School of Aquaculture & Aquatic Sciences Unit Tenure & Promotion Committee
To: University Tenure and Promotion Committee Kentucky State University
Dear Committee Members,
The School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences Unit Tenure and Promotion Committee carefully reviewed the dossier of Dr. Kenneth J. Semmens who has applied for tenure and promotion to the rank of Associate Professor. The Committee reviewed his dossier according to University policies and procedures contained in Sections 2.6-2.7 and Appendix K of the Faculty Handbook.
Dr. Kenneth Semmens has a Ph.D. in Fisheries, which is an appropriate terminal degree for the School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences in which he teaches and performs other activities. Dr. Semmens’s approximate appointment is 75% research and 25% teaching. Dr. Kenneth Semmens has been employed by Kentucky State University from April 2015 and has held a tenure-track Assistant Professor position. Thus, Dr. Kenneth Semmens has acquired five years of full-time experience in research and teaching, which satisfies the requirement for promotion to the position of Associate Professor as stated in Appendix K of the KSU Faculty Handbook. Dr. Semmens has had long-term aquaculture extension and research experience before coming to KSU. In the period 1999-2015 Dr. Semmens was employed by West Virginia University as an Extension Clinical Professor/Extension Specialist.
Dr. Kenneth Semmens’ dossier contains strong evidence of his high teaching effectiveness. Dr. Semmens regularly teaches Fish Morphology and Physiology (AQU 412 and AQU 512) courses and co-teaches Fish Reproduction Lab (AQU 428 and AQU 528) courses for undergraduate and graduate students. Dr. Semmens has developed and regularly teaches a School of Aquaculture dual-credit course: Fisheries for an Educated Consumer (AQU 201) for KSU undergraduate and high school students. This course provides a general understanding of fisheries for students unfamiliar with the discipline and increases visibility of KSU among high