Enhancements to the Fixed-Term Faculty Promotion Process
Apr. 24, 2025
Dear Leaders,
We’re excited to share several meaningful enhancements to the Fixed-Term Faculty Promotion process – designed to better reflect their work and contributions, and to provide greater clarity and consistency across the university. While the core promotion policy remains unchanged, these updates aim to make the process more inclusive, transparent and effective.
These improvements were developed in close partnership with the University Committee on Faculty Affairs, and a dedicated working group composed primarily of fixed-term faculty. Throughout the development process, we engaged with key stakeholder groups, including the Council of Faculty Affairs Deans, and the Council of Deans.
What's New
- A new promotion form, the Form on Progress and Excellence, was designed specifically for fixed-term faculty. The form is available for promotions from instructor to senior instructor, assistant to associate professor, or associate to full professor. Please note that health programs faculty will continue to use their current form designed specifically for their work.
- A university-wide timeline that starts in September with materials due to Human Resources (HR) in May – bringing clarity and consistency to the process.
- New guidelines were developed in collaboration with faculty to support units as they enhance their practices and faculty as they navigate promotion.
While the Fixed-Term Promotion Policy itself remains unchanged, these new elements offer a more structured and transparent framework to guide fixed-term faculty and colleges through the promotion process. The guidelines are intended to help inform and inspire college-level practices – they are not mandatory. However, the timeline, dossier contents/order, and the new promotion form are required components of the university’s process.
Key Considerations for Deans, Chairs and School Directors
While colleges have long maintained fixed-term faculty promotion practices, our review revealed recurring areas of confusion that can hinder broader and more consistent use of the policy. These updates are intended to clarify the process, reduce barriers, and ultimately support the recognition and retention of our fixed-term faculty.
Your leadership is essential in ensuring these improvements are implemented. As you guide your unit through this work, we encourage you to consider the following:
- Promote Awareness and Access: Many fixed-term faculty may not be familiar with the promotion policy, or the steps required to advance. Proactive conversations with faculty and directing them to the relevant resources will support timely and informed decisions about pursuing promotion.
- Engage Your Team: Collaborate with associate deans, Faculty Excellence Advocates, and HR staff to ensure that the new promotion form is utilized, the new university timeline is followed, and that all materials submitted to HR are complete and well-organized.
- Review and Strengthen Practices: The newly developed guidelines address common challenges raised by colleges as they worked to implement the central policy. While optional, they provide helpful strategies that you may wish to adapt or integrate into your unit’s promotion process to enhance clarity, consistency and equity.
We are rolling out a series of communications in the next 24 hours, starting with outreach to leaders, followed by a message to HR administrators, and then a message to all fixed-term faculty.
Your continued leadership in promoting transparency and clarity will be essential to supporting faculty and advancing the university’s academic mission. To assist faculty and administrators in implementation, we’ve developed frequently asked questions with timeline details and key provisions. In addition, the form and guidelines mentioned can be found on the Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs (FASA) website.
Thank you for your ongoing leadership in fostering a supportive and equitable environment for all faculty. If you have any questions about this process, please reach out to the Office of the Vice Provost for FASA at (517) 353-5300, FASAffairs@msu.edu, or your FASA liaison.
Sincerely,
Teresa Mastin, Ph.D.
Vice Provost and Associate Vice President for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs
Michigan State University
