This page provides guidance and support for the process of the promotion of Academic Professional (AP) staff within the University Library.
Academic Professionals who are interested in seeking promotion under the AP Promotion Program should submit their self-nominations by 5PM Monday, July 8, 2024, at https://forms.illinois.edu/sec/19005201.
Supervisors may upload optional letters of support at: https://go.library.illinois.edu/APletters. Letters should be submitted before the candidate self-nomination periods ends at 5PM Monday, July 8, 2024.
Opportunities for information and to ask questions:
- Tue, May 14, 9:30AM-10:00AM: Information Session (virtual, see LibNews for Zoom link, will be recorded)
- Thu, May 23, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Office Hours in 323C Main
- Mon, June 10, 11:00AM-12:00PM: Office Hours (virtual, see LibNews for Zoom link)
- Mon, June 24, 2:00PM- 3:00 PM: Office Hours (virtual, see LibNews for Zoom link)
- Contact Susan Breakenridge (susanb3@illinois.edu), Jake MacGregor (jdmac@illinois.edu), or members of the AP Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee
About the AP Promotion Program
This program aims to provide a path for career advancement for Academic Professionals in all permanent positions in the Library. The principles that guide this framework include:
- Create a well-defined promotional path for Academic Professionals to improve talent development, succession planning, and employee retention at the Library
- Recognize the incremental development of academic professional skills and experience as part of a cohesive framework for professional advancement in the organization
- Provide promotional opportunities that can be recognized by other campus units and institutions
- Demonstrate an organizational commitment to the ongoing stewardship of the professional advancement processes for academic professionals.
The program is run annually and the AP promotional process begins with the individual APs themselves – it is a self-nominating promotional process and APs may choose if and when to seek promotion.
For more details, see the AP Promotion Program Description (2024). Please note that, as a newer program, it is still under development. For questions, contact the Assistant Dean for Business and Human Resources, Susan Breakenridge (susanb3@illinois.edu).
Promotion Eligibility & Criteria
Eligibility
To be eligible for promotion under this program, one must be
- An Academic Professional in a permanent (non-visiting) role. Visiting Academic Professionals are not eligible for promotion; however, their time in the Library counts toward professional experience if the visiting position becomes permanent.
- Have a minimum of two consecutive full years of annual performance reviews in good standing
- Have an initial rank established
- Not be currently serving on the AP Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee, which reviews promotion applications
It is expected that the standard timeline for promotion requests would be a minimum of three years between promotions from assistant to associate and associate to senior associate. A minimum of five years is anticipated for promotion from senior associate to senior. However, all promotion candidates are reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine promotion readiness. Note that promotions must follow the promotional rank pathway and may not skip a level.
Promotion Criteria
This program is intended to recognize sustained excellent performance and accomplishments in an Academic Professional’s area of expertise and professional assignment over the course of their career. As such, in addition to the eligibility requirement of two consecutive full years of annual performance reviews in good standing, the promotion review comprises four criteria:
- Overall Experience
- Professional Service
- Professional Knowledge
- Institutional Leadership or Contribution
The breadth and depth of each of these four criteria increases with rank.
For a full description of each rank’s corresponding criteria, see the AP Promotion Criteria Table.
Review Committee
The Academic Professional Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee comprises three elected Library APs (preferably in Senior or Senior Associate ranks) and two AULs or Directors. The committee reviews applications submitted by Academic Professionals annually and provides their recommendations to the University Librarian.
All committee members will follow practices that ensure notes, evaluations, correspondence, and conversations are kept confidential. Committee members will strive at all times to be fair, professional, and unbiased in assessments.
To see the current Review Committee membership, visit the Academic Professional Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee page.
