Promotions to Associate and Full can be accelerated in time or can be evaluated according to Step Plus guidelines, but not both.

Promotions to Associate and Full can be accelerated in time or can be evaluated according to Step Plus guidelines, but not both.

Rationale: The Step Plus system eliminates accelerations in time, except for promotions to Associate and Full Professor. It has proven difficult to make consistent recommendations on such accelerations in conjunction with Step Plus criteria. Some departments have considered the acceleration to be equivalent to a half-step advancement for candidates who are outstanding in one category of review, and then use Step Plus criteria to recommend an additional half-step advancement based on outstanding performance in another area. Other departments have applied the Step Plus criteria without taking the acceleration in time into account. This policy preserves flexibility to allow for early promotion, while making it easier to make consistent recommendations for advancement in such cases.

Implementation: A dossier that is being evaluated for a promotion that is accelerated in time (i.e., an “early” promotion that occurs before normative time has elapsed for the next eligible action) will not be considered or approved for advancement of more than one step. For example, a candidate at Associate Professor Step 3.5 who is going up for promotion one year early will not be considered for advancement beyond Professor Step 1.5. Candidates can request an early promotion without waiting for normative time at their current step, but there will be only two possible advancement outcomes: promotion to the lateral step, if applicable, or 1.0-step promotion. Merit advancement to overlapping steps will not be considered if an early promotion is denied.

See examples of promotions that can be accelerated in time below:

Candidates at Assistant rank, Steps 1.0-3.5 and Associate rank, Steps 1.0-2.5 are not eligible for promotion that is accelerated in time.

That is, if these candidates do not wait for normative time at the current step before seeking promotion, they are not eligible for more than 1.0-step advancement and, accordingly, cannot promote to the next rank. Eligibility for promotion that is accelerated in time begins only after the candidate has achieved Assistant rank Step 4.0 or Associate rank Step 3.0. For example, a candidate who has spent only one year at Assistant Professor Step 3.0 is not eligible for promotion. In contrast, it will occasionally be the case that an Assistant Professor Step 3.0 or an Associate Professor Step 2.0 may seek advancement after spending normative time (2 years) at their current step; they could receive an on-time 2.0-step Step Plus promotion if the dossier includes all requirements for promotion review, the overall record is judged as worthy of promotion, and there are two areas of outstanding performance, including research.

Candidates who have been at the Assistant Professor rank for 7 years and must be considered for promotion before normative time has elapsed at the current step (a “technical acceleration”) may still be considered for Step Plus and may be put forward for a ‘greater-than-one-step’ advancement.

Candidates for promotion who wait for normative time to request advancement may be considered under the Step-Plus criteria for promotion of greater than one step, assuming that the Step Plus criteria for advancement and the expectations for promotion are met. In addition, on-time requests for promotion, if not approved, may result in merit advancement without promotion, if applicable.

Examples of normative-time promotion requests resulting in advancement of greater than 1.0-step under Step-Plus (please note that this is not a comprehensive list):

*Alternatively, merit advancement of 1.5 steps (or, very rarely, 2.0 steps) would be allowed

How to apply Step Plus criteria in the context of promotions and merit advancements to Professor Step 6.0 or Professor Above Scale

Promotion and barrier step advancements are higher academic achievements than merit advancements, requiring comprehensive review of the entire period as stated in UC APM 220. To be eligible for promotion or advancement to a barrier step, and prior to considering any Step Plus recognition, the overall record should be balanced with
evidence of meritorious accomplishments in all areas of review (e.g., research, teaching, service, professional competence and activities). When the overall record does not meet the criteria for promotion, the candidate may be considered for a merit advancement instead of a promotion. This consideration is contingent on whether there are additional
steps within the candidate’s current rank.

For consideration of additional half steps at the time of promotion or barrier step advancement, if Step Plus recognition has been awarded in a previous merit cycle in the review period, further Step Plus recognition for that specific area (e.g., research, teaching, service, professional competence and activities) will require additional and compelling evidence of outstanding achievement that is distinct from what was previously awarded.

Please note that this standard applies to promotion actions and barrier step advancements in other academic series currently on the Step Plus system, as well.

Rationale: There has been inconsistency in how Step Plus criteria are being applied when candidates undergo evaluation at promotion and barrier steps. Some departments have been applying the criteria to the full period of review since terminal degree or last promotion, asking whether the candidate’s record in research, teaching, and/or service has been outstanding over the entire period. Other departments have first assessed the candidate’s suitability for promotion or barrier step advancement, and then have applied the Step Plus criteria just to the period since the last merit advancement. Inequities can arise when the Step Plus criteria are applied in either manner. For example, applying the criteria to the entire period of review can lead to situations in which the record is judged as outstanding based on activities for which a candidate already received accelerations in time or additional half-steps during preceding merit reviews. Alternatively, applying the criteria only to the period since the last merit advancement can lead to situations in which an additional half-step advancement could be given based on an outstanding recent record when the overall record during the period is marginally satisfactory.

