Effective Date
Spring 2007
Last Revision Date
05/18/2026
Responsible Party
SON Administrative Team, SON tenure/tenure-track faculty, and SON Promotion and Tenure Policy Committee
Scope and Audience
All School of Nursing (SON) tenure-track or tenured faculty.
Additional Authority
Boise State University: Faculty Tenure and Promotion Guidelines (Policy 4340), Periodic Review of Tenured Faculty (Policy 4380),
CHS: Revised College Promotion and Tenure Guidelines (Policy 210)
1. Policy Purpose
To establish a policy on promotion and tenure for the tenured/tenure track faculty in the School of Nursing.
2. Policy Statement
Professional Preparation for Rank Determination:
- Assistant Professor: An earned academic doctorate (PhD, EdD, DNSc) or clinical doctorate (DNP) from an accredited nursing institution of higher learning, plus additional appropriate coursework or full-time college teaching experience.
- Associate Professor: An earned academic doctorate (PhD, EdD, DNSc) or clinical doctorate (DNP) plus five (5) years of full time experience in an academic rank.
- Professor: An earned academic doctorate (PhD, EdD, DNSc) or clinical doctorate (DNP) plus a minimum of five (5) full years of service as Associate Professor at an accredited institution of higher learning.
Tenure and Promotion Eligibility
Tenure Conferral
Faculty members are expected to apply for tenure during his or her 6th year of employment at the University. Application for tenure may also be made as early as in the 5th year of service should the faculty member’s record support the action. However, at the time of initial appointment as faculty, the School of Nursing Divisional Dean may make a written recommendation to the Dean of the COHS determining whether service at another institution shall apply toward the years of service required for tenure and promotion at Boise State University. The Dean’s approval of this recommendation should be included in files/cases submitted for promotion and tenure.
For individuals holding the rank of Assistant Professor, review for tenure conferral as well as promotion to Associate Professor will occur simultaneously.
Promotion Eligibility
Candidates pursuing promotion in academic rank (see definition above) shall be advanced for promotion only when their record clearly demonstrates significant contributions and commitment to teaching and scholarly activity. Service, although expected of every candidate, cannot be considered in place of or substituting for teaching and scholarly activity. Criteria for promotion to the rank of professor include all of the criteria for tenure and promotion to associate professor, as well as five (5) full years of service as Associate Professor at an accredited institution of higher learning. (Note that promotion to professor is not assumed to be automatic after any time period.) A faculty member may apply for promotion no earlier than during their third full year of employment at Boise State University, except under extraordinary circumstances.
Criteria for Tenure and Promotion
There are three main areas of faculty involvement pertinent to tenure and promotion. Evaluation for tenure and promotion shall be conducted relative to the faculty member’s assigned workload as documented in annual workload agreements in accordance with University Policy 4560 (Workload Policy for Tenured and Tenure-Track Faculty).
While all candidates must demonstrate achievement in the areas of teaching, scholarship, and service, the relative scope and volume of accomplishments in each area shall be evaluated in proportion to the faculty member’s negotiated workload distribution during the review period.
Workload assignments that include significant administrative responsibilities, externally funded research effort, program leadership, or other formally assigned duties shall be taken into account when assessing the quantity and distribution of accomplishments across teaching, scholarship, and service. Such adjustments shall not diminish expectations for quality or impact but may appropriately affect expectations regarding volume.
Teaching
Teaching, as demonstrated by teaching effectiveness and professional commitment to teaching, is an important role of the faculty at the University. Effective and outstanding teaching should be recognized as an important criterion for tenure. Consistent with University Policies 4300 (Student Course Evaluations) and 4750 (Assessment of Faculty Teaching), evaluation of teaching shall be based on multiple forms of evidence and shall be conducted relative to the faculty member’s assigned workload. Evidence of teaching effectiveness may include student course evaluations interpreted in context, peer review of teaching, course materials and design, mentoring and advising activities, curricular innovation, and evidence of responsiveness to feedback
Scholarly and Research Activities
Scholarship is defined as those activities that systematically advance the teaching, research, and practice of nursing through rigorous inquiry that:
- is significant to the profession
- is creative
- can be documented
- can be replicated or elaborated
- can be translated into practice, and
- can be peer-reviewed through various methods
It includes the scholarship of discovery, the scholarship of teaching, the scholarship of application (engagement and evidence-based practice), and the scholarship of integration as outlined by Boyer 4 and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing 7.
