Probation Process

Purpose

UCL has a structured probationary period for all new employees to welcome them to UCL and introduce them to the main duties and responsibilities of their post.  It is a requirement of successful completion of probation for all new staff to complete UCL’s mandatory training programme.

In the case of staff undertaking teaching, the probation process supports a structured training programme for the role within the probationary period.

Objective Setting

It is the responsibility of the line manager to set achievable objectives for the probationary period (see Guidance for setting objectives)

Probation Period

The length of an employee’s probationary period is defined by their job role/grade as follows:

*A minimum of 3 years’ experience of teaching within Higher Education (full time equivalent).

**Proleptic Fellows are treated the same as academic staff for probation purposes, as they will become lecturers at the end of the Fellowship.

Teaching Qualifications (for inexperienced Lecturers and Proleptic Fellows)

Lecturers, Associate Lecturers (Teaching)/ Lecturers (Teaching), and Proleptic Fellows who have little or no experience of teaching in higher education prior to joining UCL, but who teach as part of their role, are expected to complete UCL Arena Two and achieve Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy within their probationary period. Further information is contained in Appendix C

Meetings

In addition to regular one-to-one meetings, 3 formal probationary meetings are to be held at the following intervals:

• First meeting: At the end of the first month of employment.

• Second meeting: At the mid-point of the probationary period (month 3/4/6/12/18). or, for Inexperienced Lecturers, during the 12th month of the probationary period.

• Third Meeting (Inexperienced Lecturers only): End of second year

• Final meeting: At least 4 weeks before the date on which the probationary period ends

The GEE Centre Assistant / Departmental EA will remind line managers when probationary meetings are due.

Probationary requirements for staff with teaching in their role

1. All new staff with educational responsibilities will come to one of the two annual Education Strategy Introduction sessions, hosted by Professor Kathy Armour, Vice-Provost (Education and Student Experience) and other senior colleagues.
2. Lecturers and Associate Lecturers on probation are required to complete the Arena for Lecturers on Probation (ALP). ALP is an 8 session, in-person course. They can sign up for ALP here or find out if they are exempt. If they are exempt from ALP, they must apply for exemption.
3. Experienced staff who are exempt from ALP have the opportunity to take part in bespoke training that will support them in their educational roles. If they have enough experience, they can also apply for the AdvanceHE Senior Fellowship.
4. Obtaining AdvanceHE Fellowship is a probationary requirement.
5. HoDs can allow probation to be completed successfully without the probationer having obtained AdvanceHE Fellowship if the person did not undertake enough teaching to obtain the recognition. In this instance, the HoD will create a plan to support the probationer to obtain Fellowship as soon as possible (normally within a year). 

Successful Completion of Probation

Following successful completion of the probationary period an employee will be managed through one-to-one meetings, will be set new or continuing objectives, and be annually appraised.

New objectives should be set (and recorded) with reference to:

• UCL Academic Career Framework (in the case of Research Staff) and

• UCL’s Ways of Working (in the case of Research Technicians and Professional Services Staff)

Completed forms will be signed off by your Centre Director and logged on MyHR by your Centre Assistant.

Further information:

• UCL Probation Policy
• Probation Form