Promotion & Tenure

Promotion & Tenure New Faculty Workshop December 7, 2012

Purpose of Workshop • Reduce stress • Understand the process • Plot-out your strategy

Rationale • Having a great faculty is the key to having a great university • We try to develop that great faculty • Retention of faculty through promotion and tenure is the pathway

The Investment • You were hired to be successful. • MTSU has a big investment in you. • Time, money and energy recruiting • Start up funds • Mentoring

P & T Policies • TBR • Policy: 5:02:03:60 (Tenure) • Policy: 5:02:02:20 (Promotion) • MTSU • II:01:05B (Tenure) • II:01:05A (Promotion) • Department • All TBR and MTSU P & T policies are in the Faculty Handbook

Probationary Review • Annual evaluations • Third Year: • Midpoint corrections • Critical juncture • You should know where you stand in all three areas

When Can I Be a Candidate? • To Associate Professor: • At beginning of your 6th year (fulfill five complete years in rank). • To Professor: • After completion of 10 years in combined ranks, 4 years as an associate professor (i.e., at beginning of your 5th year) • Application of past service credit upon being hired

To Associate • Promotion to the rank of Associate Professor is based upon both demonstrated performance and potential • What have you accomplished since being hired?

To Professor • Promotion to the rank of Professor is based upon having achieved professional and scholarly distinction. • Evidence of outstanding teaching, significant scholarship and professional growth, service • What have you accomplished since last promotion? • Concept of identity as a scholar

Threshold Concept Scholarship Service Teaching

Review Process • Spring announcement of upcoming calendar • In the Fall: • Preparation of Candidate Information • Review by Dept., Chair, College, Dean • Review by Vice Provost • Winter-Spring: • Review by Provost • Review by President • Submission to TBR • Approval by TBR

Teaching • Primary variable • Narrative statement by candidate on teaching philosophy • Student evaluations • Optional peer evaluations

Teaching • Exceptional teachers will: • Show command of their subject, • Be creative and imaginative, • Be enthusiastic, • Promote critical thinking, • Stimulate their students to improved performance, • Engage in and use research, and • Be outstanding communicators

Scholarship/Creative Activity • Focused approach to scholarship identity • Continuous growth through time • Trends from local to regional to national and beyond • Articles, Monographs, Paper Presentations, Creative Works, Funded Research • No magic numbers

Service • Continuous service • Departmental, College, University, Professional Organizations

Mentoring • Some departments assign mentors • Seek one out-does not need to be from your department • Consult your Chair and Dean

Promotion Exception Rule • Rarely allowed • Often hinges on exceptional scholarship record • Not been granted recently

Appeals • Related to any alleged error in the review process leading to a negative recommendation • Violation of academic freedom • Violation of TBR or University policies • Violation of EEO • Formation of Appeals Committee

Tenure • To be eligible for tenure, must hold rank position • Five years in rank minimal probationary period • Credit for prior service (max. 3 years) • Stopping tenure clock (1 year) • Consideration of teaching, scholarship, service • Termination of Tenure Policy

Myth 1 • Tenure is a right. I will receive tenure if I do a reasonable job. • Tenure is a long-term commitment for the University. • The University expects better than average performance

Myth 2 • Getting tenure is tough. Most faculty will not receive tenure. • Faculty are hired on the assumption that they will receive tenure. • Approximately 90% of those who come up for tenure and/or promotion receive it. • Some faculty members leave the University before standing for tenure.

Myth 3 • Only research and grant funding count. • Performance in teaching, scholarship, and service all count. • The exact factors and their weights vary by department. • Learn about your department.

Myth 4 • I’ll get tenure/promotion if I have x papers. • Teaching and service count • Quality counts • Level of contribution counts • Other factors contribute to scholarship (e.g., grant funding) • No magic numbers!

Myth 5 • If Professor X got tenure/promotion, I’ll get tenure/promotion. • Cases are judged on their merits relative to standards, not in comparison to others. • You may not know everything about Professor X. • Standards change over time.

Possible Policy Changes • Linking Tenure & Promotion • Required peer teaching evaluation • External analysis of scholarship

Conclusions • Stay focused: craft an identity for yourself • Demonstrate continuous growth • Take to heart annual evaluations • What have you accomplished since being hired or last promotion? • Seek advice • Request peer teaching evaluation • Know the guidelines/policies • Approximately 85% of candidates successful annually for promotion

Promotion & Tenure