Evaluation of scholarship shall be conducted relative to the faculty member’s assigned workload and career stage, consistent with University Policy 4340 and University Policy 4560. While sustained peer-reviewed productivity is expected, evaluation shall emphasize the quality, coherence, and impact of the candidate’s scholarly contributions within the discipline of nursing.
Evidence-based practice and translational research are recognized forms of nursing scholarship. Evidence-based practice involves the integration of best available research evidence into clinical decision-making. Translational research involves the application of scientific findings into clinical and community practice settings. Scholarly work in these areas is valued when it meets standards of rigor, documentation, peer review, and demonstrable impact.
Service
It is expected that each candidate for tenure will have demonstrated a commitment of service to Boise State University, to the College of Health Sciences, to the School of Nursing, to the community and to the profession. Participation and leadership in school, college, or university committees, Faculty Senate, professional organizations, and/or affairs of the local, state, or national community normally demonstrate this type of commitment. Evaluation of service shall be conducted relative to the faculty member’s assigned workload and career stage.
Developmental Review
All University tenure track faculty are evaluated in the Spring of their second and fourth years of service as to their progress toward tenure. This is a formal, internal evaluation requiring the submission of a portfolio, and should not be confused with the annual faculty evaluation process. The Developmental Review does not result in advancement in rank or salary level.
External Reviews
All faculty review actions, with the exception of the developmental review, require blinded external review by three reviewers of the same or higher rank as the rank the faculty candidate is seeking (e. g. if associate, reviewer must hold an associate or professor rank). Faculty are to submit the names of three to five external reviewers in the Spring to the SON Divisional Dean or Chief Nurse Administrator, who will oversee this process and provide information as to the selection of the reviewers, submission of materials to be sent to reviewers and mandatory deadlines. External reviewers shall be informed of the candidate’s workload assignment to ensure proper evaluation of accomplishments within the context of assigned responsibilities.
School of Nursing Promotion and Tenure Committee
The SON Promotion and Tenure Committee consists of three (3) tenured faculty members and two (2) clinical faculty members. This committee reviews actions for both the tenure- tenure track faculty and for the clinical track. Only tenured committee members can vote on actions affecting tenured and tenure-track faculty members. Clinical track actions are voted on by the committee as a whole. Members are appointed by the Administrative Team each fall semester. At least one third of the committee shall serve for a period of two (2) consecutive years to maintain a sense of continuity within the committee. (Boise State University policy #4310)
Evidence in Support of an Application for Tenure and Promotion
Evidence regarding teaching, scholarly/research activities and service should be included in the file(s)/case that is submitted to the SON P&T committee.
Teaching
Associate Professor
The candidate shall demonstrate sustained effectiveness in teaching and professional commitment to student learning. Sustained effectiveness should reflect performance that meets or exceeds expectations appropriate to the faculty member’s workload and career stage. Evidence may include:
- Consistently positive student and peer evaluations, interpreted in context
- Demonstrated leadership in student advising or mentoring
- Development or revision of course curricula that enhance instructional quality
- Ongoing growth as a content expert in the discipline
- Evidence of reflective improvement in teaching practice
Professor
The candidate shall demonstrate distinction in teaching beyond the level expected at Associate Professor. Distinction at the rank of Professor shall be demonstrated through sustained excellence, instructional leadership, and meaningful impact on student learning and academic programs. Evidence may include:
- Sustained record of strong student and peer evaluations over time
- Demonstrated impact in mentoring and advising students
- Leadership in the development of innovative or high-impact instructional strategies
- Recognized expertise in curricular development or discipline-specific content
- Evidence that teaching contributions have influenced students, programs, or the broader educational mission
Scholarly and Research Activities
Associate Professor
The candidate shall demonstrate productivity and leadership within a focused area of nursing or health sciences research or translational science.
