1 Academic Promotions Board ("lecturer advancements")
The Academic Promotions Board consists of the Vice-Principal (Convener)
and the two Deans. In addition there will be three members representing
the Schools, who are preferably not a Head of School or from the
same School as that of the Deans, and are at least of Senior Lecturer
status. The Director of Human Resources or his/her nominee will act
as clerk to the Board.
2 Not later than 15 December the Director of Human
Resources or his/her nominee shall write to Heads of Schools with details
of the academic staff in their School including those on temporary
or short-term appointments. This information will include:
2.1 for lecturers on probation
2.1.1 names of lecturers on probation
2.1.2 date of contractual end of probation
2.1.3 reminder of the criteria for the successful completion
of probation as described in paragraph 4.1 below
2.1.4 reminder of due procedure if progress towards successful
completion is in doubt
2.2 for lecturers at the top of Lecturer 'A' scale
2.2.1 names of lecturers who are at the top of the Lecturer
'A' scale or who will reach it on 1 April
2.2.2 date of reaching top of scale
2.2.3 reminder of the criteria for advancement to Lecturer 'B'
as described in paragraph 4.2 below
3 The Director of Human Resources or his/her nominee shall request Heads
of Schools to submit by 13 February the following:
3.1 Probation and temporary appointments
3.1.1 a statement on the progress of each lecturer on probation
including courses attended/completed as part of the "release
from probation process" and any accreditation from the Institution
of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education or such similar body.
3.1.2 For each lecturer who will reach the date of contractual
completion of probation by 1 April in the current academic year,
a positive or negative recommendation about completion of probation
with reasons should be submitted to the Spring Board. For each
lecturer who will reach the date of contractual completion of
probation by 31 December, a positive or negative recommendation
about completion of probation with reasons should be submitted
to the Autumn Board. Only one submission can be made per year,
unless the Board has specifically requested that a case be resubmitted.
3.1.3 a statement on the progress of each temporary lecturer
with a contract of less than one year. Temporary lecturers with
a contract of more than one year should be treated as if on probation.
3.2 Advancement to Lecturer 'B'
3.2.1 for each lecturer who will reach the top of the Lecturer
'A' scale by 1 April in the current or next academic year, a positive
or negative recommendation about advancement to Lecturer 'B' with
reasons
3.2.2 any cases for accelerated promotion to Lecturer 'B' with
reasons
3.3 Additional or discretionary increments for Lecturers, Senior
Lecturers and Readers
3.3.1 any recommendations about the award of additional or discretionary
increments, with reasons.
Note: an individual may not propose him or herself for additional
or discretionary increments.
It should be emphasised that additional increments are abnormal
and are to rectify an obvious error in the appointment or to effect
an exceptional acceleration. Discretionary increments are to recognise
exceptional performance.
4. The criteria referred to in paragraph 2 are as follows:
4.1 Probation
For a person to be offered confirmation of employment, the University
shall be satisfied that having regard to his or her age, standing,
experience, and to the opportunities which he or she has been offered:
4.1.1 he or she has satisfactorily engaged in the teaching of
prescribed courses and the supervisory and tutorial work assigned
to him or her
4.1.2 he or she has satisfactorily engaged in research towards
the advancement of his or her subject, or where appropriate has
achieved the completion of a research degree
4.1.3 he or she has conscientiously carried out such examining
duties and satisfactorily performed such administrative duties
as have been required of him or her
4.1.4 he or she shows promise by his or her work and enterprise
of continuing to develop as a university teacher and a scholar
4.1.5 he or she attends the course leading to the Postgraduate
Certificate in Academic Practice. It is expected that the successful
completion of this course would lead to membership of the Institute
for Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.
4.2 Advancement from lecturer Grade A to Grade B
It will be the normal expectation that a lecturer reaching a maximum
of Grade A should be advanced to Grade B. Although such advancement
is not on the basis of competitive merit, a positive recommendation
is required based on academic attainment and ability and on a
satisfactory standard of work.
