UCLA Office of the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs & Personnel

DATE:  August 5, 2025
FROM:  Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs & Personnel Michael S. Levine

RE:  Acceleration Requests 

Dear Deans:

As we move ahead with academic reviews for AY 25/26, I am writing to ask for your assistance with all acceleration requests. As noted in The CALL, accelerations require “evidence of exceptional achievement” which must be clearly articulated in the dossier. CAP Guidance is even more specific, stating that “the review process should focus on a detailed justification for the acceleration.” 

Effective immediately, a request for acceleration must include a stand-alone document (no more than one–two paragraphs) providing a strong justification for the acceleration that clearly identifies the evidence of exceptional achievement. Any dossier submitted to the Academic Affairs and Personnel Office (AAPO) that is missing the aforementioned document will be returned to the Dean’s office. Note this applies to accelerations that are both within rank (step only) and accelerations that include a promotion (from assistant to associate II or higher and associate to professor II or higher).

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We hope the inclusion of this document will strengthen the review process and highlight the extraordinary accomplishments of our faculty.

Please share this information also with your department chairs as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Michael S. Levine
Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs & Personnel