Prepared by R. Larson, A. Gade, and S. Graves on Dean’s charge and approved by Nelson Institute Executive Committee on 12-11-2023. Approved by Provost’s Office on 12-30-2023.

To request an initial appointment or promotion within the Teaching Professor title series, current Nelson Institute academic staff should send an application package to the Associate Dean for Education and Faculty Affairs who will appoint the ad hoc review committee as outlined in NIPP 6.03.C.

Documents required for an initial appointment and promotion are outlined in NIPP 6.03.F and include:

1. 1. 1. A statement that addresses the evaluation criteria in NIPP 6.05.
      2. A current CV
      3. Teaching evaluations completed at UW-Madison (if applicable)

The criteria for appointment by rankings below follow the official policy of the Nelson Institute’s NIPP 6.05:

1. Evidence of training and mentoring students for interdisciplinary study, research, or practice.
2. Primary responsibility for teaching one or more interdisciplinary courses and evidence of integrating pedagogy that is well-adapted to interdisciplinary learning.
3. Evidence of effective teaching based on instructional evaluation.

In addition, these criteria include related contributions to the Nelson Institute’s mission and vision, as well as the undergraduate and graduate programs of the Institute and campus at large. Specific criteria and metrics below are clarified by campus policy, following the document of the Office of the Provost (“Campus guidelines for the placement of instructional academic staff into Teaching Professor roles” [April 2020]), section H.3.B-E.

1. Assistant Teaching Professors should demonstrate the criteria below:

1. Evidence of training and mentoring for interdisciplinary study, research, or practice.
   1. Experience in assessing student performance and supporting student success.
   2. Demonstrated ability, if not experience, in the supervision of student employees delivering instruction, when appropriate.
2. Primary responsibility for teaching one or more interdisciplinary courses and evidence of integrating pedagogy that is well-adapted to interdisciplinary learning.
   1. Demonstrated experience in creating and designing courses in the field of expertise.
3. Evidence of effective teaching or potential.
   1. An impressive emerging record of teaching, and evidence of successful management and completion of teaching-related activities.
   2. Strong potential for development as an outstanding teacher through, and demonstrated interest in, the scholarship of teaching and learning and in pedagogy.
4. Contribution to the Nelson Institute’s mission and vision.
   1. Demonstrated ability in collaborating with faculty and staff in the development of teaching strategies.
   2. A willingness to support the overall instructional mission of the Nelson Institute and its undergraduate and graduate programs.

2. Associate Teaching Professors should demonstrate the criteria that follow:

1. Evidence of training and mentoring students for interdisciplinary study, research, or practice.
   1. Demonstrated experience – beyond that of assistant teaching professor – in successful supervision of student employees, when relevant, and supporting student success.
   2. Demonstrated excellence in the supervision of student employees delivering instruction, when appropriate.
2. Primary responsibility for teaching one or more interdisciplinary courses and evidence of integrating pedagogy that is well-adapted to interdisciplinary learning.
   1. Excellence in collaboration with faculty and staff in the development of teaching strategies, including participation in department, unit, or campus level faculty/staff instructional development activities/programs.
   2. Demonstrated record of consuming, implementing and/or producing creative activity or scholarship in teaching and learning.
   3. Demonstrated experience in independently creating and designing courses in the field of expertise.
3. Evidence of effective teaching based on instructional evaluation.
   1. An impressive, sustained record of excellent teaching, as evidenced by student and peer evaluation; departmental recognition through awards or other marks of achievement.
4. Contribution to the Nelson Institute’s mission and vision and academic programs and partners
   1. Demonstrated instructional contributions to the Nelson Institute and its graduate and undergraduate programs, campus, and/or broader disciplines of Environmental Studies and Sustainability.
   2. Demonstrated experience in creating courses and contributing to the overall curricular mission of the Nelson Institute and its undergraduate and graduate programs.

3. Full Teaching Professors should demonstrate the criteria that follow:

1. Evidence of training and mentoring students for interdisciplinary study, research, or practice.
   1. Demonstrated and recognized outstanding achievement in the successful supervision of student employees delivering instruction, when relevant.
   2. Demonstrated and recognized outstanding achievement in supporting student success.
2. Primary responsibility for teaching one or more interdisciplinary courses and evidence of integrating pedagogy that is well-adapted to interdisciplinary learning.
   1. Leadership in collaboration with faculty and staff in the development of teaching strategies, including designing, organizing, and/or leading department, unit, or campus-level faculty/staff instructional development programs.
3. Evidence of effective teaching based on instructional evaluation.
   1. An impressive and sustained record of outstanding teaching, as evidenced by student and peer evaluation; departmental, school/college, and national/international recognition through awards and other marks of achievement such as producing scholarship/creative activity in teaching and learning.
4. Contribution to the Nelson Institute’s mission and vision, academic and campus programs, and partners.
   1. Representation of the unit on college or campus committees in support of the university’s instructional mission.
   2. Demonstrated instructional contributions to the Nelson Institute and its graduate and undergraduate programs, campus, and/or broader disciplines of Environmental Studies and Sustainability.
   3. Leadership in the creation of courses and in contributions to the overall curricular mission of the Nelson Institute and its undergraduate and graduate programs

Related resources:

NIPP Chapter 6: Personnel Policies

Campus guidelines for the placement of instructional academic staff into Teaching Professor roles [April 2020]