All adjunct faculty members at New York University are entitled to the respect and formal recognition within and beyond the University that their individual accomplishments warrant. At many educational institutions, promotion is reserved for full-time faculty. However, in the School of Professional Studies (SPS), adjunct faculty comprises a significant percentage of the teaching faculty and their contributions cannot be overstated.
SPS recognizes that adjunct faculty may have different objectives for teaching at NYU. Some career professionals may simply enjoy sharing their expertise with students and are appropriately assigned the rank of adjunct instructor. Others may be career academicians contemplating full-time appointment or may be adjunct faculty who voluntarily go beyond their role as instructor by engaging in professional development that enhances teaching, provides service to the department, SPS, or NYU, and/or engages in scholarly, creative, and/or professional activities. These are the adjunct faculty who are eligible for promotion. Therefore, promotion is not an expectation of all adjunct faculty, but is held in reserve for adjunct faculty who wish to seek endorsement for additional academic participation and recognition and to acknowledge the accomplishments and commitment to teaching excellence and service to SPS above and beyond the classroom.
The purpose of this document is to articulate a rational, clear, and consistent process for promotion of SPS adjunct faculty that is fitted to the academic contexts and the variety of distinctive educational programs within the school. The information in this document was prepared by past and current Committees on Rank, Title, and Privilege and is intended to help academic leaders and adjunct faculty:
The roles, responsibilities, criteria, process, and schedule are separate and distinct from any collective bargaining agreement and no changes in salary or benefits are attached to promotion.
(A list of Academic Leaders can be found in Section VI.)
After reviewing the criteria for promotion in Sections III and IV, candidates who wish to seek promotion are responsible for notifying their academic leaders of their intent to apply for promotion by completing and submitting the Intent to Apply for Promotion Form (Attachment A) no later than May 1. The academic leader will then verify and confirm the eligibility of each candidate, which is limited to the following objective criteria, as specified in Sections III and IV:
1) Sufficient time in service;
2) Possesses the necessary degree (or has obtained a waiver from the SPS Dean); and
3) Has two (2) formal Teaching Reviews (formerly class observations) in the past three (3) years from classes at NYU for which the applicant is the faculty member of record.
The academic leader will verify this information by countersigning and digitally submitting the Intent to Apply for Promotion Form to the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) via email (sps.facultyaffairs@nyu.edu) by no later than June 1. A copy must be sent to the adjunct faculty member who is intending to apply for promotion so he or she can begin preparing the portfolio materials.
The promotion review process will be conducted via Interfolio. All Interfolio cases will be created and shared with eligible adjunct faculty members who meet the above criteria (or who have the necessary waivers approved) shortly thereafter. The candidate is responsible for completing the application portfolio according to the instructions in Section V. The completed portfolio must be submitted to the academic leader via Interfolio no later than September 1. Portfolios emailed directly from individual faculty members to the academic leader, the SPS Dean, or the Committee on Rank, Title, and Privilege will not be accepted.
All academic leaders and adjunct faculty must adhere to the following deadlines. If a due date falls on a weekend or University holiday, the due date will be the next business day.
Adjunct faculty members wishing to be considered for promotion must express their intent to apply for promotion to their respective academic leader by submitting the Intent to Apply for Promotion Form (Attachment A).
Academic leaders may want to meet with eligible faculty members to discuss the criteria and process for promotion and:
Academic leaders must digitally submit all supported and signed Intent to Apply for Promotion Forms to the Office of Faculty Affairs via email (sps.facultyaffairs@nyu.edu) and send a copy of the e-mail to the candidate for promotion. They must also submit any necessary waivers requests for review by the SPS Dean at this time.
The promotion review process will be conducted via Interfolio. All Interfolio cases will be created and shared with eligible adjunct faculty members who meet the above criteria (or who have the necessary waivers approved) shortly thereafter.
Candidates applying for promotion to the rank of Adjunct Associate Professor or Adjunct Professor must share the name and email address of an individual willing to submit a letter of reference on your behalf (one required; limit two) with the Office of Faculty Affairs (sps.facultyaffairs@nyu.edu). Please note that as Academic Leaders already issue a letter of support as part of the adjunct faculty promotion review process for cases they support, letters of reference may not be requested from your Academic Leader. Individuals writing letters of reference will be contacted securely through Interfolio to submit their letters by the Office of Faculty Affairs. Letters of reference are due by September 1 at the latest.
