consideration as directly related to teaching performance, such as directing undergraduate research and graduate advising, that is, acting as a graduate thesis or dissertation advisor. The Department is expected to recognize teaching done in interdisciplinary areas and to consult with the director of applicable programs in conducting the evaluation.

Within these guidelines, each Department must develop its own practices to assess instructional skills and accomplishments as they apply to excellence in teaching in its disciplines, and each Department may develop a statement that delineates any special or unique standards of teaching effectiveness and performance in its disciplines. The assessment practices and the statement of special or unique standards must be approved by the Dean of the College. Departments are expected to incorporate into their statements their procedures for taking into account work of an interdisciplinary nature. All members of the Department must be apprised of the Department's assessment practices and its additional statement, if one exists, on special or unique standards for the Department. Special or unique standards within the established criteria shall not be changed by the Department or the Dean without notice to the faculty member; the faculty member must be given an opportunity to demonstrate the ability to perform within these standards.

3.1.32 Scholarship/Creative Activity
Scholarship and creative activity are demonstrated in activities that show one's mind at work and one's skills in practice in one's discipline or artistic field. Although the definition of what constitutes scholarship and creative activity varies with individual disciplines and artistic fields, the College asserts their importance in the evaluation of candidates for tenure and/or promotion.

Scholarship and creative activity may be demonstrated in a variety of ways, including but not limited to those enumerated below. Faculty members are expected to present the results of their scholarly work or to perform or exhibit their artistic work, using means that subject them to critical review of the individual's initiative, contribution, and effort by peers within and beyond Drake University. An idea, product, or performance which cannot be subjected to some form of critical examination by peers is not scholarship or creative activity as here defined.

Evaluation of scholarship or creative performance is based principally on these elements:

   a. Publications, such as books, articles in refereed journals, chapters in books, monographs, and scientific reports;

   b. Artistic activities that are subject to critical evaluation, where practicable, including musical recitals and/or concert performances, publication or performance of original musical compositions, exhibitions of art work in individual or group displays, involvement in creative aspects of theatrical productions (i.e., stage/costume/lighting design, direction or choreography, acting or play writing), public readings of one's own creative work in prose and/or poetry, or other appropriate evidences of artistic activity.

In addition, scholarship/creative activity may include:
· Grant proposals funded (or approved for funding, pending availability of funds, or if not funded, judged to be of superior merit) through competitive processes involving peer review;
· Participation in professional meetings and conferences: principally, presenting scholarly papers, but also serving as a discussant, organizing a session, participating in a workshop, or being a panel member;
· On-campus scholarly activities such as lectures;
· Editorial work, such as editing professional journals and refereeing papers for journals; commissioned book reviews;
· The development of computer-based instructional materials that are published or otherwise evaluated and distributed by appropriate organizations and groups;
· A program of research designed to broaden or improve course offerings.

In the case of joint, cooperative, or collaborative efforts in the above items, the nature and extent of the candidate's involvement in them must be described.

The Department and the candidate may present other activities for consideration (such as unpublished research--papers or manuscripts that have not been published or presented in a public forum but are in process, existing at a stage where critical review by peers from off-campus is feasible; printed material, judged by peers to demonstrate scholarship, prepared for classroom use; awards and citations for excellence or for contributions in a discipline). The obligation to demonstrate that an activity cited merits consideration as scholarship or creative performance rests with the candidate and the department.

Since the recognition of scholarship varies among departments and disciplines, each Department must develop its own practices to assess scholarly and artistic achievement as they apply to its disciplines, and each Department may develop a statement that delineates any special or unique standards of scholarly or artistic achievement in its disciplines. The assessment practices and the statement of special or unique standards (which may be elaborations on or extensions of items a) and b) and those that follow, but in every instance they must be consistent with these items) must be approved by the Dean of the College. Departments are expected to incorporate into their statements their procedures for taking into account work of an interdisciplinary nature. All members of the Department must be apprised of the Department's assessment practices and its additional statement, if one exists, on special or unique standards for the Department.

3.1.33 Service
Service includes constructive involvement in the matters enumerated in items a) to n), below. Evaluation of service to students, the University, the community, and the profession is based on such things as:

   a. Academic advising, including working with open program students and departmental majors;

   b. Serving on Department, College, and University committees in governing the College and the University, formulating academic policies, and conducting University affairs;

   c. Promoting collegiality and the aims of the University through participation in University activities;

   d. Assisting students by advising them on choosing graduate or professional schools; preparing letters of recommendation for graduate scholarships, graduate studies, or employment; discussing career options they are considering; and referring them appropriately to sources of specialized help on such matters as financial aid, career planning, and personal problems;

   e. Advising student organizations;

   f. Assisting in the recruitment, orientation, counseling, and placement of students;

   g. Providing leadership or participating in the operation of interdisciplinary programs (in addition to teaching and scholarship, provided for above);

   h. Contributing professional expertise to community affairs through such things as lecturing to groups or organizations;

   i. Serving as a representative of the Department, College or University by designation of the President, the Provost, or the Dean of the College;

   j. Serving on local, state, or national boards, commissions, or advisory groups and providing leadership relating to one's discipline; or serving a professional association as officer, board member, or committee member;

   k. Providing professional or expert advice on subjects in one's discipline to media organizations;

   l. Writing newspaper articles, opinion columns, and other non-refereed pieces;

   m. Editing professional newsletters;

   n. Consulting professionally, paid or unpaid.

Each Department must develop its own practices to assess University and community service as it applies in the Department, and each Department may develop a statement that delineates any special or unique standards of service in its disciplines. The assessment practices and the statement of special or unique standards (which may be elaborations on or extensions of items a) to n), but in every instance they must be consistent with these items) must be approved by the Dean of the College. Departments are expected to incorporate into their statements their procedures for taking into account work of an interdisciplinary nature. All members of the Department must be apprised of the Department's assessment practices and its additional statement, if one exists, on special or unique standards for the Department.

3.1.34 Advising and Mentoring
Advising and mentoring students are extremely valuable activities. The goal of academic advising is to provide an ongoing and dynamic relationship between student and advisor to facilitate the student's adjustment to and development within the academic environment. Mentoring encompasses activities similar to apprenticeship-preparation for entry into a profession or career.

Advising and mentoring are activities involved in working with students outside of the classroom. Included are the following types of activities:

   a. Academic advising, including working with open program students and departmental majors;

   b. Assisting students by advising them on choosing graduate or professional schools; preparing letters of recommendation for graduate scholarships, graduate studies, or employment; discussing career options they are considering; and referring them appropriately to sources of specialized help on such matters as financial aid, career planning, and personal problems;

   c. Assisting in the orientation of new students;

   d. Helping students to prepare academically for semester-or year-long international programs;

   e. Advising student organizations;

   f. Assisting in the recruitment and placement of students.

Each Department must develoop its own practices to assess advising and mentoring as it applies in the Department, and each Department may develop a statement that delineates any special or unique standards of advising in its disciplines. The assessment practices and the statement of special or unique standards (which may be elaborations on or extensions of items 1) to f), but in every instance they must be consistent with these items) must be approved by the Dean of the College. All members of the Department must be apprised of the Department's assessment practices and its additional statement, if one exists, on special or unique standards for the Department.