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Guidelines

The general qualifications for faculty appointments with the Clinical or Affiliate title, as well as at specific ranks, are summarized in UW Faculty Code https://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FacCodeTOC.html, Sections 24-34 A1-3 (ranks), and B8 (affiliate) and 11 (clinical). The procedures for new appointment, renewal of appointments, and promotion are summarized in Sections 24-52, 24-53, and 24-54, respectively. (http://www.washington.edu/admin/rules/policies/FCG/FCCH24.html).

Additional administrative information regarding each of the academic titles can be found on the UW Academic Human Resource web page. (https://ap.washington.edu/ahr/academic-titles-ranks/)

The information below is intended to provide clarity to procedures that are specific to the University of Washington, Department of Pharmacy (DOP or Department):

  • Clinical Faculty appointment: Individuals whose primary role is in a patient care setting.
  • Affiliate Faculty appointment: Individuals whose primary role is in a non-patient care setting.

Department of Pharmacy Guidelines

Guidelines for Initial Appointment

Individuals may be appointed via one of the following two pathways, with the specific rank of appointment based on criteria detailed in following sections.

Pathway 1: 

  • Directly precepts or supervises PharmD students and is responsible for evaluating student performance on a regular basis (e.g., preceptors for PharmD students).

Pathway 2 (Meeting TWO or MORE of the following criteria): 

  • Precepts or supervises PharmD students (but not as a primary preceptor).
  • Classroom engagement: Contributes to classroom teaching, laboratory supervision, skill course instruction or other classroom/course-related instruction.
  • Out of class engagement: Regular advisory role with student leadership, regular mentoring activities, or other ongoing out of class engagement with students.
  • Collaborator: Contributes to, or collaborates in, scholarship activities with Department-based faculty members. To be considered for appointment, the individual should directly participate in the formulation, conduct, implementation or supervision of the scholarship activity or research and/or reporting of findings.
  • Demonstrates professional leadership through service and leadership positions on national organizations, University, School or Department committees.

Appointment/Promotion Ranks and Qualifications

Clinical/Affiliate Instructor

This is the most common initial appointment for individuals within 2 years of completing of their highest degree or professional training or for those without a record of precepting or engagement with an academic institution (e.g., pharmacy residents).

Clinical/Affiliate Assistant Professor

Appointment (see above) or promotion to the rank of Clinical or Affiliate Assistant Professor generally requires completion of professional training (e.g. residency if applicable), and in most cases, three or more consecutive years of professional experience or equivalent service at other academic institutions. The candidate must also express the intent of continued service to the Department or School.

The individual should be recognized for their expertise and commitment as a practitioner, educator, scholar or community service advocate. A Clinical or Affiliate Assistant Professor is expected to have demonstrated consistent involvement with the UWSOP program, or another School or College of Pharmacy (e.g., regularly precepting students 12 weeks per year) in practicums, ongoing engagement in SOP activities such as scholarship or classroom teaching and ongoing service within the profession of pharmacy beyond the site of primary employment.

Appointment or promotion to this rank requires a consistent engagement with the UWSOP:

  1. Local, regional or national professional recognition or awards for developing or maintaining an innovative practice environment.
  2. Outstanding teaching achievement as reflected by teaching awards, exceptional teaching evaluations on a consistent basis, or other subject evidence.
  3. Scholarship accomplishments, such as publications or invited presentations at professional or scientific meetings, service to professional, pharmacy alumni or community organizations as an officer, committee chair or by sustained activity and contributions.
  4. Participation on UWSOP or DOP committees or assisting in the recruitment or interviewing of potential pharmacy students.

In the case of the initial appointment rank, previous professional experience will be considered.

