As academic year 2011 drew to a close, the Office for Faculty Affairs reported significant strides in streamlining the promotions process.

Junior faculty learned about the new promotions process at a June luncheon with panelists (from left) Faculty Affairs Dean Maureen Connelly, Genetics Chair Cliff Tabin, Faculty Affairs Assistant Dean Mary Walsh and Health Care Policy Chair Barbara McNeil.

Increased number and quicker pace
  • Faculty promotions increased 28 percent in 2010-11 over the previous academic year; promotions to the rank of professor increased 43 percent.
  • The average length of the HMS portion of the professorial evaluation has decreased by seven months since 2005, from 16 months to nine.
  • With 51 cases for promotion to professor being evaluated by the new senior promotion process since April 2011, the streamlining of senior promotions is well under way.
Commitment increases faculty diversity
  • The number of women professors increased to 150; women now make up 16 percent of the senior faculty. The second and third African-American women professors appointed at HMS were promoted in this academic year.
  • Underrepresented minority (URM) faculty now constitute 5 percent of faculty and 5 percent of promotions at every rank except that of professor, for which promotions of URM faculty constitute 5 percent.
Efficiency benefits departments, candidates
  • All promotion committees now use a paperless system for candidate reviews.
  • The Promotions, Reappointments and Appointments Committee introduced a new system for approval of assistant professor candidates, including review and approval prior to in-person meetings, thereby increasing the number of candidates that can be considered each month.