Using this page

The list below provides answers to some queries we are frequently asked but it is not an exhaustive list.

If your query hasn’t been answered below or you require more information we would encourage you to read our detailed academic promotion guide page and/or the Career Progression in the Education & Research Job Family Framework document (CPER).

Applying

Who can apply for promotion?

Academic promotion is open to all staff within the Education & Research job family.

It doesn’t matter what your current E&R role is as long as you can demonstrate you meet the criteria for the route you are applying for.

What roles can I be promoted to?

The Career Progression in the Education & Research Family Framework document provides a flow chart at the beginning for different career paths, but if your current role does not feature on the diagram, you can contact the Academic Career Progression Team via hr-academic-staff-committee@bath.ac.uk to check if you are eligible to apply.

When can I apply or promotion?

Promotion rounds are aligned with Academic Staff Committee (ASC) meetings and when these rounds take place are dependent on the route you are taking.

Below is a list of roles you can apply for and when ASC meets to consider these applications.

What are the deadlines for submitting an application?

Deadlines for applications and when ASC will meet to consider your application can be found for each route on our promotions deadlines web page.

Please note the deadlines are for completed cases to be submitted to HR and you should speak with your Head of Department/Division for internal deadlines as there are a number of steps in the process the Department must complete before submitting applications on your behalf.

How do I apply for promotion?

You should complete the relevant application form (links provided on the relevant promotion route page accessible from our overall academic promotion page) and gather your supporting evidence demonstrating how you meet the criteria and send to your Head of Department/Division who will consult with senior colleagues to determine the level of support for your application.

Heads of Department/Divisions will write their assessments for supported applications and include the names of external reviewers, eventually submitted your completed application to HR.

We would encourage you to familiarise yourself with our academic promotion guide pages and the CPER criteria before starting your application.

Assessing your application

Who assesses my case for promotion and makes a decision?

Academic Staff Committee (ASC) meet to consider all applications for academic promotion and can decide to either:

• Promote

• Not promote

• Invite candidate for further interview

How will my case for promotion be assessed?

ASC consider the strength of applications using the following information:

• The promotion criteria for that specific route

• Application form

• Supporting evidence

• Supporting statements from internal colleagues

• Head of Department/Division assessment

• Dean of Faculty/School assessment

• Views of external referees

Can I use my HEA Fellowship as evidence?

Academic Staff Committee recognise that HEA Fellowship is a formal, UK-benchmarked professional award that requires the applicant to present evidence of their contribution to teaching and supporting learning in higher education. The particular status of Fellowship achieved (Associate Fellow (AFHEA), Fellow (FHEA), Senior Fellow (SFHEA) or Principal Fellow (PFHEA)) indicates the breadth and depth of this contribution as specified in the UK Professional Standards Framework for teaching and supporting learning in higher education.

The University of Bath’s promotion criteria have been mapped to the UKPSF such that being an HEA Fellowship holder may be used as direct evidence for some of the teaching elements. Use the HEA Fellowship Mapping Document to understand which criteria your Fellowship can provide sufficient direct evidence against.

External referees

How many external references do I need for my case to be considered by ASC?

Who should act as an external referee?

Suggested external referees should be familiar with discipline/field of work and should be as independent as possible to ensure they are able to comment on the strength of your application and work only.

External referees should not be relatives, friends, previous line managers, PhD supervisors or frequent collaborators.

However, it is understood that dependent on the field the eligible pool of independent external colleagues to contact can be limited. If you or your Head of Department/Division is unsure about the level of independence, please contact the Academic Career Progression Team to discuss.

Suggested external referees should be a full professor or of professorial standing if they are not within academia. The Academic Career Progression Team will contact your Head of Department/Division to find out more for any referees suggested where they do not have ‘Professor’ as their title.

Who seeks the external references?

Whilst it is recommended that your Head of Department/Division contacts suggested external referees before submitting your application to check they are available to help, the Academic Career Progression Team within HR are responsible for contacting suggested external referees to formally request a reference.

The views of external colleagues, even if they’re not suggested as a formal referee, should not be sought by anyone outside of HR.

All completed external assessor forms or letters of reference should be sent directly to the Academic Career Progression Team to include with your application for consideration by ASC.

What information is sent to the external referees?

Along with a request for assistance, external referees are sent:

• Your application form

• Criteria for the route you are applying for

• External Assessor Template form

Exceptional circumstances

I am on a part-time contract, can I apply and how will my case be assessed?

For those on part-time contracts, you can still apply for promotion and ASC will take into consideration your FTE (full time equivalent) to make reasonable adjustments when assessing your application.

ASC understand that the quantity maybe be reduced compared to what is expected from a full time role, but the quality will still be at the same level.

I am currently on academic probation, can I still apply?

For those currently on academic probation, you can still apply for promotion and you will need to demonstrate how you meet the specific criteria for promotion.

If you are applying on the basis of either a major or effective contribution in teaching, you must still provide supporting evidence for the last three years to demonstrate you have met the criteria. Please note that any teaching feedback from a previous institution must be accompanied with an explanation of the metrics provided so that ASC can benchmark and determine the standard of teaching in comparison to metrics used at Bath.

Outcomes

If I am successful, when will I start my new role?

All promotions are effective from the 1st of the month after ASC meet, e.g. ASC meet in May, promotion is effective from 1st June.

You will receive a contract issued by the Academic Career Progression Team confirming this.

If I am successful, how is my new salary decided?

You will receive a contract issued by the Academic Career Progression Team confirming this

Please read our guidance on starting salaries and our University pay and grading structure page to understand more.

If I am unsuccessful, what happens next?

If you are not supported at the departmental stage (when your Head of Department/Division seeks internal views on the strength of your case), then your Head of Department/Division must inform you providing feedback on your application and to develop a Personal Action Plan.

If ASC consider your application and decide you have not yet met the criteria for promotion, your Head of Department/Division will be notified to inform you and following this you will receive a letter formally confirming this decision, the criteria not met and your right of appeal. Your Head of Department/Division should meet with you to develop a Personal Action Plan.

If I am unsuccessful, how long do I have to wait until I can apply again?

There is no time limit to how long you must wait to submit your application again if you were previously unsuccessful. However, you must take into account feedback provided by ASC and determine with you Head of Department/Division if you have successfully addressed this feedback before applying again.

If I was successfully promoted before and I am applying to the next level, does ASC take into consideration my achievements before my last promotion?

No. If you were successfully promoted before, ASC will take into consideration your achievements since your promoted effective date when determining if this can be used to demonstrate you have met the criteria for the next level.