Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics

DEPARTMENT OF BIOCHEMISTRY, MOLECULAR BIOLOGY, AND BIOPHYSICS

DEPARTMENTAL STATEMENT

REQUIRED BY SECTION 7.12 OF

REGULATIONS CONCERNING FACULTY TENURE

I. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT

This document describes the specific criteria and standards which will be used to evaluate whether candidates meet the general criteria in Section 7.11 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure. For a complete perspective, the reader is advised to review Section 7 in its entirety.

The criteria, standards and procedures are applied without regard to race religion, color, sex, national origin, handicap, age, veteran status or sexual orientation.

II. MISSION STATEMENT

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics is committed to providing a stimulating environment in which faculty, staff, and students can work productively together in pursuit of the following goals:

To pursue fundamental research on molecular mechanisms that are responsible for biological processes and to communicate this work to both basic and applied research scientists and the public. It is our intention to foster scholarship, high quality research, and education in each of the fields that constitute the biochemical sciences, with special emphasis in molecular biology, regulatory biochemistry, microbial biochemistry, and structural biology and biophysics.

To provide the best possible education and training in contemporary biochemistry, molecular biology and biophysics for undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, and allied professional students.

To serve as a resource for biochemical expertise for the campus at large, the University as a whole, and the people of the State of Minnesota.

III. CRITERIA FOR TENURE

Section 7.11 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure states:

"The basis for awarding indefinite tenure is the determination that the achievements of an individual have demonstrated the individual’s potential to continue to contribute significantly to the mission of the University and to its programs of teaching, research, and service over the course of the faculty member's academic career. The primary criteria for demonstrating this potential are effectiveness in teaching and professional distinction in research; outstanding discipline-related service contributions may also be taken into account. The relative importance of the criteria may vary in different academic units, but each of the criteria must be considered in every decision."

Indefinite tenure may be granted at any time when the candidate has satisfied the requirements.

In addition, the pattern of performance should be sufficiently consistent to indicate that the faculty member is likely to continue to contribute strongly to the research, teaching, service and governance missions of the department over the course of their career. A probationary appointment must be terminated when the appointee fails to satisfy the criteria in the last year of probationary service and may be terminated earlier if it appears that the appointee is not making satisfactory progress toward meeting the criteria within that period.

Standards for Tenure - Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics accepts and subscribes to the statement of Criteria and Standards for Tenure of Faculty in both the University of Minnesota Medical School and the College of Biological Sciences, with the following standards specific to the department.

A. RESEARCH/SCHOLARSHIP

Biochemistry is a research-oriented discipline and thus tenure recommendations are primarily based on scholarly activity of the faculty. Scholarly activity will be judged on the following standards:

Primary Criteria:

1. Publications in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Scientific articles reporting high quality research that significantly advance the candidate's field of research must be published in well-recognized peer-reviewed journals appropriate to the departments discipline(s). Contributions to prestigious review journals, monographs, etc. that are not peer-reviewed will be taken into consideration.

2. External Research Funding

Candidates must have an independent research program. As a principal investigator they must attract external funding based upon peer review, from federal, international, or private agencies or industrial sources appropriate to the discipline.

3. Recognition of Scholarly Contributions

Letters will be sought from leaders in the candidate's field of research to document that the candidate's contributions are scholarly, creative, and have contributed significantly to advancement of the field. The assessments will also provide clear evidence of whether or not the candidate has a national or international reputation in the discipline of biochemistry.

Additional Criteria:

1. Invited Participation in Symposia, Meetings and Seminars

Candidates should be invited by national and/or international scientific organizations to participate in symposia, meetings, and conferences and should have presented seminars before peers at other institutions.

2. Participation in Peer Review

Candidates should serve as reviewers of manuscripts and grants in their disciplinary area.

B. TEACHING

The department affirms the importance of effectiveness in teaching. Faculty are expected to participate in the teaching and advising of undergraduate, graduate and/or professional students, and to serve as a thesis adviser to candidates for advanced degrees in the the Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, & Biophysics and other University graduate programs. Evaluation of teaching effectiveness will be based on:

1. Written statements by the colleagues, peers and others familiar with the candidate's teaching performance.

2. Evaluations by students. To aid in judging the quality of teaching, the Department requires an annual evaluation of each course taught by its faculty.

3. Degree candidates advised in professional and/or graduate schools, and undergraduate research students advised.

4. Review of syllabi for courses taught and developed by the candidate.

The teaching of a faculty member can be recognized for its high quality in several ways. These include high scores on student evaluations, teaching awards, testimonials by students and faculty, design of effective new courses, major contributions to the organization or improvement of curricula, leadership in advising of students, and dedication to providing seminars, colloquia and honors courses beyond normal teaching assignments.

C DISCIPLINE-RELATED SERVICE

Discipline-related service appropriately involves faculty in public service ­ the rendering of expert assistance and other advisory services to professional organizations, learned societies, disciplinary journals, federal and private agencies. Evaluation of service-effectiveness will be based on documentation provided by the candidate as well as by letters from colleagues, peers and others familiar with these service activities.

Such service may be taken as evidence of nationally recognized stature within the discipline, but without accompanying researchand teaching contributions cannot be the basis for awarding tenure.

D. GOVERNANCE

The department faculty are expected to participate in activities required to study the needs of the Department, College or University, to decide procedures for meeting those needs, and to implement those decisions. Evaluation of effectiveness in governance will be based on documentation provided by the candidate as well as by letters from colleagues, peers and others familiar with these service activities.

The individual's participation in the governance of the institution and other services to the University and service to the academic unit may be taken into consideration, but are not in themselves sufficient basis for awarding tenure.

IV. PROMOTION

Standards for Promotion - Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics

The Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics accepts and subscribes to the statement on Criteria and Standards for Promotion of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School and in the College of Biological Sciences, with the following standards specific to the department.

A. To Associate Professor

The criteria and standards for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor are those stated here for consideration for tenure in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biophysics.

A recommendation for promotion to Associate Professor is made when an eligible faculty member has fulfilled the general criteria applicable to tenure, as stated in Section 7.11, and the specific criteria and standards for promotion to Associate Professor (same as for tenure).

B. To Professor

A candidate for promotion to Professor is judged according to the following standards:

Continued adherence to the standards on which promotion to Associate Professor was based, with respect to performance and accomplishments in teaching and research, and, in addition,

1. Establishment of a training program for pre- and/or postdoctoral trainees that has resulted in placing of trainees in academic or industrial positions.

2. An international reputation, as demonstrated by invitations to international symposia, election to prestigious scientific organizations, editorial boards, national review panels and holding offices in international societies.

3. Letters from national and international leaders in the candidate's field, assessing the candidate's scientific contributions and demonstrating that they are among the leaders in their chosen field.

V. PROCEDURES

The Department complies with the Procedures for Reviewing the Performance of Probationary Faculty as provided by Sections 16.3, 7.4 and 7.61 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure.

The BMBB departmental promotion and tenure committee will be composed of all BMBB tenured faculty of appropriate rank. The recommendations of this committee will be forwarded to the departmental head.