Marketing Communication

Promotion with Tenure from Assistant to Associate Professor

Excellence in scholarship signifies that a candidate has a clearly delineated, coherent, and focused program of research that addresses one or more areas of interest within the candidate’s discipline.

To be promoted with tenure to Associate Professor, a candidate is expected to demonstrate independent, intellectual, and scholarly development. The candidate’s research record should demonstrate a systematic program of work with a reasoned rationale and an evident trajectory. Scholarly impact should entail national rather than regional visibility.

Scholarship can be demonstrated and evaluated as outlined below.

1) Scholarly Publications Consisting of Peer-reviewed Journal Articles

Scholarly publications consisting of peer-reviewed journal articles in recognized academic or professional journals are an important standard for scholarly achievement. Tenure-seeking faculty members are expected to publish at least five (5) peer-reviewed journal articles in their tenure review period, including peer-reviewed publications they received permission to bring to Emerson in their appointment letter as a result of their advanced standing. In their annual evaluations and tenure dossier, candidates should justify their choices of publication outlets with respect to the journal’s suitability and reputation. 

While the tenure review process is not based on strict quantitative guidelines, successful candidates produce the approximate equivalent of one significant peer-reviewed article or equivalent per year. In other words, this does not exclude the possibility of fewer works of extraordinary quality meeting the tenure standard. These works must nonetheless be of such depth and scope as to represent an equivalent body of work and to establish the candidate as an ongoing scholar.

Both single-authored and collaborative articles are acceptable publication forms. In the latter case, candidates should explain their contribution to the scholarship, as it relates to their leadership or collaborative role in the program of research and resulting publications. In describing their publication record, other information candidates may consider presenting includes (but is not limited to):

• Acceptance rates or other pertinent statistics for particular journals
• Indications of the level and impact of scholarship such as a citation index, references in academic texts, and media coverage

2) Scholarly Publications such as Solo or First-authored Books

Scholarly publications such as solo or first-authored books that are outgrowths of the candidate’s scholarship are valued. This value depends on factors such as the content, quality, publisher, impact on the field, and reviews received — all of which the candidate should be able to demonstrate. Books that are theoretically groundbreaking and successfully advance concepts, ideas, and approaches are considered as an important scholarly achievement.

While the number of chapters and length of the book will be considered when determining the equivalent number of refereed journal articles it is the quality of the scholarship that is the most important factor. Each book chapter that involves significant theoretical development, and/or substantial research and analysis will be counted as the equivalent of a refereed journal article. As such, a strong, solo-authored book meeting the department’s stated requirements regarding quality could meet the department’s minimal publication threshold for tenure. 

First-authored and other collaborative books meeting the department’s quality standards may also be counted as equivalent to refereed journal articles, as indicated above, but no singular first-authored or collaborative book would be sufficient to meet the department’s minimum publication threshold for tenure.  

For first-authored and collaborative books, candidates should explain their contribution to the scholarship as it relates to their leadership or collaborative role in the program of research and resulting publications.

3) Solo-authored or First-authored Book Chapters

Solo-authored or first-authored book chapters, published in edited collections, by recognized and reputable presses, and with prestigious editors and/or contributors, that demonstrate significant theoretical development and/or substantial research and analysis will be counted as the equivalent of a refereed journal article. It is the quality of the scholarship that is the most important factor in considering each chapter.

Both single-authored and collaborative chapters are acceptable publication forms. In the latter case, candidates should explain their contribution to the scholarship as it relates to their leadership or collaborative role in the program of research and resulting publications.

Candidates are required to include in their dossiers copies of all publications, including journal articles and scholarly book manuscripts. For books that have been accepted for publication but that have not yet been published, the signed contract is to be included.

4) External Grants

The awarding of a grant from a reputable external source will be considered a valued part of the faculty member’s research program. Publications that come from external grants will be significantly more important than the awarding of the grant itself. Grant activity that does not result in publications will be considered a lesser contribution to the overall research program as compared to grants that lead to publications.

5) Creative Work

Creative work may be equal in value to scholarly publications if the work is presented in a venue that can provide evidence of external validation through a juried or expert peer review process. Candidates that submit work to competitions or festivals are expected to outline the process for selection, the number of entries, their standing among entries, and other relevant evaluative information. As in the case of scholarly collaborative publications, candidates who engage in collaborative creative work should clearly delineate their contribution to the creative work. Creative work should advance the body of knowledge at the leading edge of the field and candidates must show national or international recognition for the work. Candidates doing creative work are also expected to contribute to significant scholarly work as outlined under Section 1 “Promotion with Tenure from Assistant to Associate Professor,” parts 1, 2, and 3 above. 

6) Supplemental Work

Other scholarly activities, while not contributing to the primary contributions above, are considered supplemental and may also support a candidate’s record of scholarship. For instance, invitations to serve as an editor or reviewer often derive from scholarly achievements. Invitations to be a major presenter or keynote speaker at prestigious conferences, consultancies with prominent organizations, and any of the activities listed as supportive scholarly activities below, also provide further evidence of a candidate’s contributions to the field.

Supportive scholarly activities include:

• Writing grant proposals, including proposals not funded
• Editing journals
• Editing books
• Participating on prominent review boards and committees
• Providing grant reviews for funding agencies
• Providing manuscript reviews for scholarly journals
• Publishing textbooks that discuss both traditional concepts and practices of the field
• Publishing papers in the proceedings
• Publishing case studies that are theoretically groundbreaking
• Receiving academic honors and awards
• Demonstrating evidence of innovation in the field (e.g., adoption of methodologies)
• Invited lectures
• Honorary appointments at other institutions 
• Presenting papers at conferences

7) Professional Work

Professional work is seen as supportive to scholarly work and/or creative work — not a substitute for it. The work needs to provide evidence of external validation through a juried or blind peer review process. Its impact should entail national rather than regional presence.

