Academic Affairs Faculty

Academic Affairs Faculty (AAF) provides an academic home for MUSC faculty who contribute to the education, research, clinical, and service missions of the university in a way that spans colleges. The Academic Affairs Faculty is a collection of scholars that establishes governance procedures in the realms of appointment, promotion, and tenure, among others. AAF assures representation of the voice and needs of its faculty in all university matters. Its chair provides leadership in these activities and assures administrative support for AAF functions.

Learn about our Academic Affairs Faculty

Academic Affairs Faculty members serve in education, research, clinical and technical units across the MUSC Enterprise. Below are the centers and offices served by these dedicated scholars. Each faculty member is nested below within the department/division/office of their primary responsibility.

Academic Affairs Faculty Policies

Put most simply, promotion in academic rank is an acknowledgement of the contributions members of the faculty have made to their niche within AAF, MUSC, and to their discipline. Tenure is the recognition of substantial contributions as well as a marker of long-term mutual commitment between a faculty member, AAF, and MUSC. Promotion and tenure are vital elements of academic progression, serving as both motivation and acknowledgement for persistent, high quality work.

The core advice for members of the faculty seeking promotion or tenure is to consult well in advance with their immediate supervisor. Upon that person’s recommendation, meet with the AAF Department Chair in order to discuss the necessary steps to take to give the candidate the best chance of success. For promotion or tenure, candidates must create a dossier whose contents are described in the Guidelines. This dossier is the critical means through which the Academic Affairs Faculty and University-level committees and decision makers will make their assessments. Please carefully review the expected dossier contents and the “checklist” provided in the guidelines.

Critically, a cover letter from the candidate serves as the primary articulation of a case in support of promotion or tenure. Take time with this letter to be sure that you explain the ways in which you meet the criteria for the rank sought. Moreover, because the AAF faculty includes such a wide range of roles and disciplines, it is critical that the cover letter and dossier convey clearly and persuasively both the nature and the quality of the candidate’s contributions to unit, AAF, MUSC, and the discipline or area of practice.