The Tenure Clock:The Tenure Clock:Top Ten TipsTop Ten Tips

Cary HorvathCary Horvath

1. Start your portfolio today 1. Start your portfolio today (priority #1).(priority #1).

Work diligently on all three Work diligently on all three sections: teaching, scholarship, sections: teaching, scholarship, and serviceand service

Write down everything you do Write down everything you do and update your vita regularlyand update your vita regularly

2. Take evals seriously.2. Take evals seriously.

Consider student concernsConsider student concerns Listen to your peers, chair, and Listen to your peers, chair, and

dean; talk with them about your dean; talk with them about your progressprogress

Be open-mindedBe open-minded Seek and demonstrate constant Seek and demonstrate constant

improvement, innovationimprovement, innovation

3. Love your students.3. Love your students.

Think of them as friends, or your Think of them as friends, or your own childrenown children

Think of yourself as their Think of yourself as their caretakercaretaker

4. Love your colleagues.4. Love your colleagues.

Think "we" not “me”Think "we" not “me” Socialize outside the office; get Socialize outside the office; get

to know colleagues as peopleto know colleagues as people Colleagues go beyond the Colleagues go beyond the

department department

5. Find mentors.5. Find mentors.

Relationships characterized by Relationships characterized by mutual help and friendship are mutual help and friendship are idealideal

Seek senior, as well as peer Seek senior, as well as peer mentors/confidants mentors/confidants

6. Say yes.6. Say yes.

CommitteesCommittees Special projectsSpecial projects Leadership opportunities on Leadership opportunities on

campus and beyond (e.g., campus and beyond (e.g., professional orgs.) professional orgs.)

7. Be positive.7. Be positive.

About your peers, dept, school, About your peers, dept, school, and YSU!and YSU!

Avoid negative gossip, refuse to Avoid negative gossip, refuse to engage the rumor millengage the rumor mill

Try to keep your private Try to keep your private problems privateproblems private

8. Be ethical.8. Be ethical.

Follow policiesFollow policies Grade fairly, transparentlyGrade fairly, transparently Engage in honest Engage in honest

communicationcommunication The golden rule still rulesThe golden rule still rules

9. Network always, 9. Network always, everywhere.everywhere.

A wide, varied, and positive A wide, varied, and positive social web is idealsocial web is ideal

The world is very smallThe world is very small

10. Preserve leisure time.10. Preserve leisure time.

Find some regularly scheduled Find some regularly scheduled time to relax with friends and time to relax with friends and familyfamily

Avoid the working vacation and Avoid the working vacation and email jailemail jail