Tenure: Myth and Reality

Tim Bralower, Penn State

Kurt Friehauf, Kutztown University of Pennsylvania

Role of Tenure

• Protection of Creative License

• Early Career Hurdle/Test Involving Ability to Contribute in Teaching/Research/Service

Myths

• You can Attain Tenure at a R1 University Even if you are a Lousy Teacher

• You can Attain Tenure at a 4-year College Without a Strong Research Portfolio

• The Process is Opaque

• The Faculty Member is a Hostage

Disclaimer from Kurt and Tim

• These Words of Wisdom Represent our own Experiences and by no Means the Rules and Regulations for every Field or Institution!

• Critical for you to find out those Rules and Regulations at the Institution you are Considering

Reality

• Your Role as a Junior Faculty Member is to Request Yearly Evaluations that Address your Progress with Respect to the Tenure Decision

• If you get such Evaluations, the Ball is in your Court

• If you cannot get such Evaluations, Tenure Surprises can Happen

Case Study: Penn State Tenure Process

• Six Year Decision

• Yearly Evaluation from Department P&T Committee and Department Head

• Second and Fourth Year Review by College Committee and Dean

• Very Structured File Materials

• Very Transparent Process

Penn State (R1) Expectations

• Excellence in Teaching (Curriculum Development, Quality Teaching Evaluations (Peer and Student), and Supervision of Graduate Students)

• Excellence in Research: Major Contributions to Field through Regular High-Quality Publication, Success at Funding and Recognition by External Reviewers

• Contributions to Service at Departmental and Professional Levels

Case Study: Kutztown University Tenure Process

• Five Year Decision• Annual review evaluations from department• Annual review evaluation is basis for

department rehire recommendation each year for first four years

• Unstructured File Materials (tenure narrative, course materials, student evaluations, publications, letters from external reviewers, other materials)

• Very Transparent Process

Kutztown Expectations (Undergraduate-only department in a

4-year university)

• Excellence in Teaching (Curriculum Development, Quality Teaching, Supervision of Research Students)

• Excellence in Research: Contribution to Field through Regular Publication and Recognition by External Reviewers

• Contributions to Service at Departmental and University/Professional Levels

Clock Stoppages and other Issues

• Birth/Adoption

• Major Illness

• Some possibilities (institution-specific)– Course Reduction first year (set up lab)– Junior-research leave– Course Reduction year before file goes in

Managing Stress

• Work Steadily/Productively

• Cut out Non-Productive Endeavors

• Maintain Balance

• Use Campus Resources if Necessary

Departing Words of Wisdom

• Know the Tenure System Before you Accept a Job Offer

• Make Sure you Know the Metrics and the Expectations

• Talk to Other Faculty Often• Talk to your Unit Leader AT LEAST Once a Year• Listen to what you hear • EXPECT Written Reviews Once a Year