Pediatrics

Department of Pediatrics

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. Section 7.11 is printed in its entirety in III. Criteria for Tenure (see below).

This 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 mission of the Medical School is to conduct high quality programs of research, education, and service through which the college contributes significantly to the provision of excellent health care for the people of Minnesota.

The mission of the Department of Pediatrics is to advance the state of knowledge in child health and disease; to educate medical students, physicians in training and in practice, other health professionals, and the public as to childhood disease prevention, treatment, research and advocacy; and to provide and set standards for highest quality of child health care.

III. CRITERIA FOR TENURE

Section 7.11 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure states: "General Criteria. The basis for awarding indefinite tenure is the determination that the achievements of an individual have demonstrated the individuals 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 members academic career. The primary criteria for demonstrating this potential are effectiveness in teaching and professional distinction in research; outstanding discipline-related service contributions will be also be taken into account where they are an integral part of the mission of the academic unit. The relative importance of the criteria may vary in different academic units, but each of the criteria must be considered in every decision.

The individuals 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 bases for awarding tenure.

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

The Department of Pediatrics accepts and subscribes to the statement on Criteria and Standards for Tenure of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with the following standards specific to the department.

A. TEACHING

Teaching activities may occur in a variety of educational settings and formats, including: didactic presentations, lectures, seminars, conferences, tutorials, laboratories, advising of students, case discussions, grand rounds, hospital and clinic rounds, patient care, surgical and other procedures, continuing education.

The following are educational activities in which competence and accomplishments in teaching can be demonstrated:

1. Participation and competence in teaching undergraduate (pre-baccalaureate) students.

2. Participation and competence in teaching professional students, including students in the M.D. curriculum, or other professional educational programs.

3. Service and distinction as a faculty adviser to post-M.D. residents (Medical Fellow Specialists or Medical Fellows), post-residency clinical fellows, or advanced degree candidates in medical disciplines, interdisciplinary programs or collaborative research programs.

4. Service as a faculty mentor or adviser to students in any of the above categories, including medical students in the clinical courses of the M.D. curriculum.

5. Service as a faculty mentor to students in any of the above categories who engage in research activities in the department.

B. RESEARCH/SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarly activities of a faculty member will be evaluated according to the following standards:

1. Scientific Publications

Scientific articles reporting quality biomedical research should be published in appropriate peer-reviewed journals related to the discipline(s) of medicine.

Peer-reviewed journals that are recognized as outstanding and appropriate to the discipline include, but are not necessarily limited to:

American Heart Journal Journal of Clinical Investigation
American Journal of Cardiology Journal of Clinical Oncology
American Journal of Diseases of Children Journal of Experimental Medicine
American Journal of Medicine Journal of Infectious Diseases
American Journal of Pathology Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
Annals of Internal Medicine Journal of Pediatrics
Archives of Diseases of Childhood Kidney International
Blood Lancet
Cancer Metabolism
Chest Nature
Circulation Neurology
Dermatology New England Journal of Medicine
Diabetes Pediatric Research
Gut Pediatrics
Infection and Immunity Science
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Journal of Clinical Oncology
Journal of Experimental Medicine
Journal of Infectious Diseases
Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine
Journal of Pediatrics
Kidney International
Lancet
Metabolism
Nature
Neurology
New England Journal of Medicine
Pediatric Research
Pediatrics
Science

2. External Research Funding

A candidate should be the recipient of a grant(s) or contract(s) by designation as Principal Investigator, a major collaborator, or other similar title, from a national or regional granting agency which customarily utilizes scientific peer review as the primary basis for awards. Examples of granting agencies include, but are not necessarily limited to:

An Institute of the National Institutes of Health, Public Health Service, or other similar federal agency
A unit or affiliate of the American Heart Association
A unit or affiliate of the American Cancer Society
A unit or affiliate of the American Diabetes Association
A unit or affiliate of the March of Dimes
Epilepsy Foundation of America
Leukemia Society of America
National Kidney Foundation of the Upper Midwest

3. Publications in Monographs, Reviews and Other Books

Publications through these modalities are part of the scholarly activities of a faculty member, but cannot be considered as the sole basis for tenure.

4. Service as an Editor or a Member of the Editorial Board of a Reputable Journal or Monograph in a Biomedical Discipline

Examples of appropriate journals include, but are not necessarily limited to those listed in 1 above.

5. Invited participation in Symposia, Meetings and Seminars

Faculty members should be invited by national and international scientific organizations to participate in symposia and meetings and should b e invited to give seminars before peers in other institutions both nationally and internationally. However, this cannot be used as the sole criterion for tenure.

C. SERVICE

Service, although not a primary criterion for tenure, will be taken into consideration in making decisions on tenure. Performance of service, however exemplary, cannot substitute for the primary criteria, research and teaching.

IV. PROMOTION

Standards for Promotion - Department of Pediatrics

The Department of Pediatrics accepts and subscribes to the statement on Criteria and Standards for Promotion of Faculty at the University of Minnesota Medical School, with the following standards specific to the department.

A. To Assistant Professor

Candidates for Promotion to Assistant Professor are judged on the following standards:

For recommendation for promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor, the candidate should have demonstrated ability in teaching and research. Although independent research will not always be evident, the individual should have demonstrated involvement in high quality research which has been accepted for publication or is published in peer-reviewed national journals. There should be documentation of competence and growth in the candidates skills of communication, including effective communication in teaching students and in oral and written presentations of research.

B. To Associate Professor

The criteria and standards for promotion to the rank of Associate Professor are those stated for consideration of tenure (see III. above).

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 to Associate Professor (same standards as for tenure) as stated by the Medical School and the Department.

C. To Professor

Candidates for promotion to Professor are judged on the following standards:

A recommendation for promotion to Professor is made when as Associate Professor has fulfilled the criteria and standards for the rank of Professor as stated by the Medical School and the Department. The criteria and standards stated for promotion to Associate Professor will continue to be applicable during the intervening period of time. The proposal of a candidate for Professor will also present evidence of additional academic, scientific, scholarly and professional achievements, such as:

1. The establishment of a training program for pre- and/or post-doctoral Fellows in a specific discipline.

2. Election to prestigious scientific and/or professional organizations which recognize excellence and significant academic contributions.

3. Letters from authorities attesting to the candidates acknowledged national and international reputation and recognition of leadership in his/her field; letters from prominent, senior faculty members at other universities assessing the candidates qualifications for promotion to the rank of Professor.

V. PROCEDURES

In considering proposals for tenure and/or promotion in rank, the Medical School and its Departments comply with the procedures described in the document, "Procedures for Reviewing Performance of Probationary Faculty", distributed annually by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. These procedures are provided for by Sections 16.3, 7.4 and 7.61 of the Regulations Concerning Faculty Tenure.

The Medical School issues annually to each department, for distribution and information to faculty members, a set of instructions, memoranda, and other documents, giving detailed information on the procedures to be followed in the preparation and consideration of each proposal for tenure and/or promotion in rank. The pertinent documents are identified as exhibits enclosed with a cover memorandum from the Dean.

Designated non-tenured faculty members holding appropriate appointment and rank at affiliated hospitals are eligible to vote on proposals for promotion in rank of candidates, in accordance with approval for this procedure granted by the University Tenure Committee and the Vice President for Academic Affairs.