Clinical/Affiliate Associate Professor

Appointment or promotion to the rank of Clinical or Affiliate Associate Professor requires a record of substantial success in both academic and professional activities, as evidenced by continued service to the School and a proven record of scholarship accomplishments. Promotion to the rank of Clinical or Affiliate Associate Professor generally requires five or more years of consecutive and outstanding service to the Department and profession as a Clinical or Affiliate Assistant Professor, demonstration of academic and professional leadership as evidenced by letters or documents from internal or external resources. There should also be evidence of growth and recognition as a scholar or leader in the field; i.e., expertise/mastery in defined area(s) of clinical practice or scholarship as demonstrated by scholarship accomplishment as described in footnote below or for a clinical educator as demonstrated by one of both of the following criteria:

  1. Continued and impactful engagement in the education program (didactic and/or experiential) with exceptional teaching, precepting, or practice skills, as documented by teaching evaluations and/or teaching awards,
  2. Contributions to practice (e.g., patient outcomes, practice improvements), science, and the profession through scholarship, defined as publications (peer reviewed and distributed regionally or nationally) or invited presentations, including poster presentations, at regional or national meetings or institutions outside of the individual’s site of employment.

Other forms of scholarship may include, but not be limited to the following:

  • Evidence of innovations in practice and/or clinical teaching,
  • Documented design of outcomes or evaluation/assessment of programs,
  • Reports of demonstration projects,
  • Policy papers, newsletter articles (outside of individual’s site of employment), or other similar publications about practice,
  • Reports of interdisciplinary or interprofessional programs or service projects, or
  • Grant awards or evidence of contribution to grant-related projects.

In general, an average of 1-2 of these various scholarly endeavors per year over the past 5 years is expected for one to be promoted to Clinical or Affiliate Associate Professor. The quality and impact of the scholarship work will also be taken into consideration.

Clinical/Affiliate Professor

In addition to a record of sustained service to the Department and profession, appointment or promotion to the rank of Clinical orAffiliate Professor requires outstanding, mature academic and professional achievements. Individuals appointed or promoted to this rank are expected to have achieved national recognition by peers in their area of expertise, and demonstrated national leadership in their field. A history of sustained contribution and service to the School of Pharmacy (e.g., serving on UWSOP or DOP committees, continued engagement in mentoring programs) is expected. Continued engagement or serving in leadership roles in professional organizations, and a sustained record of scholarship through publications or invited presentations including nationally-recognized abstracts/poster presentations (e.g., an average 2 per year in the past 5 years) should be demonstrated. A Clinical or Affiliate Professor will also be required to provide evidence of continued mentoring and support of junior colleagues in the Department or profession.

Annual Appointment Renewals

All Clinical and Affiliate Faculty appointments are made annually, and these Faculty members are required to demonstrate continued activity and contribution to the UWSOP for annual appointment renewal. Clinical and Affiliate Faculty receive an Annual Update request in September of every year. The Annual Update form must be completed no later than November 15. The information will be used to determine appointment renewal eligibility.

Annual reappointment eligibility is contingent upon the fulfillment of the following criteria:

  • The Clinical or Affiliate Faculty member desires to continue the appointment as evidenced by completing the Annual Update.
  • Continued service to the School over the last 18 months. Teaching, scholarship, or service activity must be evident at least once during any given two-year period to be eligible for reappointment.
  • Acceptable precepting/teaching performance as measured by the Annual Preceptor Performance Review process conducted by the Experiential Education Program, peer and/or student evaluations during practicum rotations, or course teaching evaluations for other teaching for the School.
  • The Clinical or Affiliate Faculty member has not had a suspension or revocation of a license or other credential necessary for continued appointment.

Note: Residents with a clinical instructor appointment will not be renewed after they graduate their residency program. You are welcome to re-apply using the same process for a rank of clinical assistant professor if you are still involved with UWSOP and are qualified to for an appointment with UWSOP.

Promotions

Faculty may remain at each rank indefinitely, contingent upon annual review showing continued service to the Department, but are encouraged to pursue growth and excellence in their field which would enable consideration for promotion.

Individuals who have met the criteria for promotion should consult the Clinical and Affiliate Faculty (CAF) committee and the Chair of the Department of Pharmacy, which is followed by a peer-review process, and supported by a vote of the School-based faculty of the Department.

