Academic Promotions 2015

Agenda

1. Promotions policy and procedures – how it works

2. Steps in the process3. Athena Swan at HWU4. What makes a good promotion case?5. Timeline 2015

Academic Promotions

• HWU values • Aim to develop and support academics in their

careers, recognise and reward achievements and retain excellent staff at HWU

• New procedures introduced in 2014 less administratively burdensome and will (hopefully) encourage more applicants

Promotion/Advancement Grades 6-7, 7-8

• Advancement/promotion written case, submitted to committee

• School commentary• No interview• HERA matching not scoring • Probation a matter for Schools and Deans

Senior academic promotion (Grades 8-9 or 9-10)

• PDR includes discussion of career planning • Individuals make their own case (2 sides A4 max)• School level promotions panel to consider cases to

be supported – any case not supported can still be submitted

• References - prior to the first meeting of the SAPB in order for decisions to be taken

• Interviews for all Grade 10 prima facia cases remain• SAPB decisions for Grade 9

• Use of External Assessors – clarification

• School Promotions Panel• Senior Academic Promotions board • Interviews May• All promotions will be concluded before 1st August

• HERA continues to remain the University's chosen role evaluation system, we will still refer to HERA – the roles have been evaluated– the role profiles have been negotiated with UCU– we know what a promoted post looks like and also the size of the

role

What is Athena SWAN?

• Charter for Women in Science (2015 all disciplines)

• HWU Bronze Award 2013• Principles apply across the University

Why Athena SWAN?

• Charter for Women in Science (ECU)• Athena = Greek goddess of wisdom• SWAN = Scientific Women’s Academic

Network• Any university or research institution which is

committed to the advancement of the careers of women in science in higher education and research can apply for membership/awards

Factors include…

• Conscious bias• Homophilia – people like to be with people like themselves

• Ambivalent prejudice – hostility towards people in non-traditional roles

• Stereotype threat – underperformance through stereotype anxiety

• Confirmation bias – tendency to favour information that confirms our preconceptions

• Halo effect – one trait influences our perception of another

• Conflict of interests – bias towards people who have helped or can help us

Making a promotion case…

• Role Profiles – cases must demonstrate you meet the criteria of the level profiles (or explain why what you do is different but equivalent)

• Emphasise achievements not activities• Provide evidence• Look outside HWU to your discipline – where

do you fit? Who knows you/your work and give examples/evidence

Key Dates

• January 2015 PDR• 31st March closing date for applications• 7th May Senior Academic Promotions Board

meets• 1st batch of letters issued by 8th May• Interviews w/c 11th May for two week period• 2nd batch Letter issued early June• Effective date of promotion 1st August

HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY STAFF PROMOTION & REWARD BOARDS 2015 KEY DATES

Date

Remuneration CommitteeGrade 10 staff

(Implementation date = 1 Aug)

Senior Promotions (Academic/Professional

Services) G8-9 or G9 - 10)

(Implementation date = 1 Aug)

Date

Contribution Pay Board(Grade 1 - 9) - Bonuses,

Accelerated Incr, Contribution Points)

Implementation date = 1 Aug

Date

Academic Advancement Board ( Academic promotion from G6 -7 or G7-8)

(Implementation date = 1 Aug)

01/05/15

Advance notification to HoS / G10 Professors that review proecess

will start on 1 July - to allow mtg dates to be planned)

18/05/15

Initial meeting of Remuneration Committee (depending on

business need) n/a n/a n/a n/a

26/06/15Communication to Principal /

HoS / HoPS announcing start of process (with enclosures)

27/02/15Communication to HoS/PS

announcing start of process (with enclosures)

20/03/15Communication to HoS / HoPS

announcing start of process (with enclosures)

27/02/15 Communication to HoS/PS announcing start of process (with enclosures)

26/06/15

Communication to all Professors and other Grade 10 staff

announcing start of process (with cover letter, scorecard, case form

etc)

27/02/15 Communication to Individuals via weekly E-newsletters 20/03/15 Communication to Individuals

via weekly E-newsletters 27/02/2015 Communication to Individuals via weekly E-newsletters

26/06/15 Papers issued to Principal & Secretary re direct reports n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

31/07/15 Closing date for all submissions 31/03/15 Closing date for applications 30/04/15 Closing date for applications 31/03/2015 Closing date for applications

22/07/15 Principal considers direct reports

up to 4 weeks from closing date

30/4/15

Checking of paperwork and taking up of

references/assessors Checking of paperwork Checking of paperwork

12/08/15 Secretary considers direct reports

(7 days from previous)

30/04/15

Papers out to Head of School / Members of Promotion Board 18/05/15 Papers out to Board members 15/04/15 papers out to Board members

14/08/15Summary papers issued to

Principal / Secretary & HoS in advance of 28 August

7th May for Snr

Academic, 14th May for

Snr Prof.Services

Initial considerations of Promotions Board

07/05, 9.30-12.30 - 1st Academic meeting 14/05,

2.00pm-3.30pm - 1st Professional services meeting

26/05/15, 9.30-12.30

Contribution Board meeting to consider applications 27/04/15 Board meeting to consider applications

28/08/15

Principal's initial calibration meeting

with Heads of Schools / Secretary 2-5pm

14/05/15Issue letters to

unsuccesful/successful applicants

n/a n/a n/a n/a

Papers issued to Senior Remuneration Committee 14/05/15 Confirm Interview dates/times n/a n/a n/a n/a

14/09/15

Senior Remuneration Committee meeting to consider

recommendations from Principal/Secretary

9-11am

18-29th May

Papers out to Interview Panel

Carry out interviews n/a n/a n/a n/a

n/a n/a June - tbc Final deliberations of Promotions Board n/a n/a n/a n/a

n/a n/a Next Available

Recommend to UE Ratify at Senate (AC)Ratify at Court (AC)

n/a n/a n/a n/a

+7 days from SRC

Issue outcome letters (to each Head of School)

Up to 7 days from the

above meeting

Issue final outcome letters

Up to 7 days from

above meeting

Issue outcome letters

Up to 7 days from

above meeting

Issue outcome letters

HWU Development for people managers includes…

• First 100 Days – a toolkit for managers (online) • Enhanced face-to-face bitesized sessions:

– My role as a manager – Giving and receiving feedback– Recruitment skills – Demystifying HERA– Wish you were here– Difficult conversations– Working life today and mental health– PDR reviewer training– Updates on HR polices following changes to UK and European employment

law• For more information, contact: organisational.development@hw.ac.uk