Path to Promotion for Academic Specialists

Reappointment, promotion, and award of continuing status are not endpoints but milestones in an ongoing academic journey. The Office of the Provost’s review of each recommendation concentrates primarily on the evidence of the Specialist’s effectiveness in the performance of academic duties, where substantive and sustainable achievement is demonstrated. 

In this three-part series, Academic Specialist Advisory Committee (ASAC) Promotion and Compensation Subcommittee Co-Chair Mahmoud Parvizi, Specialist – Research-Continuing, shares helpful information, advice, and resources for preparing a compelling dossier.

FASA is currently planning fall programming. Check back to sign up for future sessions.

​​This learning community builds upon the Path to Promotion webinar and workshop series from the current academic year. Specialists from around MSU and across functional areas gather to study the reappointment, award of continuing status, and promotion processes in the academic specialist appointment system. 

Across five one-hour discussions, we cover the components of a successful dossier and the timeline and workflow of the review year. We focus on strategies for preparing a successful review, from a specialist’s arrival on campus to submission of the dossier.

Additionally, virtual office hours are available for specialists seeking meaningful personal connections and mentoring. Office hours will not include substantial exposition on the topics covered in the webinar series; the goal is to provide mentoring to specialists pursuing reappointment, promotion, or award of continuing status. Whether a specialist is new to MSU and the specialist system or has been in the specialist role for several years, it’s never too early to start planning the path to promotion.

FASA is currently planning fall programming. Check back to sign up for future sessions.