September 1
Faculty members must submit their completed application materials for promotion to their associate dean or academic director via Interfolio.
Academic leaders are responsible for confirming that all candidates applying for promotion have submitted their materials with all supporting documents. The SPS Dean and the Committee on Rank, Title and Privilege will not accept incomplete applications nor applications emailed directly from a faculty member.
Academic Leaders must:
The Committee will review all applications for promotion that have been sent forward in Interfolio for their review by October 1 and will record their recommendation to approve, defer, or deny promotion. Promotion decisions will be communicated to candidates no later than March 1 and will become effective at the beginning of the spring semester in which the decision is communicated.
The information in this section includes descriptions of criteria to be used by the SPS Dean and the Committee on Rank, Title, and Privilege to evaluate each candidate’s portfolio for promotion. It is important that:
The School has identified seven criteria as relevant for promotion. These criteria are broken into two tiers:
Tier I Criteria:
A1: Teaching Effectiveness
A2: Student Advisement and Counseling
Tier II Criteria:
B1: Service to the Program, SPS, and/or NYU
B2: Outside Professional Activities that Contribute to Professional Standing Development and/or Recognition
B3: Scholarly Work, Creative Production, Knowledge Synthesis
B4: Program, Curriculum, and/or Course Design and Development
B5: Faculty Development and Referral
The SPS Dean, associate deans, and academic directors consider the two criteria in Tier I to be common job expectations for all SPS adjunct faculty and the most important criteria for promotion. For promotion to be granted, accomplishments in both areas must be significant as determined by the SPS Dean, associate deans or academic directors, and the Committee on Rank, Title, and Privilege.
A1: Teaching Effectiveness
A2: Student Advisement and Counseling
The candidate must demonstrate with substantial evidence that she or he is an effective teacher in the physical and/or virtual classroom. The candidate’s individual teaching style should inspire, enrich, and encourage students to think critically and independently. This category asks candidates to describe their approach to teaching and choice of course materials, and explain syllabi and assignments in terms of their rigor, relevance and appropriate level of study in the field. In addition, this category of teaching effectiveness asks candidates to reflect on their practice by articulating changes and adjustments they may have made to their practice over time based on feedback from student evaluations, teaching reviews (formerly class observations), and their own experiences and observations of their teaching.
Evidence of teaching effectiveness to be included in the case portfolio is:
a) Personal Statement of Teaching Philosophy (no more than 300 words)
A statement of teaching philosophy should include the candidate’s understanding of how students learn, the principles that guide his or her teaching, and a description of his or her teaching, and an explanation of why the candidate teaches the way he or she has described.
b) Analysis of Teaching Effectiveness (no more than 500 words)
This self-analysis should describe how the candidate’s teaching has been informed by the candidate’s teaching evaluations, teaching reviews (formerly class observations), learning outcomes as well as the candidate's own observations and experiences in the classroom. In other words, how has the candidate made adjustments and changes to his/her practice as a result of reflective analysis? If applicable, the results of innovations and impact of technology-enhanced education, pedagogic development, and/or other relevant activities related to teaching effectiveness should be included.
c) A one-page table for the past seven (7) student course evaluations that includes the following:
Level (freshman, upper division, graduate)
Number of Students Enrolled
Number of Respondents
Overall Evaluation of Instructor Score
Overall Evaluation of Course Score
d) Instructor course evaluation reports with all student comments for all seven (7) courses should follow the composite excel spreadsheet. These reports can be accessed via the Albert Faculty Center: https://admin.portal.nyu.edu
e) The most recent syllabus for each unique course included in the one- page table above. (Do not submit more than one syllabus for courses with the same course number/title.)
f) For each syllabus included in the portfolio, a detailed description of one (1) assignment given to the class
g) Two (2) formal Teaching Reviews (formerly class observations) conducted in the past three (3) years
h) Evidence of commitment to pedagogical development which includes but is not limited to successful completion of, or certification in, pedagogical training, workshop, seminar, or other activities relevant to enhancing your ability to teach generally or within your discipline
i) Evidence of technology-enhanced teaching (optional)
j) Other Evidence Relevant to Teaching Effectiveness (optional) includes but is not limited to teaching awards, unsolicited letters from students (maximum of three), proposals for teaching initiatives, narrative of a class session and the like.
