In the VCU School of Education Guidelines for Promotion & Tenure, §2.3(b), Criteria for Teaching, when seeking promotion to Associate Professor, the criteria for “Excellent” teaching are as follows:
- Sustained efforts are made to improve the quality of teaching or maintain its high standard
- Sustained efforts are made to continue to keep course knowledge current and reflective of research-based information.
- Evidence is shown that teaching is recognized as excellent over time.
- The candidate goes beyond expectations for advising and makes efforts to help find ways to improve the advising process.
- Sustained efforts are made to continue to improve the quality and effectiveness of clinical or field-based activities.
- Significant initiative and leadership are shown in the improvement of programs.
This section “On Teaching” is, therefore, organized by those criteria. First, I will address the significant and sustained efforts I have made to improve the quality of my teaching and to continue to keep the content and pedagogy of the courses current and reflective of research-based information. Second, I will discuss evidence of teaching excellence. Third, I will write about advisement, specifically dissertation advisement. Finally, I will address the initiative and leadership I have shown in the improvement of programs. Altogether, I think you will see evidence of excellence in teaching.