Promotion and Tenure Database Creation and Utilization: A 12-Year History

J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2024 Dec;31(4):761-768. doi: 10.1007/s10880-024-10050-4. Epub 2024 Oct 5.

Abstract

Trends in faculty demographic composition, promotion success, and retention are important considerations in Academic Health Centers (AHC). This paper reviews the design, implementation, and utility of a faculty promotion and tenure (P&T) database (PROMO/TE©) over 12 years in a large southwestern academic health center. Review of the system design, portfolio creation, P&T tracking, interface with other faculty databases, and lessons learned will be offered. PROMO/TE© was developed to improve the P&T packet creation, application, and review process in one College and was expanded to other colleges at the AHC. The PROMO/TE© system is integrated with Workday® and FACFACTS© to track trends in recruitment, attrition, and P&T trends across gender, underrepresented minorities, and other subgroups. PROMO/TE© has several advantages including improving communication, transparency, uniformity, and efficiency in the P&T packet creation, application, and review process. Increased cost savings ($217,198 annually) were noted with elimination of hard copy packets and decreased time spent. The first college reviewed 743 dossiers in the PROMO/TE© system since its creation in 2012 and there has been on average a 10% increase in P&T approvals since its inception. PROMO/TE© facilitates and tracks trends in the P&T process and has many benefits as well as significant cost savings. PROMO/TE© serves as a potential model for other institutions.

Keywords: DEI; Faculty affairs; Faculty development; Promotion; Tenure.

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers* / statistics & numerical data
  • Career Mobility*
  • Databases, Factual*
  • Faculty, Medical / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male