Narrative
Share the story of your academic journey.
The narrative portion of the promotion and tenure documents is your opportunity to provide quantitative and qualitative information about your academic accomplishments. It is not meant to reiterate your CV, but to highlight significant aspects of your career development and the impact you've had at UNMC and beyond.
Remember, narrative requirements will vary by college. Be sure to read your college guidelines before you start writing.
TIP: Sometimes you can multipurpose your accomplishments in multiple sections of the narrative. Just be sure to explain how it is related to the specific requirements for that area.
Sections
Most likely, the narrative consists of three to four sections, and you are allowed up to TWO PAGES per section.
The teaching portion of the narrative is where you describe the extent and general nature of your teaching experience. This includes:
- Information about the value of and contributions to student educational experiences
- Descriptions of materials and techniques that demonstrate innovative approaches to teaching
- Examples of formal mentoring to fellow faculty, staff or students.
In the teaching section, many people include a teaching philosophy. This should be a personal statement of what guides your teaching specifically. If you contribute to education in a unique way, help the reader to understand your role. Learn how to write your teaching philosophy.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Collaborative research
- Teaching or service contributions
- Interprofessional collaborations
- Synthesis of new ideas
- Writing of textbooks or quality of care documents
- Enduring e-learning materials
The summary should highlight those accomplishments that you believe are most noteworthy and of lasting value.
This is where you explain key accomplishments related to:
- Formal mentoring of junior faculty
- Leadership positions in local, state, or national professional associations
- Committee work
- Service on editorial boards or manuscript reviewing
- Invited professional lectureships
- Relevant public service or community outreach, such as shadowing or the High School Alliance
Not all college's require a narrative about patient care. If yours does, this is where you document the quality and productivity of your activities, whether they are through direct contact with patients or indirect care such as specialized tests, procedural or other professional work.
Be sure to outline the extent of your patient care responsibilities, including monitoring students in the clinic.