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Senior Promotions 2012 - 2013

An introduction from the President and Provost

Promotion is the principal means by which UCL recognises and rewards the outstanding achievements of non-professorial academic colleagues.  The thresholds for promotion at UCL are high, and widely recognised as such.  It is entirely right that we should impose exacting standards.  Promotion is not an entitlement.  It is also important that our procedures are transparent and fair, ensuring equality of opportunity through a rigorous process of peer review, and consistent measures of academic excellence across the whole of UCL.

It is a four stage process.  First, Heads of Department have a central role to play in advising candidates on promotions issues.  Chances of success are not always easy to forecast. Referees frequently differ in their view of the quality of a candidate's contribution. Heads of Department, in consultation where necessary with the Dean, are better placed than most to advise potential candidates, over a period of years, on the prospects of success and the appropriate time at which to bring forward an application.  Every year a significant number of cases are unsuccessful, inevitably because the demonstrable strength of the claim to promotion is not yet clear-cut, yet the candidate has chosen to press ahead.

Second, the preparation and submission of an application.  Do take great care with this.  I have seen too many cases where carelessness or superficiality have led to failure to present the strengths of the case.  The committee cannot do this for you.

Third, the applications are assessed by the three school based committees, whose deliberations lead to recommendations to be considered at the fourth and final stage, the main UCL Academic Promotions Committee, which I chair.

Some points to note: first, there are no pre-ordained quotas for promotion at UCL.  Excellence is the primary criterion.  There is no guarantee that the success rates of previous years will continue.  Second, we are willing to recognise real talent and reward it early, particularly through promotion to a readership.  Third, I do not believe in undertaking promotions otherwise than through the annual promotions round.  This process is vital in ensuring comparability of excellence across the whole of UCL.  

Malcolm Grant

• Senior Promotions Process Document 2012-2013
• Promotions Annexures A - Criteria for promotion to senior grades
• Promotions Annexures B - Curriculum vitae preparation and CV template (WORD doc)
• Promotions Annexures C - Publications List Preparation
• Promotions Annexures D - Presenting a case based on teaching achievment
• Promotions Annexures E - Candidate and Head of Department Submissions checklist (WORD doc)
• Promotions Annexures F - Head of Department (HoD) Supporting Statement – Guidance for writing (WORD doc)