(1) This document establishes the procedures for academic promotion to Levels B, C, D and E, providing recognition and reward for staff excellence and achievement. (2) Nil. (3) Nil. (4) Applicants must meet the eligibility requirements for promotion as outlined in the Academic Promotions Policy. (5) Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek guidance and discuss their applications with: (6) There is an always-open process for academic promotions, with applications accepted throughout the year. (7) The Academic Promotions Committee will convene three times per year to consider applications. The dates of Academic Promotions Committee meetings and the cut-off dates for inclusion in those meetings will be listed on the University's Academic Promotions web page at the start of the calendar year. (8) Applications not submitted or incomplete by the cut-off date for a meeting of the Academic Promotions Committee will be held over to the next meeting. (9) Applications should address overall career trajectory, and focus on recent achievements, as per the Requirements for Promotion, outlined in the Academic Promotions Policy. (10) Applicants must submit as part of their application: (11) Note: Applicants are expected to consult the Academic Promotions Policy, the Academic Promotions Procedures and the Academic Promotions Guidelines in preparing their Application Form and Application CV (these are all located on the Academic Promotions web page). (12) The Promotions Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources will collect supporting reports as required, including from: (13) Applicants should be aware that delays in procuring any reports may result in the application being held over to the next available Academic Promotions Committee meeting. If this is the case, applicants will be notified in writing. (14) Applicants should discuss in their application narrative: (15) Applications which exceed the word limits will not be accepted. Graphs, statistics and other visual aids are included in the word count. (16) All works cited in Academic Promotions applications, including but not limited to, research, engagement, consultation and entrepreneurial activities, must be approved, conducted and recorded in accordance with University policies. (17) Applications to Level D and Level E must include a list of 5 significant works. These will be forwarded to the independent external assessors for review. Applicants must submit to the Promotions Coordinator, either: (18) Note: electronic copies are preferred. (19) Applicants may include on their Application Form a personal statement (maximum 250 words) on any relevant personal circumstances and their career impact. The statement should focus on the shortest of the past five years, the period since last promotion, or the period since appointment at the University. The statement will facilitate the assessment of achievements relative to opportunity. (20) The Academic Promotions Application CV form requires that information provided be capped at five years. Applicants can use an extended timeframe in their Application CV only on the basis of career interruptions and their impact on career. (21) Applicants must submit their CV: (22) Applications are considered final when submitted. Applicants may not submit further supporting evidence, documentation or information related to their application once submitted. (23) The Promotions Coordinator must make available on the Academic Promotions web page: (24) Applicants are expected to use the Academic Promotions Guidelines, and are encouraged to use other resources such as Mentors, their Academic Supervisor and Dean or Director when preparing their application for promotion. (25) All material included in the Academic Promotions application must be made available to the Committee, if requested. (26) Applicants must submit their application in electronic copy by email to the Promotions Coordinator in the format required by the form. (27) At the time of writing this policy, the email address of the Promotions Coordinator is promotions@westernsydney.edu.au. (28) The Promotions Coordinator will acknowledge in writing all applications for promotion within five working days of receipt of the application. (29) The Promotions Coordinator will provide a full copy of the application form and all supporting documents to the Dean/Director. (30) The Promotions Coordinator will request a recommendation report from the relevant Dean/Director, referees and/or independent assessors. (31) The Dean/Director must submit a recommendation report on the required template to the Promotions Coordinator, within 20 working days of the request. (32) The Promotions Coordinator will forward the recommendation report to the applicant for their information. (33) Once the relevant Promotions Committee has met, an applicant cannot normally withdraw their application, unless the applicant: (34) Applicants to Level B and Level C are required to provide the names and email addresses of referees who may be consulted about the applicant's suitability for promotion. Specifically: (35) Internal referees must hold the position of Senior Lecturer or above within the University. External referees are expected to hold national standing in the applicant's field of expertise. (36) Applicants must not nominate their Academic Supervisor or members of the Promotions Committee (where known) as referees. (37) Applicants with a personal, professional or other ongoing relationship with any proposed referee must declare this in their Application Form. (38) The Promotions Coordinator will provide the referees with copies of the promotion application, CV and relevant supporting documentation, and will request written reports from the nominated referees. (39) Referees must return their written reports to the Promotions Coordinator within 15 working days of receiving the request to provide a report. (40) Referee reports are confidential and will not be forwarded to the applicant at any stage of the process, including after the outcome of the application is known. (41) The applicant may advise of any potential assessors they prefer not to be nominated as an independent external assessor in their Application Form. Applicants must provide a short, written justification for any such requests. The Promotions Coordinator must forward any such requests to the Dean/Director for their consideration in nominating independent external assessors. (42) The relevant Dean/Director and the Academic Supervisor must: (43) The pool of nominated independent external assessors must: (44) The Chair of the Academic Promotions Committee: (45) The Promotions