— Academic Promotion 2017 What you need to know

Professor Belinda Tynan Deputy Vice Chancellor Education and Vice President May 2017

What we’ll cover today • Academic promotion at RMIT

• 2017 round key dates

• Overview of 2016

• Promotion criteria & the promotion application

• Insight into the academic promotion process with our panel

• Q&A

Today’s panellists

ECP Director Design and Creative Practice Research Capability 2016 panel member

Distinguished Professor

Larissa Hjorth Head of School School of Economics, Finance and Marketing College of Business Past panel member

Professor Tim Fry

School of Health & Biomedical Science College of Science, Engineering and Health 2016 successful applicant

Associate Professor

Zhen Zheng

Academic promotion at RMIT • The process of academic promotion at RMIT is in a state of

evolution

• Project Metis is exploring a more flexible career framework for academic staff at RMIT

• Most, if not all, of you will have been involved at some stage in consultation that has been in operation since May 2016

• VCE has endorsed an academic promotion framework that comprises role-specific domains of Teaching, Engagement and Research

• This framework will be reviewed and refined in 2017 in consultation with staff

• The new framework, supporting processes and development programs will be available from September 2017 for a 2018 launch

• The formal instruments have not changed in 2017

Academic promotion & Project Metis 2017

Early December Notification of promotion outcomes

Within 1 week of UAPC Unsuccessful applicant feedback

Mid-November Moderation process

Late October to mid-November

University-wide D-E panel meeting

College-level B-C and C-D panel meetings

Late October

2017 2018 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

2017 round opens 1 May

Jan Feb Mar

Intent to apply due 1 July

Promotion effective 1 January

Application due 15 August

Significant additional information due 1 October

DVCE approves recommendations

Late November UAPC assess panel recommendations

30 May – 4 July Information & PD sessions

HOS/Dean provides applicant with their report 12 September

Applicant submits HOS/Dean report & optional rejoinder 19 September

VCE endorsement milestone for new Framework

New professional development offerings

Women’s career progression forums

Consultation on draft position on Achievement Relative to Opportunity

Late November

New D&I supports developed

Academic promotion 2016: at a glance

96 applications

were received

61 applicants were

recommended for promotion

(64%)

9% of the eligible

headcount applied for promotion

Success rates for applications:

DSC: 82% SEH: 55%

Business: 52%

36% of applicants

were female

129 staff members

submitted an Intent to Apply

Success rates by gender:

Female: 71% Male: 56%

Promotion criteria in brief

Teaching

Evidence of strong and sustained performance in student outcomes, student experience and feedback and extensive experience in a range of teaching settings

Research and Scholarship

Generation of knowledge and its application to the solution of real world problems (related to research or learning and teaching)

Leadership

Motivating, influencing, developing and inspiring others through discipline leadership and by translating the University’s vision and strategy into meaningful actions at the local level

For more detail see the ‘information for applicants’ document and the policies website

Standards of performance – definitions

Outstanding

Achieving and exceeding all objectives at the current level and performing satisfactorily at the higher level. Applicants will need to show evidence of performance and outcomes at the higher level

Excellent

Achieving all and exceeding some of the objectives at the current level and performing satisfactorily at the higher level. Applicants will need to show evidence of performance and outcomes at the higher level

Good

Achieving all objectives at the current level

Satisfactory

Achieving most objectives at the current level

Not satisfactory

Achieving no or only a few objectives at the current level

Making the decision to apply

Are you eligible?

• Continuing and fixed term academic staff • 12 months continuous service prior to 1 June 2017 • Meet the skill base and formal qualifications for the level • Applying for promotion to the level immediately above your current substantive

level

Are you ready?

• How are you measuring against each of the criteria (for 2017 Academic Expectation & Development)?

• How are you assessing your work in teaching, research and leadership? Is it outstanding/excellent/good / satisfactory?

• What is the standard of performance required for promotion to the next level? Are you on the right trajectory to achieving it?

How do panels assess applications?

Panels will:

• Read the written application

• Read the reports provided by referees, assessors and the

Head of School / Dean

• Look at reports from Research Master and CES data

• Individually make an initial assessment of performance

• Collectively discuss the application at panel meeting

• Each application and assessment is discussed by the panel until consensus is

reached

Today’s panellists

ECP Director Design and Creative Practice Research Capability 2016 panel member

Distinguished Professor

Larissa Hjorth Head of School School of Economics, Finance and Marketing College of Business Past panel member

Professor Tim Fry

School of Health & Biomedical Science College of Science, Engineering and Health 2016 successful applicant

Associate Professor

Zhen Zheng

How do I highlight my previous achievements?

What are the expectations for addressing the criteria and providing evidence?

How do I tell my story in a compelling manner?

How do I determine whether it is the right time

to apply for promotion?

How can an applicant decide on the appropriate mode to pursue

i.e. teaching/engagement or research/engagement vs.

teaching/research/engagement?

Your questions

I want to better understand the application and approval process

Insights from promotion panels

☒ Don’t over-sell or over-hype

• If you don’t have the evidence, don’t make the claim

• Don’t repeat information

• Don’t over-inflate what your role was in a project

☒ Don’t include information that isn’t requested or relevant

☒ Don’t go over the page limit and stick to font size– focus on quality not quantity

What NOT to do in your application

Insights from promotion panels

• Premature application or solid performer at current level only

• Didn’t show measurable outcomes, particularly for research and scholarship

• Didn’t meet the qualification / performance requirements

• Didn’t ‘benchmark’ appropriately against peers

• Didn’t know referees or let them know they were applying

• Gilding the lily – reviewers and panel members do validate evidence

Common mistakes

Insights from promotion panels cont’d…

• Application poorly written

• Didn't state how they met criteria

• Didn’t provide convincing evidence

• Didn’t demonstrate sustained performance and growth over successive years

• Irrelevant information in application

• Didn’t proof-read application

Common mistakes

We suggest:

Seek advice from your Head of

School/Dean, colleagues and

mentors to help you avoid these

mistakes and give yourself the best

chance of a successful application

Questions?

If your application is unsuccessful

• You will have the opportunity to meet with the panel chair to obtain feedback

• You will also be give written feedback to assist you in focusing your efforts in preparation for future applications

• Talk to your Head of School / Dean and supervisor about strategies, activities and opportunities that will help you work toward a successful application

• Use your workplan to define the support and development you need to develop your career

For information and advice

Where to go for advice: Your Head of School/Dean and manager/PVC Your colleagues Human Resources: Courtney Guilliatt - x50768 College Administrators: Business: Sumitra Muller - x55800 DSC: Sheilagh Bolt - x53838 SEH: Sangeeta Devaraj - 53490

Email: academic.promotion@rmit.edu.au Academic promotion 2017: www.rmit.edu.au/humanresources/academicpromotion Project Metis: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/teaching/flexible-academic-careers

Thank you and good luck!