Professorial Appointments

This policy sets out the criteria for appointment of Professors and Associate Professors and the process whereby appointments will be made.

Otago Polytechnic Limited (Ltd) has established the professorial career pathway as a means of recognising outstanding and continuing educational leadership other than through management positions.

Employment Relations Act 2000 and all subsequent amendments

Public Service Act 2020 and all subsequent amendments

Education and Training Act 2020 and all subsequent amendments

Privacy Act 2020 and all subsequent amendments

Human Rights Act 1993 and all subsequent amendments

Education and Training Act 2020 and all subsequent amendments

Application

This policy applies to the establishment of, and appointment or promotion to the following positions:

• Professor
• Associate Professor
• Chair (Endowed).

 This policy applies to the use of the following titles:

• Professor
• Associate Professor
• Adjunct Professor / Adjunct Associate Professor
• Emeritus Professor
• Visiting Professor / Visiting Associate Professor
• Chair (Endowed).

Interpretation

Research: In the context of this Policy, ‘Research’ includes professional practice enquiry and educational practice research.

Teaching: In the context of this Policy, ‘Teaching’ includes facilitation of learning in work-based and professional practice contexts including academic mentoring and supervision.

Overarching requirement: This policy and associated documentation are to be interpreted in the light of the overarching requirement in clause 2.1.  

 Policy

1. Appointment of Professors and Associate Professors

1.1.   Appointment as a Professor or an Associate Professor will be by application.

1.2.   Notice calling for internal applications shall be given by the Professorial Appointments Committee at least two (2) months prior to the meeting at which they will be considered.

1.3.   New appointees to Otago Polytechnic Ltd may be considered for appointment as Professor or Associate Professor by a special meeting of the Professorial Appointments Committee.

1.4. The Professorial Appointments Committee will not discriminate on the grounds of gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, marital/family status, age, disability, religious beliefs, ethics, employment status, or political opinion.

2.   Criteria for Appointment as a Professor or Associate Professor

2.1.  Applicants for appointment to the position of Professor or Associate Professor shall have established a reputation amongst their colleagues locally, nationally and, where appropriate, internationally, for academic leadership of the highest order.

2.2 Applicants for appointment to the position of Professor or Associate Professor must demonstrate excellence and leadership in the following domains, which may be intertwined:

• 1.Teaching; and
• 2. Research;and
• 3. One (1) or more of the following domains:

• i.   Kaupapa Māori;
• ii.  Profession, vocation, or industry contribution;
• iii. Sector leadership;
• iv. Community development;
• v. Service provision; or
• vi. Innovation and transformation.

 2.3 Applicants for appointment to the position of Professor or Associate Professor are expected to hold a Doctorate qualification.

2.4 An applicant for appointment to the position of Professor or Associate Professor must be endorsed by their Head of College, if the applicant is an academic staff member, or by the Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive if the applicant is a Manukura Tuarua Ara Auahataka │ Deputy Chief Executive, or by the relevant Manukura Tuarua Ara Auahataka │ Deputy Chief Executive if the applicant is a Head of College.

 2.5 Applications for appointment to the position of Professor or Associate Professor will be submitted in the manner prescribed in Appendix 1.

 2.6 Applications for promotion from Associate Professor to Professor will be submitted in the manner prescribed in Appendix 2.

3.   Professorial Appointments Committee

3.1.    The Professorial Appointments Committee (Committee) will comprise:

• Director: Research and Postgraduate Studies – Chair
• Manukura Tuarua – Ara Takata │Deputy Chief Executive: People, Culture and Safety
• Manukura Tuarua – Ara Auahataka │Deputy Chief Executive: Academic Delivery
• Manukura Tuarua – Taurite │ Deputy Chief Executive: Partnership and Equity
• Three (3) Professors from Otago Polytechnic Ltd, exclusive of Professors who may hold any of the other positions which make up this Committee, who shall be nominated by the Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive.
• At least one (1) external Professor from another institution, appointed by the Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive.

3.2.  The Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive will have ex-officio membership of the Committee.

3.3.   A quorum for the Committee shall be at least four (4) members and must include the Chair (or nominee), a Professor other than the Chair, and the external Professor.

3.4.   The Committee shall have the power to determine its processes, which must be robust, confidential, transparent, and ensure consistency of outcomes is maintained.

4.  Consideration of Applications for Appointment

4.1.   The Committee’s decisions will be based on consideration of the criteria in Clause 2 using the form, at Appendix 3.

