Psychiatry

Department of Psychiatry
7.12 Statement

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).

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 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 Psychiatry encompasses three closely intertwined objectives.  As a first priority, the Department focuses upon research.  It seeks, through systematic inquiry, to expand the body of scientific knowledge currently available concerning:  1) mental disorders and related conditions and 2) the treatment or clinical management of such disorders and conditions.  This endeavor may include investigative efforts in any of a range of individual disciplines within or allied to psychiatry and the neurosciences, e.g., psychopathology, epidemiology, behavior and cognition, brain imaging, genetics, neurophysiology, biochemistry, pharmacology, (both basic and clinical) neuroanatomy, psychology and psychometrics.  Teaching represents a second priority of the Department of Psychiatry.   The Department offers instruction and supervision to its various trainees, including medical students, residents and fellows, those enrolled in graduate and undergraduate University programs, general public, and CME programs,.  A third principal element of the Department’s mission is the provision of clinical services on both an inpatient and outpatient basis.  In many instances, the delivery of professional/clinical services constitutes the vehicle for both the conduct of research and the provision of clinical teaching.

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 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 will 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 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 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 is not making satisfactory progress toward meeting the criteria within that period.”

Standards for Tenure – Department of Psychiatry

The Department of Psychiatry 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.                 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.  In this time of rapid changes in science communication, journals of high impact are indications of scholarly achievement.

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:

National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA)
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institute on Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA)
National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke (NINCDS)
MacArthur Foundation
McKnight Foundation
Narsad
National Science Foundation
NSF
Robert W. Johnson
March of Dimes
Stanley Foundation

In judging the faculty members research program, the criteria from Section III. Should be applied.

3.                 Publications in Monographs, Reviews and Other BooksPublications through these modalities are part of the scholarly activities of a faculty member, but cannot be considered as the sole basis for tenure.

4.                 Participation in the community of scholars through service on Study Sections of NIMH, editorial boards, or adhoc review is considered evidence of national recognition.

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 be invited to give seminars before peers in other institutions both nationally and internationally.  However, this cannot be used as the sole criterion for tenure.  Participation in such meetings provides evidence of national stature.

6.                 Awards

Outstanding awards from reputable organizations and societies are again evidence of national or international reputation.

B.                 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, and continuing education.

The following are education 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.

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 Psychiatry

The Department of Psychiatry 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

A person may be appointed to the rank of Assistant Professor in the tenure track who has demonstrated the potential to become an independent investigator.  For those candidates performing clinical work board certification and/or licensure will be strongly considered..

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 for promotion to Associate Professor (same as for tenure) as stated by the Medical School and the Department.  However, in unusual circumstances, a person may be considered for Associate Professor without tenure.

Recommendation for tenure and/or promotion to Associate Professor is usually made after nine years as an Assistant Professor.  As discussed in Section III, a faculty member will be expected to have demonstrated professional distinction in research, effectiveness in teaching, and notable achievement in clinical service to be awarded indefinite tenure.  As outline in Section III, weighting of the three categories may vary, given the primary task of the faculty member, but the record must indicate significant “accomplishment” in all three areas.  The record must also give basis for the expectation that such accomplishments will continue over the span of the individual’s academic career.  Although the criteria for Associate Professor are those of tenure, further discussion is provided below:

1.                 Research

The faculty member is expected to have demonstrated independent investigative efforts of a scholarly, creative nature which have contributed significantly to his/her specific area of concentration or study.  This standard of “productivity” in research may be gauged according to:  (1) the record of scientific publication in peer reviewed journals (suggested number 15), of which approximately one-half he/she is the senior or first author; (2) the awarding of external research funding on a competitive basis; and (3) evidence of national recognition of excellence in research as exemplified by invitations to participate in national symposia or to give lectureships, by appointment to review groups or comparable review functions, or by the awarding of research prizes, etc.  Letters from authorities in the candidate’s field of research should attest to the candidate’s research accomplishments.

2.                 Teaching

The record must objectify that the faculty member has performed his/her teaching assignments with distinction and skill.  Such assignments may entail teaching of medical students, residents, fellows, graduate students, etc. in a range of settings.  With regard to formal instruction (lectureships, classroom teaching, courses, workshops, clinical-ward supervision), written evaluations (spanning a number or years) completed by those taught are the best data to speak to the effectiveness of the teaching.  Review of the curricula and/or syllabi generated in teaching efforts may be useful in assessing teaching, especially as regards creative, innovative approaches.  This is particularly important for those charged with designing and implementing courses of instruction for trainees.  For those teaching at the graduate level, the accomplishments of those whom they have advised or supervised also may serve as a measure of teaching effectiveness.  Further evidence of teaching accomplishment resides in the conferring of “awards” for teaching excellence either at the local or national level (this may include invited lectureships at the national level).  Written statements by the departmental chairperson and others familiar with the candidate’s teaching performance should be included.

3.                 Service

a.                 From Section  7.11 “The individual’s participation in the governance of the institution and other services to the University and service to the academic unity may be taken into consideration, but are not in themselves basis for awarding tenure.”  Service to professional organizations, learned societies, state and federal agencies and to the community when it is within the faculty member’s academic expertise and the mission of the academic unit is included here.

b.                 Discipline-related Service.  Psychiatry is a clinical department and faculty members are called upon to provide professional service as part of their role in fulfilling the mission of the University.  This may include provision of direct patient care, evaluation services, consultative functions, etc.  Outstanding contributions in such activities can be gauged in a number of ways including through programmatic evaluation and/or determination of the effectiveness/outcome of clinical interventions.  The individuals or organizations to whom the service has been directed may also be asked to comment on the service(s) provided by the candidate.  Written statements by the departmental chairperson and others familiar with the candidate’s clinical service record should be obtained to attest to his/her contributions in this area.

C.                To Professor

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

Recommendation for tenure and/or promotion to Professor is usually made after the candidate has been in rank as an Associate Professor five to six years.  Criteria include those governing the awarding of tenure (and/or promotion) at the Associate Professor level (see Section III) together with a set of additional requirements.  The awarding of tenure at the professorial rank connotes excellence and distinction in all three pertinent areas (research, teaching, and clinical service) with national and/or international recognition of the candidate’s scholarly achievements and contributions to the field of psychiatry.

1.                 Research

The candidate is expected to have conducted or directed investigations which have had significant (major) impact on his/her given area of concentration or study.  Such work is expected to have resulted in approximately 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals; first authorship may be less apparent if the candidate is supervising and participating with younger faculty or is in collaborative research.  Number of publications, per se, is to be considered together with the quality and consequence of the work (for example the impact and/or prestige of the journals).  As in IIIA, external grant funding is expected.  Evidence of national and international recognition of excellence in research may be gauged by:  appointment to Internal Review Groups; appointment to editorial boards of major journals; election to prestigious scientific organizations and research societies; and the awarding of research prizes, honors, etc.  Letters from national and international authorities attesting to the scope and significance of the candidate’s contributions to psychiatry and his/her reputation are also expected.

2.                 Teaching

As in IIIB, part 2.  In addition, at the professorial level, design and successful implementation of training programs for pre- and postdoctoral candidates may be used as a measure of distinguished accomplishment in teaching.

3.                 Clinical Service (Discipline-related Service)
As in IIIC.

4.                 Service
As in IIIC.

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,” 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 instruction, memoranda, and other documents, giving detailed information of the procedures to be followed in 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.