DEPARTMENTAL MISSION STATEMENT AND GUIDELINES FOR REAPPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND TENURE

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
State University of New York College at Fredonia

MISSION STATEMENT

Chemistry has been called the central science because of its intimate involvement with almost all areas of science. Indeed, its significance extends beyond the scientific to areas of everyday life. As a consequence, chemical knowledge is important to the education of the scientist and the non-scientist alike.

The Chemistry Department is responsible for the curricula required for a major in chemistry at the B.S. and M.S. levels, partially responsible for the curricula required for a major in biochemistry at the B.S. level, and for all chemistry courses offered at the State University of New York at Fredonia. These responsibilities can be considered as four separate areas:

To prepare the chemistry or biochemistry major for pursuit of advanced degrees in chemistry, biochemistry or related disciplines and for the pursuit of professional degrees in fields such as medicine, dentistry or law.

To prepare the chemistry major for a career in teaching or in government, industrial or environmental laboratories.

To provide a firm foundation in chemical principles to students who major in other scientific disciplines. This includes students in biology, engineering, medical technology, recombinant gene technology, physics and geosciences.

To provide courses for non-science majors which produce in the student an awareness of and competence in the impact of chemistry on the environment and day-to-day life.

GUIDELINES FOR REAPPOINTMENT, PROMOTION AND TENURE

Chemistry department candidates for reappointment, promotion and tenure are expected to satisfy all the requirements listed in the Faculty Handbook and the Handbook on Reappointment and Promotion (HARP).  Specific items and examples are listed below.

Note that strong performance is required in the first category; no degree of excellence in the second two can be deemed to compensate for mediocrity in either part of the first.  On the other hand, as a rule, no degree of excellence in the first category can compensate for a lack of significant performance in the second.

1. Good to excellent teaching, attested to by student evaluations (all courses each semester), syllabi, and when available, reports by colleagues, successful direction of undergraduate research, preparation of new courses, etc.  Effective academic advising, attested to by reliable evidence, which may include student evaluations, advisee files, etc.

Candidates for reappointment, promotion, and tenure in the chemistry department must 

-Demonstrate the ability to facilitate learning in a classroom, laboratory and research setting.

-Demonstrate an ability and willingness to teach a variety of courses.

-Demonstrate an ability and willingness to involve undergraduate students in meaningful       research projects.

-Demonstrate a willingness to modify courses and course curriculum in response to a self-assessment of teaching effectiveness, or in response to other events.

In the past, teaching effectiveness has been documented by successful candidates in the chemistry department with some of the following activities:

-Formal course evaluations

-Informal course evaluations

-Interviews with students

-Interviews with former students

-Peer reviews

-Course materials (syllabi, notes, handouts, etc.)

-Results from ACS and other standardized exams

-Grade distributions

-Advisee files

-Student research reports, achievements and presentations

-Self-evaluation of teaching strengths and weaknesses

-New course and program development

-Versatility of teaching abilities

-Other evidence of effective mentoring.

2. Scholarly/Professional activity, attested to by formal participation in professional conferences or organizations, publications of papers in refereed journals, submission of grant proposals, exhibits, performances, designs or the like (quantity of activity is not so important as quality and regularity); work in progress may also be considered. Areas may be interdisciplinary in nature.

Candidates for reappointment, promotion, and tenure in the chemistry department must 

-Demonstrate professional competence by publishing refereed articles in refereed journals

-Demonstrate that his/her research effort is of sufficient quality

-Demonstrate continuing professional activity

In the past, professional activity has been documented by successful candidates in the chemistry department with some of the following activities:

-Research publications in refereed journals

-Funded grant proposals

-Published books or review articles

-Conference presentations

-Applied research, as might be sponsored by a private firm

-Refereeing papers and proposals

-Competitive but non-funded external grant proposals

-Publications in non-refereed journals

-Research presentations by the candidate's students

-Receipt of internal research grants

-Copies of referee reports on proposals and publications, along with external reviews of the candidates work

-Innovations in instructional methods and/or assessment.

3. Service to the College or community, attested to by active participation in departmental committees, faculty governance, directing special activities, or assisting the community in a professional capacity related to the discipline (quality of activity is important, not quantity); such service refers exclusively to work that draws upon one's professional expertise and is an outgrowth of one's academic career.

The chemistry department separates service into two categories: departmental service and service to the college. Service to the department plays a much larger role in chemistry than in most disciplines because of our laboratory equipment.

Candidates for reappointment, promotion, and tenure in the chemistry department must 

assume a proportionate share of departmental responsibilities.

In the past, departmental service has been documented by successful candidates in the chemistry department with some of the following activities:

-Maintenance of laboratory equipment

-Maintenance of computer equipment and software

-Maintenance of alumni relations 

-Serving as department Webmaster

-Advising chemistry club

-Service on department committees.

-Any instructional activity beyond the usual formal course assignments.

Candidates for reappointment, promotion, and tenure in the chemistry department must 

 serve on college-wide committees.

4. Procedures for Reappointment, Promotion and Tenure

    As stated in HARP:  

https://fa.fredonia.edu/sites/fa/files/section/policy/_files/2017_HARP_FINAL.pdf