Instructional need is determined first. Once instructional need has been determined, the process for consideration of excellence begins. See Article 7-b, section B, C, D and E.

Instructional Need must include an ongoing need (of at least one academic year), for courses to be taught in the department in which the NSF under consideration has the expertise to teach. Although the determination of instructional need may be made at any time prior to the commencement of the seventh year of service, normally, the University will conduct the needs assessment prior to the end of the academic year during which the NSF completes their 10th semester or 15th quarter of service in order to facilitate completion of the excellence review.