Academic Promotions Applicant
Information Session
Relative to opportunity considerations in promotions
Dr Maree Murray, Equity & Diversity Strategy
Relative to Opportunity and Promotions – why?
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Relative to Opportunity – why?
The University seeks to
foster a culture that values
and utilises equity and
diversity. The promotions
process incorporates this
approach.
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions – what?
› What are special circumstances?
Guidelines for Applicants, Section II, 2.
‘Make mention in your application of any known special
circumstances that have affected your opportunity to meet the
requirements for promotion. This information should be
included in your Summary of Case for promotion, and if
applicable cross referenced to the relevant statement/s i.e.
Teaching statement, Research/ Scholarship/ Creative/
Professional Work statement or Service statement.’
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions
› Academic Promotions Procedures 2014
Section 5: Applications for annual promotion rounds
‘(5) (b) Applicants should provide an explanation,
[emphasis added] if necessary, of any known special
circumstances that have affected the applicant’s
opportunity to meet the requirements for promotion.’
Applicants should include a succinct ‘narrative’
explaining how any relevant circumstances, in regard
to opportunity have affected the way they meet
requirements for promotion.
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions – where?
Where might the applicant provide explanation of ‘special
circumstances’?
› If this fits their situation, applicants should mark ‘Yes’ on the first
page of the online application – “Do you want special
circumstances to be considered?”
› Applicants are advised in the notes to the question above to
include these details in the Summary of Case. However, there
may also be a place for explanation in one, or more, of the relevant
‘Cases’. As guidelines suggest that applications should be concise,
succinct cross referencing may be appropriate.
› Where the material is placed would be related to an individual’s
narrative and how it has influenced their achievements in different
areas.
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New in 2015
Option to note special circumstances
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions – what?
› Policy statement on promotion of academic staff
Academic Promotions Policy 2014, 7 (5)
‘Promotion committees must ensure that each applicant’s achievements
are assessed relative to their opportunities to undertake tasks as compared
to other members of staff at an equivalent level. This will include
consideration of the impact of factors such as:
(a)
part-time or fractional employment;
(b)
significant parenting or other caring responsibilities; or
(c)
clinical responsibilities.’
Other factors might be periods of illness, (including psychological
conditions), disability, or particular personal circumstances, such as
changing department.
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions – how?
Addressing ‘relative to opportunity’
› The promotions process endeavours to address an
applicant’s merit relative to their opportunity to accrue that
merit.
› Applications are assessed in terms of what has been
achieved given the actual opportunities available.
› The Promotions Committees need to be advised of
these circumstances in order to assess applications
against the relevant criteria.
› There is no guarantee that the Committees will address
circumstances other than those included in the application.
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions
≠
Relative to
Opportunity
considerations
Promotion
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions
Relative to
Opportunity
considerations
=
A part of
(some)
applications
for
Promotion
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Assistance and Advice
›Assistance? Staff are welcome to discuss
the inclusion of special circumstances in
their an application with Equity and
Diversity.
Contacts:
9036 4758
[email protected]
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Relative to Opportunity and Promotions
Our successful applicants!
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