Evidence of an effective scholarly record at the rank of Associate Professor may include:
- Regular publication of peer-reviewed articles in appropriate scholarly venues, demonstrating sustained productivity across the review period (average at least one publication per year)
- Demonstrated progress and coherence within a defined line of inquiry
- Dissemination of research findings through presentations at regional, national, or international conferences
- Efforts to pursue or secure internal or external funding consistent with the faculty member’s research trajectory and workload assignment
- Evidence of scholarly impact, which may include citation patterns, adoption of findings into practice, policy influence, collaborative partnerships, or other discipline-appropriate markers of influence
Professor
The candidate shall demonstrate sustained scholarly leadership and distinction beyond the level expected at Associate Professor.
Evidence of an effective scholarly record at the rank of Professor may include:
- A sustained and influential program of peer-reviewed scholarship
- Leadership within a focused area of nursing or health sciences research or translational science
- Ongoing dissemination of research findings at regional, national, or international levels
- Demonstrated success in pursuing or securing external funding where appropriate to workload and field
- Evidence of regional, national, or international recognition for scholarly contributions
- Demonstrable impact of scholarly work on the discipline, practice, policy, or professional communities
Service
Associate Professor
The candidate shall demonstrate sustained and responsible engagement in service activities at the departmental, college, university, professional, or community level. Evidence may include:
- Pursuing leadership roles in the university, professional and community committees or initiatives
- Active participation in SON, COHS, or University committees
- Engagement in professional organizations related to the discipline
- Service activities at the community, state, regional, or national level
- Contributions that support program development, accreditation, student success, or institutional initiatives
Professor
The candidate shall demonstrate leadership and distinction in service beyond the level expected at Associate Professor. Evidence may include:
- Leadership roles in the university, professional and community committees or initiatives
- Holding office or assuming significant responsibility in professional organizations
- Engagement in service activities at regional, national, or international levels
- Contributions that have demonstrable impact on institutional development, professional standards, policy, or community partnerships
School of Nursing Notifications and Deadlines:
* 2-year and 4 year developmental reviews are conducted during the Spring of the second and fourth years of service.
** For individuals holding the rank of Assistant Professor,review for tenure conferral as well as promotion to Associate Professor will occur simultaneously. Associate Professors hired without tenure will follow this schedule.
3. Definitions
Tenure
Academic tenure is a condition of presumed continuous employment that ensures an intellectual atmosphere that is free and open. This encourages superior faculty to remain at the University, thus strengthening the excellence of the institution. Granting tenure implies a commitment by the institution to defend the academic member’s intellectual endeavors. Likewise, the faculty member who is awarded tenure makes an equally strong commitment to serve the students, the profession, and the institution in a manner befitting an academician.
Promotion
All University tenure track faculty are evaluated in the Spring of their second and fourth years of service as to their progress toward tenure. This is a formal, internal evaluation requiring the submission of a portfolio, and should not be confused with the annual faculty evaluation process. The Developmental Review does not result in advancement in rank or salary level.
4. References
- University Policy 4340. (2015). Faculty Tenure and Promotion Guidelines.
- COHS Policy 210. (2015). Promotion and Tenure Guidelines.
- SON Policy FP-10 (2015). Promotion and Tenure Policy.
- Boyer, E.L. (1990, 1997). Scholarship reconsidered: priorities of the professoriate. Princeton, NJ: The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
- American Association of Nursing (1999). Position statement on defining scholarship for the discipline of nursing.
- NIH (2005). Title 45 CFR, Part 46.102,d.
- Polit, D.F., & Beck, C.T., (2012). Nursing research: generating and assessing evidence for nursing practice (9th ed.). Wolters Kluwer/LWW.
- LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2010). Nursing research: methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice (7th ed.). NY: Mosby.
- ITHS. (2012). Translational Research.
- University Policy 4380. (2015). Periodic Review of Tenured Faculty.
Related Information
Boise State University: Faculty Tenure and Promotion Guidelines (Policy 4340), Periodic Review of Tenured Faculty (Policy 4380)
CHS: Revised College Promotion and Tenure Guidelines (Policy 210)
SON: Faculty and Staff Expectations (Policy FSP-02)
Last Review Date
5/18/2026
Revision History
As F-11-402: Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011
As FP-36: Fall 2012, Fall 2015, As FP-10: Spring 2016, July 2020, April 2021, 4/1/2022, 5/18/2026