The Department of Health Science has developed the following guidelines for those individuals working toward promotion and/or tenure. These guidelines are designed to follow those developed by the College of Health and Social Services and by the University itself, as set forth in the Annual Faculty Handbook. The reader is referred to these documents for more detailed information. These guidelines are also designed to be used by all faculty for annual performance evaluation purposes.

As of Fall semester, 1993, the department faculty adopted a flexible percentage weight of effort schedule. The recommended ranges includes the following:

1. Teaching (50% to 60% of total)
2. Research & Publications (20% to 40% of total)
3. University & Professional service (10% to 20% of total)

Activities representative of each of the above were included beneath each, typically with an average value score (which could be adjusted under extenuating circumstances either upward or downward by a slight percentage).

The typical teaching load at NMSU is 12 semester credits. In the Department of Health Science, this has traditionally meant 9 didactic credits per semester, with the balance being represented by HLS 496 - Field Experience students (1-6 credits) and HLS 490 - varying. Enrollment in HLS 490 also requires the instructor’s permission, so faculty are to use their judgment in determining how many to admit to this course. This load typically represents 50% of the faculty member’s work effort. With the advent to teleteaching in the department and with the commencement of the MPH in Community Health Education in the Fall semester of 1996, a more flexible teaching format may be developed in future years. It is likely with the increased student contact created from graduate committee work, that this 50% allocation of effort may increase up to 60%. The faculty will have to monitor, discuss, and approve any teaching load adjustments in future years, consistent with College and University-wide procedures.

Scholarly activity, typically defined as research and/or publications could be weighted between 20 to 40% of effort. For tenure-track faculty, and for those seeking promotion, a higher percentage effort in this area is recommended. Activities descriptive of this category are listed, again with weights assigned, on the attached Annual Performance Evaluation Reporting Procedures form.

Finally, university and professional service recommended effort percentages varies from 10 to 20% of total. Various activities are included under this section, some of which do not have assigned values. Service to the department, college, university, community, state, nation, and on an international level, as well as for the profession, is supported by the department, yet faculty are cautioned to avoid over extending themselves in these areas. This is obviously a concern for tenure-track faculty and those working toward promotion, especially in excess time spent on service work limits their time allocation to teaching effectiveness and scholarly production. All tenure-track faculty, and those working toward promotion, are encouraged to visit at least annually with the Chair of the department’s Promotion and Tenure committee and semi-annually with the Department Head to discuss their progress toward either objective or to discuss modifications in their weightings. All other faculty are still encouraged to review their percentage allocation for time estimates regularly and carefully and to discuss any changes they are considering with the Department Head.

Attachments:

Annual Performance Evaluation Reporting Procedures for the faculty of the Department of Health Science (2 pages)

Department of Health Science–Performance Evaluation Reporting Form (6 pages)

College Promotion & Tenure Guidelines

Most current edition of the NMSU Faculty Handbook