These are interim guidelines. These guidelines are to be used in addition to the policies, procedures, and exhibits provided in the Academic Personnel Manual (APM) and APM-UCD.

Principles for Advancement

All Specialists in Cooperative Extension are eligible for advancement review at normative time for their rank and step determined by system-wide policy. In formulating criteria for recommending greater than 1.0-step advancements, a balance has been sought between concreteness and flexibility. The criteria for advancement are clarified without specific quantitative assessments that understate or overstate the total contributions of candidates. The four areas of review are scholarly (especially applied research) and creative activity, extending knowledge and information, university and public service, and professional competency. University and public service duties are expected to increase as faculty advance in rank and step. In all cases, based on the candidate’s achievements, chairs and deans should articulate in the department and dean’s letters the grounds for advancement beyond simple numerical tabulations by describing the special impact or quality of the work or the scale and scope of the undertaking.

One-Step Advancement

A balanced record, appropriate for rank and step, with evidence of a meritorious record of accomplishments in all areas of review is rewarded with a 1.0-step advancement.

One and a Half-Step Advancement

A 1.5-step advancement requires not only a meritorious record in all of the areas of review, consistent with the candidate’s position description, but also outstanding achievement in at least one area. However, outstanding achievement in one area may not qualify the candidate for 1.5-step advancement if balanced performance is not achieved.

Two-Step Advancement

A 2.0-step advancement will require a meritorious record in all of the areas of review, with outstanding achievement in extending knowledge and information and in one additional area.

Advancement greater than Two Steps

An advancement greater than 2.0 steps will be extremely rare. These advancements will require an exceptionally meritorious and balanced record, highlighted by extraordinary levels of achievement in extending knowledge and information, as well as scholarly and creative activity, and outstanding contributions in either university and public service or professional competency.

Greater than One-Step Above-Scale Advancement

The criteria for merit increases are steep at this high rank. Advancements of more than one above-scale increment will require an exceptionally meritorious record of excellence in three areas of review, with outstanding achievement in scholarly and creative activity and extending knowledge and information, plus outstanding achievement in university and public service and professional competency.