Specifically, for promotion to Grade B a lecturer should demonstrate
progress and achievement, within the opportunities available,
which is comparable with that of others in the same group in:
- teaching, course preparation and examining
- research and scholarship and, if appropriate, in
- departmental and other management or administrative responsibilities
5 Not later than 15 December there shall be an announcement in the
University's Network bulletin that:
5.1 the position of all temporary lecturers and lecturers on
probation will be considered by the Academic Promotions Board
during the Spring Term.
5.2 the position of all lecturers on the Lecturer 'A' scale will
similarly be considered
5.3 Heads of Schools are being invited to make recommendations
about accelerated promotion from Lecturer 'A' to Lecturer 'B',
and additional or discretionary increments for Lecturers, Senior
Lecturers and Readers.
Note The criteria set out paragraphs 4.1, and 4.2 should be
stated in 'Network'.
6 Not later than 15 March the Director of Human Resources or his/her
nominee shall send the following to the Academic Promotions Board:
6.1 for each lecturer on probation
6.1.1 the statements and recommendations referred to in paragraphs
3.1.1 and 3.1.2 above
6.2 for each lecturer at the top of the Lecturer 'A' scale, or
recommended for accelerated promotion
6.2.1 the recommendations referred to in paragraph 3.2.1 above
6.2.2 the recommendations referred to in paragraph 3.2.2 above
6.3 for anyone being recommended for additional or discretionary
increments
6.3.1 the recommendation referred to in paragraph 3.3.1 above
All cases, except for probationers, should be complete in themselves,
and there should be no need to call on previous years' papers,
of which reference copies only are kept in accordance with paragraph
11.
7 The following points of procedure shall normally apply to the
deliberations of the Board:
7.1 exceptionally the Board may wish to interview an individual
member of the academic staff or the Head of School
7.2 each member of the Board should take a full part in the work
of the Board, including occasions when the case of a lecturer
from the same department is under consideration
7.3 the reasons for the various recommendations shall be recorded
by the Clerk.
If oral evidence is taken in any instance, the fact should be
recorded.
8 Not later than 30 April the Board shall send to the Planning and
Management Executive
8.1 positive or negative recommendations about every lecturer
at the end of his or her probationary period
8.2 positive or negative recommendations about every lecturer
at the top of the Lecturer 'A' scale, and recommendations for
accelerated promotion to Lecturer 'B'
8.3 positive or negative recommendations about additional or
discretionary increments for every Lecturer, Senior Lecturer or
Reader who has been recommended for them by his or her Head of
School
9 When the Planning and Management Executive has approved the recommendations,
they are formally published to the appropriate Heads of Schools,
and to the members of staff concerned. Those candidates not promoted
to Lecturer B, or those whose probation has not been completed successfully
or whose probation has been extended will be given written reasons
for the decision.
10 The Director of Human Resources or his nominee shall notify the
decisions of the Planning and Management Executive as follows:
10.1 Probation
10.1.1 the lecturer
10.1.2 the Head of School
10.1.3 the Salaries Office and Financial Controller
10.2 Lecturer 'A' to Lecturer 'B' advancement
10.2.1 the lecturer
10.2.2 the Head of School
10.2.3 the Salaries Office and Financial Controller
10.3 Additional or discretionary increments
10.3.1 the member of staff in the event of a successful outcome
10.3.2 the Head of School
10.3.3 the Salaries Office and Financial Controller in the event
of a successful outcome
11 Personal papers shall be disposed of as follows
11.1 After the review all papers containing information about
members of staff shall be returned to the Clerk to the Board for
shredding
11.2 One copy of each document containing personal information
about members of staff shall be retained by the Director of Human
Resources
12 Appeals
12.1 Cases involving non-confirmation or extension of probation,
or of being held at the top of Lecturer 'A' scale
The appeal machinery is set out in a separate document.
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