Faculty Appointments and Promotions
The SOM has adopted Interfolio RPT for the submission of appointments/promotions for SOM faculty. Please see the Office of Faculty Information website for more information.
The following is a summary of policies that are stated in full in the “Gold Book” (or “Blue Book” for part-time faculty) and procedures of the relevant committees; this summary does not vary the terms of those policies or procedures.
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Committees
Professorial Promotions Committee (PPC)
The role of the Professorial Promotions Committee is to provide for the orderly peer review of the qualifications of individuals recommended for appointment or promotion to full professor in the school of medicine, applying the criteria established in the Gold Book (i.e., Policies and Guidelines Governing Appointments, Promotions and Professional Activities of the Full-Time Faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) for full-time faculty, and in the Blue Book for part-time faculty. The committee recommends individuals for appointment or promotion to full professor to the Advisory Board for the Medical Faculty for approval. Recommendations for appointment or promotion to full professor that are approved by the advisory board must then be approved by the university’s board of trustees.
The chair and members of the committee are appointed by the dean. The committee provides a standing report at each regular meeting of the advisory board.
The committee’s procedures provide in part that each candidate is referred to the committee on written nomination by his or her department director to the dean following review under the departmental promotions process. Each candidate is assigned to a three-member subcommittee, which is responsible for soliciting and reviewing letters from referees, including up to 10 recommended by the candidate, as well as reviewing the nominating letter, the CV and copies of appropriate documents (e.g., articles, textbooks, slide sets, videos) that reflect achievements of the candidate. The subcommittee reports its decision to the full committee, which then considers and votes on the candidate at two meetings.
Positive decisions are presented to the advisory board. The advisory board then reviews the recommendation from the committee and can either approve or deny promotion (or new appointment) at the rank of professor. The advisory board has a one-month waiting period before its final vote. After the candidate is approved by the advisory board, the paperwork is forwarded to the university’s board of trustees for its approval.
Negative decisions are communicated to the department director, who may choose to withdraw the candidate or ask for an advisory board vote. In these cases, the advisory board may either approve or overturn a recommendation not to promote or appoint.
Associate Professor Promotions Committee (APPC)
Like that of the PPC, the role of the Associate Professor Promotions Committee (APPC) is to provide for the orderly peer review of the qualifications of individuals recommended for appointment or promotion to associate professor in the School of Medicine, applying the criteria established in the "Gold Book" (i.e., Policies and Guidelines Governing Appointments, Promotions and Professional Activities of the Full-Time Faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) for full-time faculty, and in the "Blue Book" for part-time faculty. The APPC recommends individuals for appointment or promotion to associate professor to the ABMF, which then votes to approve or deny appointment/promotion.
The chair and members of the APPC are comprised of faculty members (at the Associate Professor or Professor level) from multiple departments within the SOM and are appointed by the Dean. The APPC’s procedures provide in part that each candidate is referred to the APPC on written nomination by his or her department director to the Dean following review under the departmental promotions process. Each candidate is assigned to 2 primary reviewers, who are responsible for detailed review of each candidate’s application and presentation of their evaluations to the full committee for consideration and vote. The full committee then votes on all applications. If the APPC votes to recommend promotion, the recommendation is forwarded to the ABMF. In case of a negative decision, the chair of the APPC notifies the department director in writing, providing suggestions to improve the candidate’s prospects for promotion in the future.
Clinical Excellence Promotions Committee (CEPC)
The role of the Clinical Excellence Promotions Committee (CEPC) is to provide for the orderly review of the qualifications of individuals recommended for appointment or promotion to associate professor or professor in the Clinical Excellence Track of the SOM. The review process applies the criteria established in the “Gold Book" (i.e., Policies and Guidelines Governing Appointments, Promotions and Professional Activities of the Full-Time Faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) for full-time faculty, and in the "Blue Book" for part-time faculty. The CEPC makes recommendations for promotion to the PPC and APPC for professor and associate professor, respectively. Recommendations from the CEPC are reviewed by the PPC or APPC, which then vote to confirm the recommendation. Recommendations for promotion are then forwarded to the ABMF, which votes to approve or deny appointment or promotion.
The chair and members of the CEPC are comprised of faculty members (at the Associate Professor or Professor level) from all clinical departments within the SOM and are appointed by the Dean. The CEPC’s procedures provide in part that each candidate is referred to the CEPC on written nomination by his or her department director to the Dean following review under the departmental promotions process. Each candidate is assigned to 2 primary reviewers, who are responsible for detailed review of each candidate’s application and presentation of their evaluations to the full committee for consideration and vote. The full committee then votes on all applications; only committee members who are full professor may vote on applications for appointment/promotion to professor. If the CEPC votes to recommend promotion, the recommendation is forwarded to the PPC or APPC. In case of a negative decision, the chair of the CEPC notifies the department director in writing, providing suggestions to improve the candidate’s prospects for promotion in the future.
Appointment Process for Assistant Professors
The Director of the Department makes a recommendation to the Agenda Committee of the ABMF. After review by the Agenda Committee, endorsed nominations are forwarded to the ABMF. ABMF reviews the recommendation and submits approved recommendations to the Dean who notifies the faculty member of the appointment.
Appointment Process for Instructors
The Director of the Department makes a recommendation to the ABMF. ABMF reviews the recommendation and submits approved recommendations to the Dean who notifies the faculty member of the appointment.
Instructor and Assistant Professor Reappointment Review Committee
The Instructor and Assistant Professor Reappointment Review Committee is constituted to review Instructors at the time of their Three-Year Review and Assistant Professors at the time of their Seven-Year, Nine-Year, and, if applicable, Extended Appointment Reviews. It must also approve any additional contract for an Instructor beyond the third year. The committee requires documentation from the Department Director that the faculty member has been informed of the Director's recommendation prior to review by the committee. The committee's recommendation must be reported to the Dean, the Department Director, the ABMF, and the faculty member.
The Instructor and Assistant Professor Reappointment Review Committee submits its recommendation, including recommendation for exception to the ten year maximum, to the ABMF. The ABMF reviews the recommendation and submits approved recommendations to the Dean who notifies the faculty member of the appointment.
Associate Professor Reappointment Review Committee
The Associate Professor Reappointment Review Committee meets to review Associate Professors at the time of their Six-Year, Nine-Year, and Extended Appointment Reviews. The Committee requires documentation from the Department Director that the faculty member has been informed of the Director's recommendation prior to review by the Committee. The Committee sends its recommendations in writing to the Dean, the Department Director, the faculty member and the ABMF. The ABMF reviews the recommendation and submits approved recommendations to the Dean who notifies the faculty member of the appointment.
The Committee's recommendations will be based on (i) evaluation of the Department Director's recommendation; (ii) evaluation of the potential for continued and/or improved productivity and academic advancement by the faculty member; and (iii) the relationship of the faculty member to the academic program, resources, and space of the department and the School in general.