Faculty rate well in recent employment evaluations

Four former associate professors were recently promoted to the rank of professor, and one assistant professor was promoted to associate professor at the NSCS Board Meeting Friday. The application process begins with optional letters of support from colleagues, accompanied by a portfolio demonstrating research, campus and community involvement, and awards and accolades submitted to the dean of the faculty’s department. Pending the dean’s recommendation, the portfolio is then reviewed by the Faculty Promotion and Tenure Committee, and subject to approval, their recommendation is forwarded on to Dr. Lois Veath, vice president of academic affairs. Next, a recommendation from the college President, Dr. Janie Park, is required before the application is finally submitted to the board of trustees, who vote on the candidates at one of their five to eight scheduled board meetings during the year. The ranking system adopted for academia in the United States follows the system of instructor; a non-tenure track professor, who may not have a Ph. D., assistant professor, an introductory-level professorship; associate professor; a mid-level, usually tenured professor; and professor (or full professor), who is a senior level, usually tenured individual.

Six members from the CSC faculty applied for rank promotion; however, only five requests were granted. This year, for the first full year, the applications were submitted in online format via a Sakai work site, said Don Watt, professor of HPER and Faculty Promotion and Tenure Committee chair. “The Sakai website is much more organized,” said Watt, “it really streamlined the process.”

The four individuals on which full professorship was awarded include Michael Bogner and Tracy Nobiling, of the Justice Studies Department; Matthew Evertson, of the English and Humanities Department, and Ann Petersen, of the Education Department. Una Taylor, of the Music Department; was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor.

Nobiling has been teaching both at the college level and at CSC the longest of those promoted with 20 years of experience, while Una Taylor has the lowest number of years taught, with a total of 6 years at the college level. Nobiling said the most rewarding part of teaching is “getting to work so closely with students.” Further, Nobiling said she enjoyed seeing the students develop and helping them prepare for their careers.

In addition to the rank promotions, the college has a total of 11 faculty who have acquired tenure in 2011. Among those 11, five of the faculty are representative of the Department of Business. Chadron State led the members of the NSCS colleges in the number of tenured individuals with 11. The next highest awarded institution was Wayne State with three tenure awards.