Development of departmental promotion guidelines

In making optimum use of its faculty, a medical school department should ensure that each faculty member has a clear understanding of what is expected of him and what will be evaluated when he is considered for reappointment or promotion. A set of departmental promotion guidelines which are available to all faculty can serve both these ends. In addition to defining the nature of the work which will be evaluated and stressing that performance quality is important, such guidelines should make explicit the various ways in which the work will benefit the department, the medical school, and the discipline. The guidelines can be used at the time of promotion, but they should also contribute to an ongoing evaluation of faculty work by the administration and by the faculty themselves.