Criteria - Ladder Faculty

Candidates for assistant professorships at Yale should “exhibit the potential for significant research and scholarly publication; their work should exhibit qualities that give the department grounds to think that, if this potential is realized, then by the time the candidate is considered for tenure, their work would significantly extend the boundaries of their disciplines, such that the candidate will stand among the foremost leaders in their field in the world…[and] should demonstrate excellent prospects for effective and creative teaching and mentoring, and display the potential for a career of engaged departmental, professional and university citizenship.” 

“Reappointment as assistant professor (advanced) requires that the candidate demonstrate measurable progress towards the criteria for tenure in research, teaching and service.”

“Tenure at Yale is awarded to scholars who stand among the foremost leaders in the world in a broad field of knowledge. It is reserved for candidates whose published work significantly extends the horizons of their discipline(s). A tenure appointment is a permanent, forward-looking commitment, and therefore requires evidence of an ongoing and ambitious research agenda.”

“An assessment of candidates’ leadership is based on the impact, at the very highest levels, of their research and peer-reviewed scholarship. Excellent teaching and engaged University and professional citizenship within and beyond a department or program are also expected. Tenure at Yale may be awarded at the associate or full professor rank.”

“Associate professors are expected to build upon the accomplishments that earned them their permanent appointments, so that within a reasonable period of time their body of work will merit their consideration for full professor. The title of full professor is earned by those individuals who have a body of distinguished achievements in their record of research, with a commensurate national and international reputation, and who (continue to) display the excellence in teaching and service that is expected of all tenured professors at Yale.”

“Tenure at Yale is awarded to scholars who stand among the foremost leaders in the world in a broad field of knowledge. It is reserved for candidates whose published work significantly extends the horizons of their discipline(s). A tenure appointment is a permanent, forward-looking commitment, and therefore requires evidence of an ongoing and ambitious research agenda.

“An assessment of candidates’ leadership is based on the impact, at the very highest levels, of their research and peer-reviewed scholarship. Excellent teaching and engaged University and professional citizenship within and beyond a department or program are also expected. Tenure at Yale may be awarded at the associate or full professor rank.

“Associate professors are expected to build upon the accomplishments that earned them their permanent appointments, so that within a reasonable period of time their body of work will merit their consideration for full professor.

“The title of full professor is earned by those individuals who have a body of distinguished achievements in their record of research, with a commensurate national and international reputation, and who (continue to) display the excellence in teaching and service that is expected of all tenured professors at Yale.”

Candidates for assistant professorships at Yale should “exhibit potential for significant research and scholarly publication, and demonstrate excellent prospects for creative teaching and effective student mentoring.”

The criteria for promotion are “significant published research and scholarship representing early demonstrations of disciplinary or interdisciplinary leadership; excellent teaching and mentoring of students; and engaged university citizenship.”

This reappointment was usually granted unless “evident and substantial problems warrant terminating the appointment in the fourth year.”

“A candidate for appointment or promotion to a tenure position, whether at the rank of professor or associate professor, must have attained scholarly or creative distinction of high quality as demonstrated by both research and teaching. Consideration for tenure emphasizes the impact and continuing promise, at the very highest levels, of the candidate’s research and scholarship, as well as excellent teaching and engaged University citizenship within and beyond a department or program…Tenured faculty at Yale are expected to stand among the foremost leaders in their fields in the world.”

“Candidates for the rank of professor are expected to stand among the foremost leaders in their fields throughout the world. It is expected that professors will continue to develop the qualities of scholarship, creativity, teaching and University citizenship that earned them their appointments.

“Tenured associate professors must be reviewed by their department for promotion within five years. In exceptional cases, when at least seven years have passed from the date of appointment or promotion to associate professor with tenure, the Provost, in consultation with the department chair, may recommend that individual directly to the Corporation for promotion to professor.”