Process for Faculty Appointment

The process for appointment is described below for the TH Chan School of Medicine (SOM) and the Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing (GSN). These processes apply to all faculty appointments with the following exceptions:

• Adjunct Faculty appointments have a modified requirement for letters of evaluation: see here.
• Visiting Faculty appointments are approved by a stream-lined procedure: see here.

Employed Faculty are assigned a temporary appointment (APP, Section 3.12.a) at the rank and title proposed by their chair or dean until their appointment is approved through the procedures described herebelow. Approval of temporary appointments should be completed within one year.  Other Faculty Appointments (Professional Staff; Affiliate, Adjunct and Visiting Faculty) are effective when the appointment is approved.

The appointment process involves review of a faculty member's academic achievements by both faculty committees and administrators (Chair, Dean). A Guide for Members of Personnel Action Committees can be downloaded here.

New faculty provide the following information to their department in the SOM or to the GSN:

• a current Curriculum Vitae (in the UMMS format): see here for information on preparing a CV.
• a proposed list of individuals who will write Letters of Evaluation:  see here for guidelines on letters of evaluation.

Process in the School of Medicine

The steps in the approval process for a faculty appointment in the School of Medicine are as follows (see flowchart above):

1. The candidate submits their CV in the UMass Chan Medical School format to their department to be included in their Basic File.
2. The candidate submits to their department chair a proposed list of individuals who will write letters of evaluation. This list is reviewed by the chair: the chair may add or subtract individuals from the candidate’s list, but must include at least two individuals from the list.
3. The department chair solicits the letters of evaluation, which are added to the candidate's Basic File.
4. The candidate's Basic File (consisting of the candidate’s CV and letters of evaluation) is reviewed by the Departmental Personnel Action Committee (DPAC). The DPAC determines whether the candidate meets the criteria for appointment to an academic rank and writes a letter of recommendation, which is added to the candidate's Basic File.
5. The department chair reviews the candidate’s Basic File and writes a letter of recommendation, which is added to the candidate's file.
6. The candidate’s Basic File is submitted to the Office of Faculty Affairs, where it is reviewed for completeness.
7. The school Personnel Action Committee (PAC) reviews the candidate's Basic File, determines whether the candidate meets the criteria for appointment to an academic rank, and makes a recommendation.
8.  The PAC recommendations are distributed to the Executive Council for review.
9. The Dean approves the appointment, with approval by the Provost and Chancellor.

Process in the Graduate School of Nursing

The steps in the approval process for a faculty appointment in the GSN are as follows (see flowchart above):

1. The candidate submits their CV in the UMass Chan Medical School format to the school to be included in their Basic File.
2. The candidate submits to the GSN Dean a proposed list of individuals who will write letters of evaluation. This list is reviewed by the Dean: the Dean may add or subtract individuals from the candidate’s list, but must include at least two individuals from the list.
3. The Dean solicits the letters of evaluation, which are added to the candidate's Basic File.
4. The candidate’s Basic File is submitted to the Office of Faculty Affairs, where it is reviewed for completeness.
5. The GSN Personnel Action Committee (PAC) reviews the candidate's Basic File, determines whether the candidate meets the criteria for appointment to an academic rank, and makes a recommendation.
6.  The PAC recommendations are distributed to the Executive Council for review.
7. The Dean approves the appointment, with approval by the Provost and Chancellor.