The Road To Success as a Faculty Member Frances K. McSweeney Regents Professor Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs

Themes Having a world-class faculty is the key to having a world-class university Having a world-class faculty is the key to having a world-class university We try to develop that world-class faculty. We try to develop that world-class faculty.

Themes (continued) You were hired to be successful. You were hired to be successful. Your department has a big investment in you. Your department has a big investment in you. Time, money and energy recruitingTime, money and energy recruiting Start up fundsStart up funds MentoringMentoring

Examples of Faculty Policies Stopping the tenure clock Stopping the tenure clock Modified duties Modified duties Reasonable Accommodation Reasonable Accommodation Partner Accommodation Partner Accommodation Professional leaves Professional leaves Phased retirement Phased retirementFaculty.wsu.edu

Themes (continued) The faculty review process assists with faculty development The faculty review process assists with faculty development The process is detailed and thoughtful.The process is detailed and thoughtful. Tenure and promotion should follow logically from prior performance reviews - No surprisesTenure and promotion should follow logically from prior performance reviews - No surprises

Themes (continued) The probability of success is high. The probability of success is high. More than 90% of those who stand for tenure receive tenure, but 45% of those hired drop out before tenure.More than 90% of those who stand for tenure receive tenure, but 45% of those hired drop out before tenure.

The Bottom Line Know the procedures and standards for tenure and promotion in your department and college. Know the procedures and standards for tenure and promotion in your department and college. Dont obsess about it. Dont obsess about it.

Resources Faculty Manual – University web page Faculty Manual – University web page Provosts Instructions for Tenure and Promotion – Provosts web page Provosts Instructions for Tenure and Promotion – Provosts web page

More Resources Provosts Instructions for Annual Review – Provosts web page Provosts Instructions for Annual Review – Provosts web page A Guide to WSUs Policies and Procedures for Evaluating Faculty Members – Provosts web page A Guide to WSUs Policies and Procedures for Evaluating Faculty Members – Provosts web page Workshops on: Workshops on: performance reviews promotion to professor - Human Resource Services home page

Still More Resources Your department chair Your department chair Your mentors Your mentors or call (5-5581) me. or call (5-5581)

You Should Have: A mentor or mentors A mentor or mentors Date for: Date for: Intensive Pre- tenure ReviewIntensive Pre- tenure Review Tenure and Promotion ReviewTenure and Promotion Review

You Should Have (continued) Guidelines from department, college, and university. Guidelines from department, college, and university. Specific job responsibilities Specific job responsibilities If none, assume 40% teaching, 40% research & 20% service

Annual Review Conducted yearly for all faculty by the chair Conducted yearly for all faculty by the chair Performance during the last calendar year entered on WORQS Performance during the last calendar year entered on WORQS You can respond to your review You can respond to your review Used for raises Used for raises

Annual Review (continued) Rated on a 5-point scale Rated on a 5-point scale >3.0 = exceeds expectations 3.0 = meets expectations <3.0 = falls short of expectations

Progress Towards Tenure Review Yearly for pre-tenure faculty Yearly for pre-tenure faculty Differences from annual review Differences from annual review Cumulative performanceCumulative performance All senior faculty participateAll senior faculty participate Results must be discussed with youResults must be discussed with you

Intensive Pre-tenure (Third-year) Review Usually in spring of third year Usually in spring of third year Dry run for tenure - Same procedure except no external letters Dry run for tenure - Same procedure except no external letters

Third-year Review (Continued) Results in one of four evaluations: Results in one of four evaluations: Progress Satisfactory Some Improvement Required Substantial Improvement Required Unsatisfactory – Usually leads to non-renewal

Tenure and Promotion Very thorough Very thorough Usually after 6 years (really 5) Usually after 6 years (really 5) Same procedure is used for promotions Same procedure is used for promotions

Tenure and Promotion (continued) Decision should be consistent with prior reviews when possible. Decision should be consistent with prior reviews when possible. Exact procedures vary by college and department Exact procedures vary by college and department

Tenure and Promotion Procedures The faculty member assembles a file (May?) The faculty member assembles a file (May?) Curriculum vitaeCurriculum vitae Teaching portfolio (limited to 5 pages)Teaching portfolio (limited to 5 pages) Context statement (limited to 2 pages)Context statement (limited to 2 pages) ExhibitsExhibits

External Letters At least 4 external letters are solicited (summer?) At least 4 external letters are solicited (summer?) Optional for clinical track faculty (check department and college)Optional for clinical track faculty (check department and college) Candidate and chair suggest names Candidate and chair suggest names Writers are distinguished professors (e.g., editors). Writers are distinguished professors (e.g., editors). No personal relationship with the candidate.No personal relationship with the candidate.