Fostering the academic and professional development of students is the core mission of the NYU School of Professional Studies. Advisement and counseling play a crucial role in a student’s academic and professional progress and success. To that end, active student advisement and counseling, both academic and professional, are essential obligations of every faculty member at the School of Professional Studies.
For adjunct faculty, academic and professional advisement and counseling can take a variety of forms, such as:
Evidence of a candidate’s academic and professional advisement and counseling duties must include a summary analysis (no more than 250 words) explaining the contours and effectiveness of the candidate’s student advisement and counseling including but not limited to the number of students advised, the kind of advisement provided, approximate number of written recommendations, and types of internship assistance or job placement (if available).
Other portfolio evidence of a candidate’s academic and professional advisement and counseling may include:
a) Testimony by administrators, faculty colleagues, and students (no more than four)
b) Cumulative number of theses and independent studies advised (if applicable)
c) Evidence of the organization of internship or career round tables (if applicable)
d) Other relevant evidence
Candidates seeking promotion to Adjunct Associate Professor must meet at least two (2) of the five (5) criteria. Candidates seeking promotion to Adjunct Professor must meet at least three (3) of the five (5) criteria.
B1: Service to program, SPS or NYU
B2: Outside professional activities that contribute to professional standing, development and/or recognition
B3: Scholarly work, creative production, knowledge synthesis
B4: Course design and development
B5: Faculty development or referral
Commitment to service is one of the operating principles of New York University and SPS. Adjunct faculty is invited to participate in a wide variety of SPS and NYU functions in service to their programs, divisions, school and university. Evidence of service must be within the past five (5) years and may include:
a) Description of specific services rendered including roles and tasks performed in program, division, school, university, and ad hoc committees
b) Description of participation in program, division, school-wide or university special initiatives
c) Attendance at and/or participation in school events such as admissions, orientation and recruitment events, informational sessions, open houses, special events and alumni meetings and/or events
d) Attendance at graduation, a round table, a student club sponsored event, and/or school wide faculty meetings
e) Participation in activities offered through the Wasserman Center
f) Other relevant service
The teaching mission of SPS is enhanced and strengthened by adjunct faculty whose contribution to student learning includes experiences they bring to the classroom derived from their outside professional activities. Candidates may demonstrate evidence of success and recognition in professional activities as proof of their standing within their profession and field of study.
Evidence of active contribution to outside professional activities, professional standing, development and/or recognition includes but is not limited to:
a) Membership affiliation and activity in professional organizations
b) Service on committees and in leadership positions in professional associations
c) Presentations at professional seminars
d) Organizing, chairing, or facilitating professional events
e) Completion of significant professional initiatives
f) Newly awarded academic degrees or certifications as well as recognition for academic and professional works-in-progress
g) Preparation of professional materials within the candidate’s field
h) Consulting assignments (paid or unpaid) in the candidate’s field
i) Awards and recognition bestowed upon the candidate by recognized professional organizations
j) Securing internal and/or external funding for academic purposes
Candidates for promotion may offer proof of scholarly work, creative production and/or knowledge synthesis that denotes original work in one or more of the categories listed below. The quality and/or impact of the work depend on the norms and practices established in the candidates’ fields. Candidates should not submit full articles but may provide a Weblink, citation or photograph.
Scholarly Work
Scholarly work includes theoretical, empirical, as well as applied research published in peer-reviewed publication and/or as a presentation in a recognized professional forum.
