Secondary appointments at the professorial level are evaluated sequentially. First, a faculty member is evaluated for promotion to Professor by the primary department. Once that appointment is approved, the evaluation for a professorial appointment in the secondary department may proceed. Secondary appointment nominations do not require selecting an Area of Excellence or any Significant Supporting Activities. There is additionally no requirement for submitted selected scholarly works. Whereas the primary appointment review focuses on academic merit, the secondary appointment review will center on the contributions of the candidate to the secondary department.
Process:
Step 1: Letter to Dean requesting a secondary appointment as Professor
The Department Head of the secondary appointing department submits materials electronically to the OFA at: professorial.materials@hms.harvard.edu
- A letter containing a description of the candidate, and an explanation of the significant contribution to the teaching, research and/or clinical programs that would warrant the secondary appointment
- Co-signature on this letter or a separate letter from the Head of the primary department, indicating approval
- For faculty in clinical departments, documentation of approval from the Executive Committee of the secondary department
- Candidate’s CV in the Faculty of Medicine format
- Two (2) letters from Professors in the secondary department, documenting the rationale for the secondary appointment
Step 2: For secondary appointments at affiliated institutions that have Senior Appointments Committees, documentation of approval from that committee
- OFA shares the materials with the appropriate committee
- Senior Appointments Committee provides documentation of approval
Step 3: Review by Council of Academic Deans (CAD) (for clinical departments) or the Preclinical Chairs (PCC) (for basic science departments) or Social Science Council (SSC) (for social science departments)
- A recommendation of these bodies is advisory to the Dean
Step 4: Dean renders a decision
- The Dean reviews the assessment from advisory bodies such as Council of Academic Deans (CAD), Social Science Council (SSC) or Preclinical Chairs (PCC) assessment and renders a decision regarding the proposed secondary appointment/reappointment
- A final decision is communicated to the OFA
Step 5: Notification of approval
- The OFA informs the Department Head and/or CEO/President of the outcome via email
- Formal letter from the Dean is sent directly to candidate
Last updated June 2024