The DOP Chair will submit the promotion recommendations with pertinent information to the Dean of the School in accordance with procedures outlined in the Faculty Code Section 24–54 and upon approval shall transmit it with appropriate documentation to the Provost of the University.

Clinical or Affiliate Instructor Promotion

Clinical and Affiliate faculty members seeking academic promotion from the rank of Clinical or Affiliate Instructor to Assistance Professor should contact the CAF Committee at sopcaf@uw.edu, to initiate the process by July 1st.

Completed dossiers will be considered for recommendation by the CAF Committee and then voted on by the Department of Pharmacy. Faculty seeking this promotion should have demonstrated at least three years of service or teaching to the Department and meet the criteria for the rank of Clinical or Affiliate Assistant Professor. Candidates may self-nominate.

The candidate and their sponsor together are responsible for compiling the promotion dossier.

The dossier must include:

  • Cover letter requesting consideration for promotion.
    • The letter must not exceed three pages and include a self-assessment indicating how the candidate meets the criteria for promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor specifying performance in each area of teaching, service, and scholarship. The letter should also include a description of the continuation plan for commitment to the DOP as a faculty member.
  • Self-assessment statement (2-4 pages)
    • The statement should indicate how the candidate meets the criteria for promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor specifying performance in each area of teaching, service, and scholarship. The letter should also include a plan for sustained contribution to the School.
  • Updated Curriculum Vitae within the last 30 days.

Note: The promotion must be reviewed by an individual outside of the University. The CAF Committee will be responsible for recruiting the letter of support.

Clinical and Affiliate Assistant Professor and Associate Professor Promotion

Clinical and Affiliate faculty members seeking academic promotion from the rank of Assistant Professor to Associate Professor, or from Associate Professor to Professor should contact the Chair of the Department of Pharmacy at dopadmin@uw.edu, to initiate the process by May 1st.

The promotion process will be shepherded by a faculty sponsor, designated by the Chair, who is a school-based faculty member of the Department, at or above the rank that the candidate is seeking (e.g. candidate seeking promotion to Clinical Associate Professor should be sponsored by an UWSOP faculty at the rank of Associate Professor, Clinical Associate Professor, or above). The faculty member seeking promotion should work closely with their appointed sponsor to insure the development of a complete and accurate promotion file. This process can require several months.

The candidate and their sponsor together are responsible for compiling the promotion dossier, due to the DOP Chair no later than July 1st along with suggested external reviewers. The DOP Chair and faculty sponsor will then coordinate the dossier review.

The dossier must include:

  • Cover letter requesting consideration for promotion.
  • Self-assessment statement (2-4 pages)
    • The statement should indicate how the candidate meets the criteria for promotion to the rank of Assistant Professor specifying performance in each area of teaching, service, and scholarship. The letter should also include a plan for sustained contribution to the School.
  • Updated Curriculum Vitae within the last 30 days.
  • Teaching evaluations if applicable.
  • Selection of documents of scholarship (e.g., papers, conference abstracts, slide set presented at national meetings for invited lectures/presentations, book chapters) if applicable.

The faculty sponsor is responsible for:

  • Facilitating the promotion process in support of the candidate.
  • Recruiting letters of support from individuals at or above the rank desired for the promotion.
    • Clinical or Affiliate Associate Professor rank promotion: 3 reviewers, 2 of whom must be individuals at institutions other than UWSOP.
    • Clinical or Affiliate Professor rank promotion: 4 reviewers, 3 of whom must be individuals at institutions other than UWSOP.
  • Writing a letter in support of the candidate summarizing the recommendations from the other referees and providing an assessment by the faculty sponsor. The faculty sponsor’s letter can serve as one of the official letters of support.

Additional Information

Legal Name Change:

Preferred Name Change:

  • If you want to update your preferred name in the University’s database, please update via the Identity.UW website.

Email Address Change:

If you need to update your personal email address in the University’s database (Workday) please follow the instructions at https://isc.uw.edu/user-guides/edit_personal_information/#2-home-contact-information