The MAGIC Center is not an academic entity, and as such holds no policy of its own on tenure and promotion. However, since the center is home to faculty scholarship in numerous contexts, and because it is intertwined in the evaluation process for faculty that are engaged in activities in the center, it is important that the expectations of the center are clearly defined and articulated. Most of this is negotiated through the plan-of-work process for affiliated faculty.
The evolution of tenure and promotion policies, and their impact and support of faculty work in digital media, is a key component to the success of the center. In 2009, Director Phelps, then acting as Direcctor of the School of Interactive Games & Media, authored a whitepaper on the subject. The thinking in that paper, and in the materials referenced, led to numerous discussions and meetings.
In 2013, at the request of the President and through collaboration between the Provost, the Dean, and the senior faculty of the School of Interactive Games & Media, and Director Phelps, the school formed a new Tenure & Promotion Guidelines document that was signed by these constituencies. This document represents a revised and considered view of faculty responsibilities in support of the goals of IGM, GCCIS, and the Center. It is our sincere hope that these guidelines will act not only as sound policy for the School, but to broaden the discussion in other parts of RIT and throughout academia.