All individuals considered for appointment, reappointment, promotion and/or tenure within the Department of Surgery must have a record of excellence in teaching, research and scholarship. They must also demonstrate conduct consistent with the Statement on Professional Ethics of the American Association of University Professors (1987).

The Department of Surgery endorses the university’s recognition of the value of diverse contributions by individual faculty members toward the realization of the overall mission of the institution. For example, within the Tenure-Track there may be many different patterns of scholarly activity that reflect a range of faculty interests, skills and accomplishments and vary in emphasis between teaching, scholarship and service. Although faculty members may choose to place greater emphasis on certain aspects of scholarly activity, and less emphasis on others, the department requires that the faculty member demonstrate excellence in all areas.

In addition, faculty members’ activities may change over time, and thus may be consistent with different patterns of performance throughout the course of their careers. All of these different patterns of faculty activity will still lead to consideration for, and granting of, promotion and/or tenure, provided that the department’s standard of excellence in all areas (including demonstration of national or international impact and recognition) as appropriate to the faculty level, is met.

It follows that the purpose of promotion to a senior faculty position and achievement of tenure is to recognize individual contributions and to build and maintain a strong and diverse university and departmental faculty that will enrich our academic fabric. It should be appreciated these guidelines are semi-rigid and there will arise the need for flexibility in the application of the standards to ensure that nontraditional faculty who have made unique and substantial contributions in innovation, leadership, team science, education and clinical care be eligible for promotion and tenure.

For Current Faculty

Promotion and tenure are issues of the utmost importance for faculty career development. The Department of Surgery has developed an appointment, promotion and tenure document that includes the department-specific criteria for career advancement in all faculty tracks, as well as methods for evaluating those criteria.

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Faculty Advancement, Mentoring and Engagement (FAME)

Ohio State also offers a Faculty Advancement, Mentoring and Engagement (FAME) program to assist your career growth.

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