Evidence of a candidate’s scholarly work includes but is not limited to:
d) Book chapters
f) Conference proceedings
g) Conference presentations
h) Poster presentations
Creative Production
Evidence of a candidate’s creative production includes but is not limited to:
a) Publication and/or presentation in the creative, visual, dramatic and/or digital arts
b) Film, video or graphic art creation
c) Inclusion in an anthology
d) Magazine or newspaper articles
e) Presentation or performance in the field or discipline
f) Creation and/or innovation of software, hardware, code or mechanical or technical device
g) Professionally recognized blogs/vlogs
h) Professionally recognized website
Knowledge Synthesis
Examples of knowledge synthesis include but are not limited to:
Two (2) representative samples of work (abstract, book jacket, excerpt, table of contents, etc.) are to be included in order to satisfy this criterion.
An integral component of the School’s teaching mission is the continual revision and updating of programs, curricula, and courses as well as the development of new courses, concentrations and programs within each academic program. These changes reflect and incorporate developments in the field, new knowledge, new lines of inquiry, new collaborations with other NYU sites or other universities, changes in the job market, as well as pedagogical and/or technological innovations that facilitate creative and effective instruction and learning.
Evidence of active contribution to program, curriculum and/or course design includes but is not limited to:
Materials that may be submitted in this section include but are not limited to:
a) Syllabi of new courses, including technology enhanced courses
b) Description of syllabi with substantial revision of existing courses (include both old and revised syllabi)
c) Description of new concentrations, specializations, or degree programs developed, and student enrollment therein (optional)
d) Description of study abroad programs or global field intensives developed or led by the candidate
e) Description of role in exchange programs or collaborative research seminars with national or international colleges and universities
f) Description of role in developing and hosting lecture series, scenarios, round tables and public events (optional: submission of publications, brochures or flyers)
g) Evidence of awards received for program, curricular or course innovation
Candidates may offer evidence of their contributions to the professional development of other faculty members. These educational development activities may include but are not limited to
Promotion from Adjunct Instructor to Adjunct Assistant Professor is contingent on the unequivocal support of the associate dean or academic director and the assessment of the candidate’s credentials and accomplishments by the SPS Dean and the Committee on Rank, Title and Privilege. Other factors that will have an impact on this assessment include the following:
1. The candidate meets or exceeds the SPS time in status requirement for promotion from Adjunct Instructor to Adjunct Assistant Professor. The time in status requirement is three (3) years of continuous service; i.e. faculty has taught at least one (1) course in three (3) academic years within the past five (5) years at NYU. Additionally, the faculty member must have taught at least seven (7) courses that met for a minimum of 22.5 contact hours each to apply for promotion. Adjunct faculty who have accumulated time in service at another NYU school and have moved to SPS will be given credit for that time in service. (The time in status requirement for exceptional candidates may be waived through a letter of appeal from the associate dean or academic director to the SPS Dean providing ample justification for the waiver. A waiver will only be granted for the rare candidate that demonstrates a high level of sustained excellence in all criteria. The process for promotion cannot continue until the SPS Dean grants such a waiver).
2. The candidate meets or exceeds the degree requirements. The candidate must hold a Master’s Degree or a terminal degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., M.B.A, M.F.A) to be promoted to Adjunct Assistant Professor. Terminal degrees are preferred for faculty teaching master’s or post-master’s level courses and are desirable for undergraduate level courses. (The degree requirement for exceptional candidates may be waived through a letter of appeal from the associate dean or academic director to the SPS Dean providing ample justification for the waiver. The process for promotion cannot continue until the SPS Dean grants such a waiver).
3. The candidate’s case is submitted within Interfolio with all required documents identified in the Portfolio Completion Form (Attachment B) by the due date.
4. The letter of support from the associate dean or academic director provides compelling reasons for the candidate’s promotion that are directly related to the criteria for promotion.
5. The candidate’s portfolio includes reflective analyses and supporting evidence of significant accomplishments in all required Tier I criteria.