Promotional Process Calendar
| Annual Date | Procedural Phase | Persons/Groups Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Mid May | Call for interested APs to consider submission of materials for current annual promotion review cycle | AP Promotional Review Committee |
| Early July | Self-nominations and optional letters of support due | APs |
| Late September | Committee completes review & submits recommendations | AP Promotional Review Committee |
| Early October | Dean reviews & makes promotion decisions | University Librarian and Dean of Libraries |
| Late October | Candidate notifications and appeal window | APs, Library BHRSC |
| Early December | Library submits promotions for campus-level review | Supervisors, Library BHRSC, Illinois HR, Office for Access & Equity, Office of the Provost |
| Mid February | Promotions effective & announced to the Library | Library BHRSC |
AP Promotion Process & Documents
The self-nomination process will ask that the interested Academic Professionals submit a current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) as well as a promotional statement in support of their requested consideration for promotion. Submitted promotional statements and resume/CV will be used as the basis for the review.
Office Hours
Members of the Academic Professional Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee and the Business & Human Resources Service Center typically provide three virtual office hours during the application period. Office hours are open to Office hours are open to APs interested in learning more about the promotion process & developing self-nomination statements, as well as supervisors of APs seeking guidance on optional letters of support. Reminders about office hours and the Zoom link are sent to LibNews in advance. Any changes to the office hours’ date or time is also shared through LibNews.
Planned Office Hours for the 2024-2025 Program:
- Thu, May 23, 2:00PM-3:00PM: Office Hours in 323C Main
- Mon, June 10, 11:00AM-12:00PM: Office Hours (virtual, see LibNews for Zoom link)
- Mon, June 24, 2:00PM- 3:00 PM: Office Hours (virtual, see LibNews for Zoom link)
Resources for Professional Development Support
- Library Investigation Time Policy Investigation Time is the continued development of skills and knowledge of Academic Professional (AP) employees in a fashion that recognizes their specialized backgrounds. Full-time APs regardless of their official title should be investigating areas of interest to them, even if those investigations are not directly in support of an immediate programmatic need. A few examples of the things APs might pursue are taking online courses, tutorials, webinars, on a relevant topic; analyzing information in different ways; learning a (new) programming language, or more advanced techniques; learning about or practicing different research methods; creating a new software application; finding a career mentor (within the library or elsewhere on campus); learning about project management or other aspects of management; and writing a paper intended for publication. https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/humanresources/human/resources/guidelines-for-investigation-time/
- Library Research and Publications Committee The Library Research and Publication Committee is a standing committee of the Library Faculty and Academic Professionals established to encourage research and publication among Library Professionals by providing monetary support; bringing alternate sources of funding to the attention of Library Professionals; stimulating interest in and discussion of research ideas and methodologies; providing practical criticism of and support for research projects; and advancing Library research and publications within the University community. The Committee reviews and approves or disapproves funding requests for student wages, graduate hourlies, travel to other research collections, photocopying, manuscript preparation, data analysis, the creation of illustrations, editing for non-native English speakers, etc. The Committee sponsors occasional brown-bag series that focus on library research. https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/research-and-publication-committee/
- Library Committee of Academic and Civil Service Professionals (LCP) LCP is charged with liaising with library administration, faculty, and staff to ensure the representation and inclusion of the AP voice in decisions and projects that impact the University Library. LCP members, or representatives, are appointed as liaisons to update and voice AP matters with EC, AC, LSSC, CAP (Council of Academic Professionals) and with other relevant task-forces or committees as deemed necessary; supporting APs through representation, regular communication about library affairs, and advocacy for professional development opportunities; advising administration on current and future promotional considerations for APs, including performance metrics and reviews; and ensuring that Library APs are nominated and represented in campus-wide activities. https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/committee/library-committee-of-academic-and-civil-service-professionals-lcp/
- University Council of Academic Professionals (CAP) CAP is an elected assembly serving the interests of full-time, part-time, and retired academic professionals at Illinois. It provides direct and concerted communication between academic professional staff and administrative officers of the University. http://cap.illinois.edu/
- Academic Professional Development Fund The Academic Professional Development Fund (APDF) provides a source of funds for academic professional staff members (permanent/non-visiting) with at least 50% appointments, to take advantage of professional development opportunities. The Office of the Provost provides up to $50,000 per year in APDF awards. https://specialprograms.research.illinois.edu/Default.aspx
Resume and Statement Support
- Sample Self-Nomination Statements
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement B – Associate to Senior Associate
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement C – Assistant to Associate
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement E – Senior Associate to Senior
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement F – Assistant to Associate
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement G – Assistant to Associate
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement H – Senior Associate to Senior
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement J – Senior Associate to Senior (new)
- Sample Self-Nomination Statement L – Assistant to Associate (new)
- Sample Letters of Support from Supervisors
- Suggested guidance for developing resume/CV
FAQ
This list will be expanded with additional frequently asked questions as we receive them.
