Suggestions for preparing a statement of relevant circumstances - Academic Promotion

In support of the University's Global Equal Opportunity Policy, the Monash University Academic Promotion 2008 Procedures for Candidates provide an opportunity for candidates to include a brief statement of relevant circumstances in their application for promotion. Please refer to section 2.7 of the Academic Promotion 2008 Procedures for Candidates for further information.

The following is a suggested format and some examples to assist candidates in developing a statement of relevant circumstances. Please note that these are suggestions only and that candidates should tailor their statements to their own particular experiences and circumstances.

1. Identify and explain the relevant circumstances.

Relevant circumstances can include:

• family responsibilities (for example child rearing, elder-care, illness of a partner or dependent);
• a temporary or permanent disability;
• relevant cultural expectations or circumstances;
• conditions of employment including access to authorised leave;

• limited access to university resources and facilities;
• issues relating to geographical distance, including the impact of travel requirements;
• a lack of opportunity to consult and collaborate with academic colleagues; and
• working in a developing area with limited established research, teaching or supervision opportunities.

2. Provide details of the impact that the relevant circumstances have had on your career achievements and progression. Provide this information with particular reference to one or more of the three areas of academic activity. You may wish to compare your own career achievements to benchmark data, if this is available.

For example, if you have had periods of leave or worked part-time because of relevant circumstances, you could provide details of how this has had an impact on your opportunity to conduct research and publish at a rate similar to a full-time academic who has had no periods of leave. You may wish to provide a calculation of effective full-time years of work.

If you have worked full-time but your opportunity to achieve has been affected by relevant circumstances, provide details of the impact of the circumstances on your academic activities. For example, you may wish to demonstrate that the relevant circumstances have limited your opportunity to attend international conferences, supervise postgraduates or collaborate with colleagues. Provide details of the implications this has had for your career progression.

Candidates are reminded that it is in their best interests to provide a clear statement of what the relevant circumstances are and what impact they have had on their opportunity to achieve in any of the three areas of academic activity. Faculty and University Committees will be in a better position to make fair and valid judgements about each candidate's achievements if they are aware of the particular circumstances relevant to her or his career progression.