4.2 Referees nominated by an applicant will be approached and interviewed by the Chair (or nominated Committee Professor) on behalf of the Committee, who may also make additional enquiries.

4.2.   All reports of interviews of referees and of any additional enquiries will be confidential documents, being evaluative material provided in confidence to the Committee. An applicant is not entitled to access such reports or be advised of their contents.

4.4.   The overarching judgement that is made shall be holistic and qualitative, having regard to different levels of expectation for Professors and Associate Professors. This is particularly significant where strengths and domains are intertwined.

5. Decision

5.1        Decisions of the Committee will usually be a full consensus but maybe by majority if a full consensus cannot be reached in a reasonable time.

5.2        The Committee shall communicate its final decision to the Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive within five (5) working days, who will communicate this to the applicant within another five (5) working days.

5.3        Decisions made by the Committee are final.

5.4        An unsuccessful applicant may apply again after a period of twelve (12) months from the date of submission of the previous application. Such an application should include significant additional evidence and address any feedback provided by the Professorial Appointments Committee about their previous application.

5.5        The terms and conditions of appointment of a successful applicant to the position of Professor or Associate Professor (as the case may be) shall be negotiated with the applicant by the Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive and the Manukura Tuarua Ara Takata │Deputy Chief Executive: People, Culture and Safety. No announcement of appointment shall be made by the applicant or Otago Polytechnic Ltd until the terms and conditions of appointment have been agreed.

6. Related Titles

6.1        Professor Emeritus: The Otago Polytechnic Ltd Board, on the recommendation of the Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive, may confer the title of Professor Emeritus on a retiring Professor who has given long and outstanding service to Otago Polytechnic Ltd. For avoidance of doubt, this does not apply to a retiring Associate Professor or Adjunct Professor.

6.2        Adjunct Professor/Adjunct Associate Professor: The Committee may confer the title of Adjunct Professor or Adjunct Associate Professor on an individual who holds or has held a professorial level position in another tertiary institution recognised by Otago Polytechnic Ltd, and who meets Otago Polytechnic Ltd’s criteria for appointment as Professor or Associate Professor but is not an employee of Otago Polytechnic Ltd. Such individuals may be appointed as a Professor or as Associate Professor on a contract for service or for a specified project or period.

6.3        Visiting Professor/Visiting Associate Professor: In most cases visiting academics will be referred to as Visiting Scholars while at Otago Polytechnic Ltd. However, the Committee may, on the advice of a Head of College, confer the title of Visiting Professor or Visiting Associate Professor on an individual who carries the status of Professor or Associate Professor at another tertiary institution that is recognised by Otago Polytechnic Ltd.

6.4        Chair (Endowed): An Endowed Chair may be established by the Otago Polytechnic Ltd Board to develop and enhance scholarship in a priority field. The establishment of an Endowed Chair implies a commitment to the position and the field.

7. Use of Titles

7.1       Following appointment Professors, Associate Professors, Professors Emeriti, Visiting Professors, Visiting Associate Professors, Adjunct Professors, Adjunct Associate Professors, and Endowed Chair(s) may use their title as conferred on all Otago Polytechnic Ltd documentation and communications.

7.2       Staff previously holding a professorial position at another tertiary institution do not have the automatic right to continue using the title at Otago Polytechnic Ltd unless they have been appointed to an Otago Polytechnic Ltd professorial position.

7.3       Staff who have been conferred with the title Professor Emeritus by a previous institution may use that title as long as the name of the institution that conferred that title is made clear in all correspondence.

Approved:

Dr. Megan Gibbons

Tumu Whakarae│Chief Executive

DATE:  17 May 2022

Policy Version: V5 Previously Coded: AP0403

Policies

Recruitment of Staff Policy

Board Honours Awards Policy

Remuneration Policy

Reference Document

Career Paths for Academic Staff

Appendices (Downloadable)

Appendix 1: Application for Appointment as Associate Professor or Professor. (downloadable)

Appendix 2: Application for Promotion from Associate Professor to Professor. (downloadable)

Appendix 3:  Professorial Appointments Committee Applicant Evidence Form. (downloadable)

Appendix 4.  Examples of Evidence of Reputation, Excellence, and Leadership. (downloadable)

Appendix 5. Progression within Associate Professor and Professor Remuneration Range Min to Max (downloadable)