Departmental Review (August – September?) The Department considers the file. The Department considers the file. Consults with the regional campus when appropriate. Consults with the regional campus when appropriate. The senior faculty recommends whether to grant or deny tenure. The senior faculty recommends whether to grant or deny tenure. The chair makes a recommendation and summarizes the case after consulting the branch campus official. The chair makes a recommendation and summarizes the case after consulting the branch campus official.

College Review (October) The Deans Advisory Committee makes a recommendation. The Deans Advisory Committee makes a recommendation. The Regional Campus Chancellor is consulted. The Regional Campus Chancellor is consulted. The Dean makes a recommendation and interprets the case for those outside of the college. The Dean makes a recommendation and interprets the case for those outside of the college. A recommendation that is inconsistent with the department must be explained.A recommendation that is inconsistent with the department must be explained.

The Provosts Review (November – January) The Provosts Advisory Committee makes a recommendation The Provosts Advisory Committee makes a recommendation Can disagree with the prior decisions, but rarely does. Can disagree with the prior decisions, but rarely does. Formal consideration ends. Formal consideration ends.

If Tenure and/or Promotion is Granted The candidate receives a letter and a 10% raise effective in the fall. The candidate receives a letter and a 10% raise effective in the fall. The candidate is recognized at the Celebration of Excellence Banquet at Showcase. The candidate is recognized at the Celebration of Excellence Banquet at Showcase.

If Tenure is Denied Resign within 90 days with no record of the denial and (usually) one more year at WSU. Resign within 90 days with no record of the denial and (usually) one more year at WSU. Appeal to the Faculty Status Committee (FSC) within 30 days. Appeal to the Faculty Status Committee (FSC) within 30 days. Inadequate considerationInadequate consideration Violations of academic freedomViolations of academic freedom Substantial procedural irregularitiesSubstantial procedural irregularities Not: Merits of the caseNot: Merits of the case

Standards for Tenure and Promotion Standards must be met in teaching, scholarship, and service. Standards must be met in teaching, scholarship, and service. Weight depends on job description Judgment of the senior faculty is important. Judgment of the senior faculty is important.

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

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

Tenure Myth Only research and grant funding count. 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.

Tenure Myth A majority vote leads to tenure. A majority vote leads to tenure. Tenure is based on many factors (e.g., external letters, summaries of dean and chair).Tenure is based on many factors (e.g., external letters, summaries of dean and chair). Faculty recommendations are advisory only.Faculty recommendations are advisory only. Thoughtful advice carries more weight. Thoughtful advice carries more weight. Some faculty members advice counts more than that of others. Some faculty members advice counts more than that of others.

Tenure Myth If one faculty member votes against me, I wont get tenure. If one faculty member votes against me, I wont get tenure. Negative recommendations may not be decisive.Negative recommendations may not be decisive. Many successful faculty members receive negative reviews.Many successful faculty members receive negative reviews.

Tenure Myth If youre well liked, youll receive tenure; if not, you wont. If youre well liked, youll receive tenure; if not, you wont. Academics tolerate eccentric behavior.Academics tolerate eccentric behavior. Tenure will not be granted if your behavior interferes with the functioning of your unit.Tenure will not be granted if your behavior interferes with the functioning of your unit. Faculty members who are well-liked may have an easier timeFaculty members who are well-liked may have an easier time

Tenure Myth Ill get tenure if I have x papers. Ill get tenure if I have x papers. Teaching and service count. Quality counts. Level of contribution counts. Other factors contribute to scholarship (e.g., grant funding).

Tenure Myth If Professor X got tenure, Ill get tenure. If Professor X got tenure, Ill get tenure. Cases are judged on their merits relative to standards, not in comparison to others.Cases are judged on their merits relative to standards, not in comparison to others. You may not know everything about Professor X.You may not know everything about Professor X. Standards change over time.Standards change over time.

Frequently Asked Questions Can the tenure clock be stopped? Can the tenure clock be stopped? Yes by giving birth (up to 2 years) by serious illness by family emergency by taking leave without pay All requests must be made to the Provost by September 1.

FAQS (continued) Is early promotion and/or tenure permitted? Is early promotion and/or tenure permitted? Performance must be exceptional, not just meet our standards.Performance must be exceptional, not just meet our standards. Only with the Provosts prior approvalOnly with the Provosts prior approval

FAQS (continued) Can excellence in one area mitigate lesser performance in another area? Can excellence in one area mitigate lesser performance in another area? Yes, but no tenure-track faculty member can omit one of the areas teaching, scholarship, and service.Yes, but no tenure-track faculty member can omit one of the areas teaching, scholarship, and service.

The End