Helpful Suggestions in Planning for Promotion

Here are some specific strategies that may be helpful in both planning for, and preparing your application.

Learn about the promotion process and academic titles

It’s helpful to understand in advance how the promotion process works and what you will need to have accomplished in order to be considered for the different academic titles. You can read about this in the Promotion Process and Academic Titles sections of this website. If you have questions speak with your supervisor or email the Psychiatry Faculty Affairs Office. Clickhere for our contact information.

Talk to Your Mentor, Division Chief and/or Supervisor about your career development

It’s helpful to meet with your mentor or supervisor to discuss your overall career plans. A meeting like this will help you to both clarify your goals and plan for what you need to accomplish to meet them.

Many of the steps in career development take time (e.g. finding a more senior job opportunity; publishing a paper). Planning in advance is a good idea.

Keep a record of your professional activities

In the context of busy and hectic daily lives it is easy to lose track of some of the things you have done (e.g. a lecture you gave, a symposium you chaired, a committee you were a member of). Promotions are based on professional accomplishments, so it is important to have a detailed record.

Establish a professional reputation outside of the department

Senior promotions (Associate Professor and Professor) require evidence of a national (Associate) or international (Professor) professional reputation, including letters from colleagues outside our department whose academic rank is at or above the level to which you are seeking promotion. application materials or learn about Committee memberships, collaborative projects, and organizing or participating in symposia at professional meetings are all good ways to develop professional relationships and begin to establish a reputation outside our department. To see the criteria for extra-departmental references required for specific promotions visit the Appointments and Promotions page then go to the title you are interested in.