UCLA

Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel

 

DATE:  March 8, 2021

TO:  Deans, Chairs, and Associate Professors

SUBJECT:  COVID-19 Pandemic Guidance on the Use of Associate Professor Steps IV and V

 

Dear Colleagues:

I write to provide additional guidance regarding the use of Associate Professor, Steps IV and V as part of the campus response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This modification of our procedures is a continuation of our goal to treat the consequences of this crisis compassionately and to foster an environment for our faculty to continue to succeed.

According to Appendix 13 of The CALL, advancement to Associate Professor Steps IV and V will only be used in special circumstances and will require the review of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel. Note also, that the normal time at both Step IV and V is three years.  Starting with actions effective July 1, 2021, Associate Professors who are currently at Step II, III, or IV, and believe their ability to advance to Professor within the standard six years has been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, may request advancement to Associate Professor Steps IV or V.  Faculty who apply for such an advancement should justify their reasons in the Pandemic Impact Statement or in their Self-Statement.

The decision to approve advancement to Associate Professor Steps IV or V will continue to require review by the Vice Chancellor for Academic Personnel, and at the Vice Chancellor’s request, may include consultation with the Council on Academic Personnel.  Regular advancement will continue to be from any of the Associate Professor steps to Professor, Step I.  Proposed promotions from Associate Professor, Steps IV or V to a step beyond Professor, Step I will continue to be considered an acceleration.

As a reminder, the following list describes the primary COVID-19-related modifications in evaluation of advancement already in effect. These modifications have been described in previous memos and are displayed on the Academic Personnel COVID-19 Resources webpage.

  • Automatic extra year off the 8-year clock – the 8-year clock is now 9 years
  • One year deferral of the 4th Year Appraisal if requested
  • Unique burdens to individual groups of faculty are considered during the advancement process
  • Inclusion of student teaching evaluations for Winter, Spring and Fall 2020 terms in academic advancement files is optional
  • New administrative leave policies
  • Option to include a Pandemic Impact Statement
  • Interim COVID-Related Dependent Care Modified Duties

 

Sincerely,

 

Michael S. Levine
Vice Chancellor, Academic Personnel