What is acceleration?
An acceleration is a merit or promotion review, which occurs prior to eligibility for normal advancement. Thus, it is a more rapid movement through the ranks and steps than the norm due to the extraordinary record of the candidate. One-year accelerations for Assistant and Associate Professors and one or two year accelerations for Professors are normally reviewed by FPC and submitted to the Dean for final decision. Requests of one step or more are reviewed by CAP-OC, with final decision by the Vice Provost. Accelerations are usually sought when there has been unusually high academic achievement in at least one category (teaching, research, or service) since the last advancement, and at least normal progress in the other categories, i.e., accelerations are not granted if any component of the record is below par. CAP-OC normally conducts an equity review of each case that comes before it to assure that faculty are at an appropriate level, commensurate with the entire record.
