Clinical Scholars are faculty whose work is a mix of teaching, scholarship (which can be of many kinds), and applied medical science. Faculty on this track are contract faculty whose appointment requires a probationary period but does not offer tenure at the University of Minnesota . Mid career clinical scholars are generally at the Associate Professor level and may be working towards promotion to Professor.
A. Appointments
The appointment letter contains important information including title, track, period and percentage of appointment, department home, compensation, program resources, and responsibilities with respect to research/scholarship, teaching, and service, including administrative roles and/or clinical practice. Clinical faculty also receive a letter from University of Minnesota Physicians detailing the parameters of that relationship.
Clinical scholar (clinical track) faculty are appointed in accordance with the circumstances for contract faculty as defined in the Regent's Policy on Faculty Tenure, Sections 3.3 and 3.4. Individuals in this category have responsibility in all three areas of teaching, research/scholarship and service. Tenure is not available in this category. Appointments in this category may be with salary or without salary. Promotional guidelines are specific to each department and defined in the departments' Clinical Scholar Statements (see link below). These statements provide information on the various types of scholarship engaged in by clinical scholar faculty. For a comparison of how scholarship is defined on the clinical scholar and tenure tracks, see the Advancement by Tracks document at: http://www.med.umn.edu/faculty/policies/handbook/advancement/home.html
The Medical School has joint appointments in this category. Individuals with a joint appointment have a primary appointment within a Medical School department and a secondary appointment in another Medical School or University department, center or institute.
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B. Promotion
Promotion continues to be an important issue for mid career faculty. It is essential that you familiarize yourself with the Medical School policies pertaining to the promotion process. Specific departmental guidelines based on these policies are available in the department's Clinical Scholars Statement.
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C. Career Development through Annual Reviews
Annual reviews are an important mechanism for aligning the faculty member's research/scholarship, teaching, and practice goals with those of the department and ultimately the Medical School . Reviews should include an assessment of the past year's accomplishments and a statement of priorities for the coming year. The review includes an opportunity to discuss these priorities and accomplishments with the section head or department chair. The University's Faculty Compensation Policy describes how annual reviews provide input into the salary determination process.
Mid Career Faculty may find that the emphasis that they put on the various areas of their work is evolving. Some may assume an educational leadership role while others may look to add an administrative role. It is important to review the criteria for promotion to full professor and take them into consideration when defining a faculty development plan for this stage of your career. In this period annual reviews should take a broad look at the direction of a faculty member's efforts. This provides an opportunity to identify areas for career development and redirection/revitalization. Specific attention should be paid to the identification of leadership opportunities.
QUESTIONS: If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the Medical School Faculty Affairs Office in C605 Mayo at 612-624-5442 or msfacaff@umn.edu .
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