Implementation: To be consistent, Step Plus guidelines should be applied to the entire period of review for all promotions or advancements to or through a barrier step.

Promotions Using Overlapping Steps Under the Step-Plus System

Promotions inevitably involve interpreting overlapping steps. The following guidance is provided to define lateral, one-step, and greater than one-step promotions.

Assistant to Associate rank Promotions

Half-Step promotion is not an option

Lateral promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Assistant Step 5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 1 (1 year) -> Associate Step 2
Assistant Step 5.5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 1.5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 2.5
Assistant Step 6 (1 year) -> Associate Step 2 (1 year) -> Associate Step 3
Assistant Step 6.5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 2.5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 3.5

One-step promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Assistant Step 4 (2 years) -> Associate Step 1 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2
Assistant Step 4.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 1.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2.5
Assistant Step 5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3
Assistant Step 5.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3.5
Assistant Step 6 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4
Assistant Step 6.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4.5

One-and-One-Half-Step step promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Assistant Step 4 (2 years) -> Associate Step 1.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2.5
Assistant Step 4.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3
Assistant Step 5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3.5
Assistant Step 5.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4 
Assistant Step 6 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4.5
Assistant Step 6.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4 (2 years) -> Associate Step 5

Two-Step promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Assistant Step 4 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3
Assistant Step 4.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3.5
Assistant Step 5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4
Assistant Step 5.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4.5
Assistant Step 6 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4 (3 years) -> Associate Step 5
Assistant Step 6.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 4.5 (3 years) -> Associate Step 5.5

Promotions that are accelerated in time are allowed and are limited to one-step or lateral advancement. Promotions that are accelerated in time may not be evaluated using Step Plus guidelines.  Following are examples of one-step promotions that are accelerated in time:

Assistant Step 4 (1 year) -> Associate Step 1 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2
Assistant Step 4.5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 1.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 2.5
Assistant Step 5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 2 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3
Assistant Step 5.5 (1 year) -> Associate Step 2.5 (2 years) -> Associate Step 3.5

Associate to Full rank Promotions

Half-Step promotion is not an option

Lateral promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Associate 4 (1 year) - > Full Step 1 (2 years) -> Full Step 2
Associate 4 (2 years) - > Full Step 1 (1 year) -> Full Step 2
Associate 4.5 (1 year) - > Full Step 1.5 (2 years) -> Full Step 2.5
Associate 4.5 (2 years) - > Full Step 1.5 (1 year) -> Full Step 2.5
Associate 5 (1 year) -> Full Step 2 (2 years) -> Full Step 3
Associate 5 (2 years) -> Full Step 2 (1 year) -> Full Step 3
Associate 5.5 (1 year) -> Full Step 2.5 (2 years) -> Full Step 3.5
Associate 5.5 (2 years) -> Full Step 2.5 (1 year) -> Full Step 3.5

One-step promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Associate Step 3 (2 years) -> Full Step 1 (3 years) -> Full Step 2
Associate Step 3.5 (2 years) -> Full Step 1.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 2.5
Associate 4 (3 years) - > Full Step 2 (3 years) -> Full Step 3
Associate 4.5 (3 years) - > Full Step 2.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 3.5
Associate 5 (3 years) -> Full Step 3 (3 years) -> Full Step 4
Associate 5.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 3.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 4.5 

One-and-One-Half-Step promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Associate Step 3 (2 years) -> Full Step 1.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 2.5
Associate Step 3.5 (2 years) -> Full Step 2 (3 years) -> Full Step 3
Associate 4 (3 years) - > Full Step 2.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 3.5
Associate 4.5 (3 years) - > Full Step 3 (3 years) -> Full Step 4
Associate 5 (3 years) -> Full Step 3.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 4.5
Associate 5.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 4 (3 years) -> Full Step 5 

Two-step promotion followed by one-step merit (normal time in parentheses)

Associate Step 3 (2 years) -> Full Step 2 (3 years) -> Full Step 3
Associate Step 3.5 (2 years) -> Full Step 2.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 3.5
Associate 4 (3 years) - > Full Step 3 (3 years) -> Full Step 4
Associate 4.5 (3 years) - > Full Step 3.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 4.5
Associate 5 (3 years) -> Full Step 4 (3 years) -> Full Step 5
Associate 5.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 4.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 5.5 

Promotions that are accelerated in time are allowed and are limited to one-step or lateral advancement. Promotions that are accelerated in time may not be evaluated using Step Plus guidelines. Following are examples of one-step promotions that are accelerated in time:

Associate Step 3 (1 year) -> Full Step 1 (3 years) -> Full Step 2
Associate Step 3.5 (1 year) -> Full Step 1.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 2.5
Associate Step 4 (1-2 years) -> Full Step 2 (3 years) -> Full Step 3
Associate Step 4.5 (1-2 years) -> Full Step 2.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 3.5
Associate 5 (1-2 years) -> Full Step 3 (3 years) -> Full Step 4
Associate 5.5 (1-2 years) -> Full Step 3.5 (3 years) -> Full Step 4.5