Faculty Promotion and Rank

SPCC has adopted a system for faculty promotion and rank to recognize outstanding faculty members, encourage faculty development, and recruit quality faculty.  All full-time curriculum faculty, including program directors and department chairs, are eligible for promotion.  A separate process exists for adjunct faculty members.  Faculty members may be hired with rank.  Promotion criteria consist of years of service in full-time, college-level faculty positions (three years between each promotion) and excellence in teaching, scholarship, and service.  The responsibility for documenting faculty performance for the purpose of promotion rests with the faculty member applying for promotion.  Faculty document their eligibility through ePortfolios, peer references, student references and evaluations, and other relevant materials.  Faculty members receive both cash and non-cash compensation packages with each promotion.

Faculty Ranks

  • Instructor
  • Assistant Professor
  • Associate Professor
  • Full Professor

Timeframe for Promotion
Faculty members must serve three years in a rank before being eligible for promotion to the next rank; however, faculty members may begin the application process during the fall of the third year of a particular rank, with promotion, if awarded, taking place in the fall of the fourth year.

Faculty members may apply years of full-time service as college-level faculty members at other institutions toward placement into a rank, provided the faculty member meets other eligibility criteria for the promotion.  Adjunct service does not count toward promotion.

The first time a faculty member applies for rank, s/he may apply to the highest rank for which s/he is eligible.  However, once placed into a rank, faculty members may not skip ranks or retroactively apply years of service.

After a promotion, faculty members must re-submit materials every 3 years to maintain rank (or, they must apply to the next rank).

Compensation for Promotions
Full-time faculty members who are promoted will receive both cash and non-cash compensation associated with each promotion.

Cash Compensation
Faculty members who are promoted will receive the following added to their base salaries.

  • Promotion from instructor to assistant professor                         $1,000
  • Promotion from assistant professor to associate professor        $1,500
  • Promotion from associate professor to full professor                  $2,000
    • Total cash compensation over all promotions                    $4,500

Non-Cash Compensation
Faculty members who are promoted will receive the following non-cash compensations.

  • Promotion from instructor to assistant professor:
    • Eight hours of additional personal leave per year (does not accrue).
    • $250 in professional development funding for three years.
    • Gift bags.
    • Desk nameplate.
  • Promotion from assistant professor to associate professor:
    • Sixteen hours of additional personal leave per year (does not accrue).
    • $500 in professional development funding for three years.
    • Gift bags.
    • Desk nameplate.
  • Promotion from associate professor to full professor:
    • Twenty-four hours of additional personal leave per year (does not accrue).
    • $750 in professional development funding for three years.
    • Gift bags.
    • Desk nameplate.

Hiring with Rank
Faculty members may be hired with rank if they meet SPCC eligibility requirements.

  • Faculty positions may be advertised at any rank deemed appropriate by the supervisor, Dean, VPAA/CAO, SLT, and Human Resources.
  • One member of the Promotion and Rank Committee must sit on search committees hiring for positions above instructor-level.
  • Applicants must meet both full-time years of service as college-level faculty and all other eligibility requirements to be hired with rank.
  • Faculty members hired with rank must successfully complete a one-semester probationary period.