Coordinator will send independent external assessors: (46) Independent external assessors are requested to return their reports to the Promotions Coordinator within 15 working days of receiving the request. (47) The names and reports of independent external assessors are confidential and will not be forwarded to the applicant at any stage of the process, including after the outcome of the application is known. (48) The Promotions Committee must consider each application and all associated documentation before making a determination about recommendation for promotion. (49) There are no interviews for applications for promotion to Level B and C. (50) Interviews are held for those applying for promotion to Level D and Level E. Interview questions will not be made available to applicants prior to the interview. (51) Applicants must not contact any members of the Academic Promotions Committee to discuss their application, either during or after the applications process. (52) The Academic Promotions Committee provides recommendations regarding promotion applications to the Vice-Chancellor and President. (53) Recommendations of the Academic Promotions Committee must be by a majority of the Committee (excluding the Chair). If there is a hung decision, the Chair makes the deciding recommendation. (54) The Vice-Chancellor and President decides the final determinations about promotions applications, after considering the recommendations of the Academic Promotions Committee. (55) The Promotions Coordinator will notify each applicant in writing about the outcome of their application within ten working days of the Vice-Chancellor and President's decision. (56) Promotions for successful applicants will come into effect twice a year (1 January and 1 July) following their successful application, subject to the applicant: (57) Unsuccessful applicants can re-apply for academic promotion when they believe they can make a compelling case. They should seek advice from their Academic Supervisor and their Dean/Director in making this decision. (58) The Vice-Chancellor and President will report annually to the Academic Senate about the following: (59) The Academic Promotions Committee will consider all applications for promotion from Level B to Level E. (60) The Vice-Chancellor and President, in consultation with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Academic and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Research, Enterprise and International, will review and appoint the membership of the Academic Promotions Committee annually, prior to the cut-off date for the first meeting of that calendar year. (61) The Academic Promotions Committee will consist of: (62) The internal and external pools of academics are considered independent members of the Academic Promotions Committee, whose roles are to provide insights and advice across the three fields of academic practice. (63) Ex officio members of the Committee have the same voting rights as members drawn from the internal and external pools. (64) The membership of Promotions Committee will have regard to gender and disciplinary balance. There is no requirement that all disciplines be represented on the Committee. (65) The Vice-Chancellor and President, in consultation with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Academic and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Research, Enterprise and International, will approve the internal pool of Level D and Level E representatives from each School and Institute. (66) The Vice-Chancellor and President, in consultation with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Academic and Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President, Research, Enterprise and International, will approve the external pool of academics. (67) The Senior Manager, Equity and Diversity, may attend as a non-voting observer, and provide advice at the request of the Committee. (68) The Senior Manager, Equity and Diversity, will raise any concerns regarding procedural matters during a Committee session, or in a written report within two working days of the meeting. (69) Deans/Directors must not be members of the Academic Promotions Committee. (70) Where a member of the Academic Promotions Committee is no longer available to participate: (71) Where a member of the Promotions Committee is the Academic Supervisor of an applicant, they must declare their conflict and remove themselves from the discussion relating to that application. (72) Members of the Academic Promotions Committee will normally serve as members of the Committee for a period of 12 months, and are eligible for re-appointment. (73) All members are expected to be present for meetings of the Academic Promotions Committee. (74) The Promotions Coordinator will provide Committee members with orientation in the procedures and practices of the Academic Promotions process. (75) The Academic Promotions Committee will provide a written report to the Vice-Chancellor and President after each meeting, clearly recommending the successful and unsuccessful applications. (76) Applicants whose application for promotion was determined to be unsuccessful may lodge a formal appeal of the decision. The grounds of any such appeal are limited to failure by the Academic Promotions Committee or the Office of Human Resources to comply with the procedural requirements of the Policy or Procedures that had a material effect on the decision. (77) Appeals by applicants contesting the decision of the Vice-Chancellor and President are not permitted. (78) Appeals must refer to the Promotions process and cannot be based on advice received after notification of the result. (79) Any appeal of decision must: (80) The Executive Director, Human Resources, will assess each appeal case. (81) Refer to the following documents attached as associated information:Academic Promotion Procedures
Section 1 - Purpose and Context
Section 2 - Definitions
Section 3 - Policy Statement
Section 4 - Procedures
Part A - Application Method
Academic Promotions Application Form
Equity Considerations
Application CV
Part B - Submission of Applications
Part C - Referees - for Applications to Level B and Level C Only
Part D - Independent External Assessors - for Applications to Level D and Level E Only
Part E - Determination and Notification
Part F - Academic Promotions Committee
Part G - Appeals
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Section 5 - Guidelines
View Current
This is not a current document. It has been repealed and is no longer in force.
The promotion will not come into effect until the Dean/Director confirms that these conditions have been met.