Professional achievements can be demonstrated and evaluated with a variety of evidence as outlined below.

• Professional Activities
  • Case studies and/or critical reviews on professional subjects, published in business and marketing communication reviews as well as other professional publications
  • Articles, commentaries, documentaries, and/or electronic productions on professional subjects, published in traditional and/or non-traditional mass media, if they demonstrate significant impacts on the business and marketing communication professions.
  • White papers on professional subjects judged by national competitions or juried trade fairs.
  • Professional achievements such as plans books and/or campaigns in the business and marketing communication areas that are considered exemplary by professional organizations, are cited in the literature, or are recognized for major prizes.
  • Development and management of significant seminars, workshops, symposia, and panels for marketing communication practitioners that entail teaching professional skills and practices

A candidate must describe:

1. whether the professional work is a solo or collaborative effort;
2. whether the venue, platform, or process is juried, by invitation, or self-produced;
3. whether it is local, regional, national, or international.

Information about competitiveness and prestige must be justified by outlining the process of selection, the number of entries, their standing among entries, and other relevant evaluative information. As in the case of scholarly collaborative work, candidates who engage in collaborative professional work should clearly delineate their contribution to the professional work.

8) Professional or Commissioned Creative Work

Professional or commissioned creative work that is not subject to a juried or blind peer review process is considered supplemental in that it provides evidence of visibility and reputation in the discipline within the context of the candidate’s overall scholarly and creative record.

External Letters

Promotion to Associate Professor requires positive letters from more senior, tenured, external reviewers in the field attesting to the quality and level of impact of the candidate’s scholarship. External reviewers should not have a personal, professional, or scholarly investment in the candidate that would constitute a perceived conflict of interest in the eyes of a reasonable person.

Note: The candidates, who joined Emerson College with prior credentials or advanced standing, must be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. These candidates need to refer to the appointment letter in order to decide the time to apply for tenure and promotion and what work can be included. It is expected that these candidates continue to show scholarly productivity during their years at Emerson College.

Promotion From Associate To Full Professor

All of the foregoing content remains relevant in evaluating a scholar’s accomplishments that would warrant promotion to Full Professor. In addition to continued productivity using the criteria and evidence described above, senior academics are expected to have established and maintained a national/international reputation. This might be demonstrated by publications and activities as described above that attest to the scholar’s leadership in the field. Other ways this national/international reputation could be demonstrated include, but are not limited to: service as an editor or reviewer for national or international scholarly publications; invitations to give keynote speeches or presentations at prestigious national or international conferences;  consultancies with prominent and well-regarded organizations; service as an editor for a national or international academic journal; service on boards of academic organizations; service on grant review panels funding applications and awards; and other ways of demonstrating the candidate’s stature, innovation, and/or leadership in the field.

In evaluating a candidate’s work for promotion to Full Professor, only the work done after tenure will be counted towards meeting the minimum criteria established in the previous sections.

External Letters

As with promotion to Associate Professor, promotion to Full Professor requires positive letters from more senior, tenured, external reviewers in the field attesting to the quality and level of impact of the candidate’s scholarship. External reviewers should not have a personal, professional, or scholarly investment in the candidate that would constitute a perceived conflict of interest in the eyes of a reasonable person.

Standards for Teaching

For Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor

We expect evidence of excellence in teaching in all of the areas listed in the Faculty Handbook. We recognize that such evidence need not be restricted to peer and student evaluations, but should also include course syllabi and other course materials, academic advising and graduate theses advised by the candidate, participation in pedagogically-oriented seminars and workshops, the range of courses taught, the creation of new courses, and the redesign of existing courses.

For Promotion to Full Professor

We expect that the candidate will have demonstrated excellence in teaching in all of the areas listed in the Faculty Handbook over the three years prior to the application for promotion or as indicated in the appointment letter. We recognize that such evidence need not be restricted to peer and student evaluations, but should also include course syllabi and other course materials, academic advising and graduate theses advised by the candidate, participation in pedagogically-oriented seminars and workshops, the creation of new courses, and the redesign of existing courses. Another demonstration of evidence of teaching excellence is the range of courses taught during the entire longevity of the candidate’s teaching career, whether at Emerson College or another institution.

Standards for Service Work

For Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor

As per the service activities outlined in Section 8.3 of the Handbook, the candidate is expected to render a reasonable amount of service to the department and the college, to the profession or professional organizations, and to the public at large. During the first year, it is believed that the candidate should be not burdened with service activities to the department and the college.

For Promotion to Full Professor

As stipulated in Section 11.1.1.3 of the Handbook, the candidate should demonstrate leadership capabilities in the department and/or on college-wide committees. This may also include accomplishing significant professional work as well as assuming leadership positions within professional organizations.

Long-Term Usefulness

For Tenure and Promotion to Associate Professor

See Section 8.4. of the Faculty Handbook.

Civic Engagement

The Marketing Communication Department values engaged scholarship and creative work that produces different forms of knowledge and professional work about, for, and with diverse publics and communities.  Engaged scholarship and professional or creative work might take a variety of forms (e.g. contributing new knowledge, synthesizing existing knowledge in new ways, creating new approaches to apply existing knowledge) and be disseminated in a variety of ways.  Engaged scholarship and/or creative work is not required for Tenure and Promotion.  It may be in included in a candidate's case for Tenure and/or Promotion, but it may not substitute for the standards of scholarship and creative and professional work.