6. The candidate is in good standing at the University.
Promotion from Adjunct Assistant Professor to Adjunct Associate Professor is contingent on the unequivocal support of the associate dean or academic director and the assessment of the candidate’s credentials and accomplishments by the SPS Dean and the Committee on Rank, Title and Privilege. Other factors that will have an impact on this assessment include the following:
1. The candidate meets or exceeds the SPS time in status requirement for promotion from Adjunct Assistant Professor to Adjunct Associate Professor. The time in status requirement is a minimum of five (5) years of continuous service within seven (7) years at NYU; i.e. faculty has taught at least one course in five (5) academic years within the last seven (7) years at NYU from the initial appointment or the last promotion. The faculty member must have taught at least seven (7) courses that met for a minimum of 22.5 contact hours each during that time period. Adjunct faculty who have accumulated time in service at another NYU school and have moved to SPS will be given credit for that time in service. (The time in status requirement for exceptional candidates may be waived through a letter of appeal from the associate dean or academic director to the SPS Dean providing ample justification for the waiver. A waiver will only be granted for the rare candidate that demonstrates a high level of sustained excellence in all criteria. The process for promotion cannot continue until the SPS Dean grants such a waiver).
2. The candidate meets or exceeds the degree requirements. The candidate must hold a Master’s Degree or a terminal degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., M.B.A, M.F.A) to be promoted to Adjunct Associate Professor. Terminal degrees are preferred for faculty teaching master’s or post-master’s level courses. (The degree requirement for exceptional candidates may be waived through a letter of appeal from the associate dean or academic director to the SPS Dean providing ample justification for the waiver. The process for promotion cannot continue until the SPS Dean grants such a waiver).
3. The candidate’s case is submitted within Interfolio with all required documents identified in the Portfolio Completion Form (Attachment B) by the due date.
4. The letter of support from the associate dean or academic director provides compelling reasons for the candidate’s promotion that are directly related to the criteria for promotion.
5. The candidate’s portfolio includes reflective analyses and supporting evidence of significant accomplishments in required Tier I criteria.
6. The candidate’s portfolio includes evidence of significant accomplishments in at least two Tier II criteria.
7. The candidate is in good standing at the University.
Promotion from Adjunct Associate Professor to Adjunct Professor is contingent on the unequivocal support of the associate dean or academic director and the assessment of the candidate’s credentials and accomplishments by the SPS Dean and the Committee on Rank, Title and Privilege. Other factors that will have an impact on this assessment include the following:
1. The candidate meets or exceeds the SPS time in status requirement for promotion from Adjunct Associate Professor to Adjunct Professor. The time in status requirement is five (5) years of continuous service; i.e. faculty has taught at least one (1) course in five (5) academic years within the last seven (7) years at NYU from the initial appointment or the last promotion. The faculty member must have taught at least seven (7) courses that met for a minimum of 22.5 contact hours each during that time period. Faculty who have accumulated time in service at another NYU school and have moved to SPS will be given credit for that time in service. (The time in status requirement for exceptional candidates may be waived through a letter of appeal from the associate dean or academic director to the SPS Dean providing ample justification for the waiver. A waiver will only be granted for the rare candidate that demonstrates a high level of sustained excellence in all criteria. The process for promotion cannot continue until the SPS Dean grants such a waiver).
2. The candidate holds a terminal degree (e.g. Ph.D., Ed.D., J.D., M.B.A, M.F.A) to be promoted to Professor. (The degree requirement for exceptional candidates may be waived through a letter of appeal from the associate dean or academic director to the SPS Dean providing ample justification for the waiver. The process for promotion cannot continue until the SPS Dean grants such a waiver.)
3. The candidate’s case is submitted within Interfolio with all required documents identified in the Portfolio Completion Form (Attachment B) by the due date.
4. The letter of support from the associate dean or academic director provides compelling reasons for the candidate’s promotion that are directly related to the criteria for promotion and supports promotion to the highest academic rank.
5. The candidate’s portfolio includes reflective analyses and supporting evidence of mastery level teaching and significant accomplishments in all required Tier I criteria.
6. The candidate’s portfolio includes evidence of significant accomplishments in at least three Tier II criteria.
7. The candidate’s portfolio includes evidence that he or she has sustained the level of accomplishments that were present when appointed or promoted to Associate Professor and since then, has engaged in additional and different activities that have contributed to professional growth, standing in his or her field, mentorship of colleagues, and/or advancement of NYU, SPS and/or the division or department.
8. The candidate is in good standing at the University.