Professor of Instruction Track: Review and Promotional Guidelines

Rank Requirements and Review Schedules

Transitioning to the Professor of Instruction track introduces specific changes to the promotional timeline and review outcomes, which differ from the previous Lecturer in Discipline (LiD) and Senior Lecturer in Discipline (SLiD) structure:

Assistant Professor of Instruction ☑: Faculty must complete a minimum of seven years of teaching before qualifying for a major review for promotion.
Associate Professor of Instruction ☑: Requires a minimum of eight years of teaching.
Professor of Instruction ☑: Requires a minimum of twelve years of teaching, alongside substantial evidence of pedagogical excellence and academic leadership.

Assistant Professor of Instruction ☑: Pre-promotion reviews will occur in year 1 (Confirming Review), year 3 (Developmental Review), and year 5 (Critical Review).
Associate Professor of Instruction ☑: Faculty at this rank are evaluated via continuing reviews at five-year intervals to ensure ongoing pedagogical excellence.
Professor of Instruction ☑: Faculty at this rank undergo continuing reviews at five-year intervals.

Assistant Professor of Instruction ☑: A major review for promotion to Associate Professor of Instruction must take place by the eighth year of service.
Associate Professor of Instruction ☑: There is no absolute requirement for progression from Associate Professor of Instruction to Professor of Instruction.
Professor of Instruction ☑: External hires appointed at this rank must pass a major review before the end of their first year of appointment.

Assistant Professor of Instruction ☑: Unlike the former track, passing the major review results in mandatory promotion. If an individual does not pass, the school will issue a letter of nonrenewal.
Associate Professor of Instruction ☑: If an Associate Professor does not pass a promotional review to Professor of Instruction, they are permitted to remain at the Associate tier and continue to be evaluated with continuing reviews.
Professor of Instruction ☑

Assistant Professor of Instruction ☑
Associate Professor of Instruction ☑: External hires appointed at this rank must pass a major review before the end of their first year of appointment.
Professor of Instruction ☑

Mapping Current Review Clocks

To ensure a seamless transition, years of continuous service accrued in the prior Lecturer in Discipline track will count toward the review clock in the Professor of Instruction track. Schools should map current review schedules using the following framework:

Pending Major Reviews

If a Lecturer in Discipline is currently scheduled to undergo a Major Review for promotion this academic year, they may transition to the Assistant Professor of Instruction title effective January 1, 2027, prior to the review. Their scheduled Major Review will then proceed on its original timeline and serve as their promotional review to Associate Professor of Instruction.

Pending Developmental or Critical Reviews

Faculty currently due for a Developmental Review or Critical Review will transition to the Assistant Professor of Instruction rank and undergo their scheduled review on their originally established timeline. The review clock does not reset upon transition.

Continuing Reviews for Senior Lecturers

For current Senior Lecturers in Discipline transitioning to Associate Professor of Instruction or Professor of Instruction, the five-year clock for their next continuing qualitative review will be calculated from the date of their last successful major or continuing review.

Teaching Professor

Honorary Designation: This title is not part of the standard promotional track but serves as an exceptional honor conferred by schools to truly extraordinary and highly experienced members of the full-time non-tenure-track teaching faculty currently at the rank of Senior Lecturer in Discipline or Professor of Instruction.
Nomination Process: Appointments require a formal nomination process relying upon detailed dossiers, which must include external recommendations, teaching awards, student letters, and faculty review.
Current Titleholders: Faculty who have already been nominated and selected for the current Teaching Professor title will be automatically transferred to the new title of Teaching Professor with Distinction.

Last Updated: 09/16/2026

Professor of Instruction Track: Review and Promotional Guidelines

Rank Requirements and Review Schedules

Assistant Professor of Instruction ☑

Associate Professor of Instruction ☑