Abstract
A longitudinal study of one university was conducted retrospectively on the associations between two quantifiable indices of academic merit and advancement through the academic hierarchy. These data are the first longitudinal data to be presented on the careers of a group of Australian academics. The findings did not support the general model of success by merit. Nor did they support the hypotheses that senior academic women have lower formal qualifications or publish less than men of similar rank. If academic excellence is to be promoted in a systematic way, then a great deal more research into the phenomenon will be required.
