Tenured & Tenure Track Titles

Tenure is an unusual status in the Department of Psychiatry. Less than 5% of faculty hold tenured appointments. Faculty members must also have full time status at Columbia University to be eligible for tenure or tenure track. For more information about the tenure process please speak with your Division Chief.

Tenured Titles

Tenured titles are “unmodified” and include two ranks: Professor and Associate Professor (e.g. Professor of Medical Psychology; Associate Professor of Psychiatry). These titles are awarded only after successful completion of a full tenure review (See below Tenure Review) and have no term limit. Individuals holding tenured titles must be full time (benefits eligible) Columbia University employees and meet the highest academic standards including: outstanding and creative scholarship and cutting edge independent research, international reputation, unique contributions resulting in major impact on their fields, extraordinary academic productivity, exceptional teaching and mentoring to fellows and junior

Tenure Track Titles

Tenure track titles are “unmodified” and are usually at the Assistant Professor level but may also include Professor and Associate Professor (e.g. Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Associate Professor of Psychology (in Psychiatry). Individuals appointed to a tenure track title are expected to complete a departmental tenure review by the end of their 6th year, to allow for sufficient time for the University tenure review (see below). A tenure track title may not be held for more than 7 years, with the exception of “clock stopping” for child care (Section §71c (2) of the University Statutes). Tenure track titles (unlike tenured titles) must be annually renewed. In addition, as is the case for tenured titles, individuals must be benefits eligible Columbia University employees.

Tenure Review

Tenure review is conducted in the 6th year that the applicant has held a Columbia title (or 6th year of tenure clock if there has been a “time out”). The review include the departmental COAP review as well as three additional steps: 1) review by the CUIMC Dean’s COAP; 2) review by the Tenure Review Advisory Committee (TRAC) which consists of 13 members chosen by the Provost from among the tenured faculty of Columbia’s schools, including Barnard College; and 3) approval by the Board of Trustees of the University, the Provost informs the University community of the membership of TRAC at the beginning of the fall term. For more details about the process please see

Current Guidelines for Tenure/Tenure Track Positions (Unmodified Titles)

Description

A university wide title which requires research productivity which is imaginative, creative and which substantively advances the discipline of the faculty member. The area of research must be of the highest priority to the university and places the individual amongst the top 5-10 scholar leaders within his/her discipline.

Scholarly Products Expected**

  • Consistent and incremental publication of novel research findings in journals of highest impact
  • Invited honorific lectureships
  • Distinguished honors awarded by election and/or peer review
  • Consistent and incremental peer reviewed research support

Metrics for Evaluation

  • Quantity and quality of publications
  • Impact of research productivity as assessed by the impact factor of the journals in which research is published
  • Invited presentations or visiting professorships at important scientific forums
  • Producing exceptional original research, by acknowledged leaders of the discipline who possess national/international reputations for excellence by external evaluation
  • Consistent and incremental peer-reviewed grant funding support for research, which grows pragmatically
  • Distinguished honors or prizes by election and/or peer review

Educational Portfolio

  • Research mentorship of post docs, graduate students
  • Didactic lectures in courses
  • Graduate course leadership
  • Other educational activities as appropriate

**Scholarly products provide a sample of the kinds of materials which would be evidence of strength in a particular area of focus. A faculty member need not have evidence of all examples, but should provide evidence of excellence in those selected.