In what ways may professorial teaching track faculty engage in/demonstrate their scholarship?

Faculty Code Section 24-34 B.4 states that individuals in the professorial teaching track “may demonstrate their scholarship in a variety of ways…..” and lists several examples of evidence, that includes, but is not limited to, traditional research/scholarship evidence such as peer-reviewed publications.

Importantly, Faculty Code 24-34 B.4 goes on to clarify that “while [faculty in these titles] may choose to [demonstrate scholarship] through publication, such publication shall not be required”.
In addition to scholarship examples provided in Faculty Code 24-34 B.4. (e.g., introduction of new knowledge or methods into course content; development of new courses, curricula, or course materials, etc.), here are some additional exemplars from recent promotion records. This list is not meant to be mandatory or exhaustive:

  • Authoring open source resources for students and/or faculty to support teaching/learning
  • Developing or demonstrating integration of new pedagogical methods into course content and/or evaluation
  • Participating as principal investigator or co-investigator on grants focused on education in specialty
  • Serving as a conference planning committee member for disciplinary teaching
  • Participation in regional or national task forces on education in area of focus
  • Performing accreditation visits for professional education organization to other colleges/universities
  • Invited talks or consultation at other educational institutions
  • Developing reports, white papers in field
  • Developing and leading study abroad programs for UW students

When evaluating candidates in the professorial teaching track for promotion, are external letters of review required?

Yes. At least 3 non-conflicted “arm’s length”, confidential reviews are required for promotion consideration. When evaluating assistant teaching professors who are candidates for promotion to associate teaching professor, it may be appropriate to solicit letters from experts who are external to the candidate’s academic unit, but who are internal to the UW. For candidates being considered for promotion from associate teaching professor to teaching professor, all reviewers must be external to UW.

Reviewers should be able to assess scholarly and teaching achievements as well as service contributions. Letters soliciting external reviews should be tailored to the expectations of the professorial teaching track and should include representative materials (e.g., syllabi, student and peer teaching evaluations) to assist reviewers in their evaluation.