Question: If there is a 3 to 5 year minimum time frame for promotion, does that mean I’m ineligible if I more recently received my initial rank?
Answer: No, this time frame applies to the time between promotions, not the time between having your initial rank established and a promotion. As part of entering into the program, all Academic Professionals need to have an initial rank established that reflects where they are currently in their career. Sometimes an Academic Professional is close to the next promotion rank when their initial rank is established and should be able to apply for promotion at the next, appropriate opportunity. For questions about your eligibility, please attend office hours or contact Susan Breakenridge at susanb3@illinois.edu.
Question: Will I be reclassified to a Civil Service position if I get promoted?
Answer: A small number of Library APs (essentially those in IT, HR, and Business) could be reclassified if they obtain promotion under the new campus-level review process. However, these employees would be reclassified at some point through the functional audits that are being conducted.
Question: Are Civil Service Professionals eligible for the AP Promotion Program?
Answer: Civil Service employees are not eligible for the AP Promotion Program under its current implementation, which includes campus-level review based on Academic Professional employment practices and policies. As of Fall 2023, the Library has begun a pilot promotion process for Civil Service Professionals. For more information, contact Susan Breakenridge at susanb3@illinois.edu.
Question: How can I find out about changes to the upcoming program?
Answer: Information about the upcoming promotion cycle will be shared at the virtual Information Session from 9:30-10:00AM on Tuesday, May 14. This session will be recorded and made available for those unable to attend. We strongly encourage you to attend office hours (posted above) or contact Susan Breakenridge (susanb3@illinois.edu), Jake MacGregor (jdmac@illinois.edu) or any member of the AP Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee with questions.
Question: Will there be office hours where I can ask about the AP Promotion Program?
Answer: Yes, office hours are provided throughout the self-nomination period and announced via LibNews. Please scroll up to see the office hours set for this year’s cycle.
Question: Are candidates required to have a letter of support from their supervisor?
Answer: No, a letter of support is not required. However, if you are able to provide one, it would help strengthen your case.
Question: How do I submit a letter of support from my supervisor?
Answer: Supervisors can upload letters of support at https://go.library.illinois.edu/APletters before the end of the candidate self-nomination period.
Question: Can I have more than one letter of support? And what if it is from someone outside U of I?
Answer: Yes, you have more than one optional letter of support (but the committee requests that you limit to no more than three letters of support, total). Any person with a NetID and password can upload a letter at https://go.library.illinois.edu/APletters. Those who are external to campus can email their letter to Jake MacGregor (jdmac@illinois.edu).
Question: I perform work for more than one unit or individual. Which person would be considered my supervisor?
Answer: For the purposes of clarity, the AP Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee defines the supervisor as the person who writes the AP’s annual performance evaluation. If the AP has had a recent change in supervisor, they should reach out to the co-chairs of the AP Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee for guidance on how to handle the optional but recommended letter of support from the supervisor or similar concerns.
Question: I recently changed supervisors. Would it be better to get a letter of support from my former supervisor or my new supervisor?
Answer: If the AP has had a recent change in supervisor, they should reach out to the co-chairs of the AP Peer Review Promotion Advisory Committee for guidance on how to handle the optional but recommended letter of support from the supervisor or similar concerns.
Questions: Who can I contact for questions about this program?
Answer: Please contact the Assistant Dean for Business and Human Resources, Susan Breakenridge (susanb3@illinois.edu) or the program coordinator, Jake MacGregor (jdmac@illinois.edu).