Getting off to a Great Start in a Faculty Career Pamela L. Eddy Arizona State University—West Campus November 16, 2006

Changing Faculty Roles What does it mean to be a faculty member? What does it mean to be a faculty member? What is the role of teaching, research, service? What is the role of teaching, research, service? What challenges await new faculty? What challenges await new faculty? How can graduate programs help prepare new faculty? How can graduate programs help prepare new faculty?

Faculty Data More Women (41% of new hires) More Women (41% of new hires) Increasing minorities (17 % of new hires) Increasing minorities (17 % of new hires) Longer to get first position (within 6 years of degree versus 2-3 for senior colleagues) Longer to get first position (within 6 years of degree versus 2-3 for senior colleagues) More in nontenure-eligible positions (33%) More in nontenure-eligible positions (33%) (Finkelstein, Seal, & Schuster, 1998)

Not Equal Women overrepresented in full-time, non tenure track Women overrepresented in full-time, non tenure track More women clustered in lowest faculty ranks More women clustered in lowest faculty ranks “Feminized” disciplines “Feminized” disciplines Women heavier teaching loads/more service Women heavier teaching loads/more service Difficulty in the sciences Difficulty in the sciences

Point of Reflection Describe what you think faculty work is about. Describe what you think faculty work is about. What examples have you seen? What examples have you seen? Have you witnessed a disconnect between what you think about faculty work and reality? Have you witnessed a disconnect between what you think about faculty work and reality? How have you begun to prepare for faculty life? How have you begun to prepare for faculty life?

Faculty Challenges Expectation to “hit the ground running” Expectation to “hit the ground running” Unclear expectations Unclear expectations Lack of time Lack of time Lack of collegiality Lack of collegiality Difficulty in work/life balance Difficulty in work/life balance

Addressing the Challenges Graduate school preparation Graduate school preparation Mentors—department chair, senior colleagues Mentors—department chair, senior colleagues Dedicated days for research/teaching Dedicated days for research/teaching Creating community; Doing what matters Creating community; Doing what matters

Research Tips Development of research agenda Development of research agenda Writing Groups Writing Groups Tara Gray’s 15 minute rule Tara Gray’s 15 minute rule Conference proposal presentation manuscript Conference proposal presentation manuscript

Teaching Tips Work in progress philosophy Work in progress philosophy Collaborative/Active learning Collaborative/Active learning Critical reflection on teaching Critical reflection on teaching Understanding teaching perspective/student learning styles Understanding teaching perspective/student learning styles

Service Tips Know when to say “NO” Know when to say “NO” Strategic service—university reputation Strategic service—university reputation National involvement National involvement Joys of service Joys of service

Institutional Fit Not every place is the same Not every place is the same Hinterlands Hinterlands Research focus Research focus Teaching focus Teaching focus Increased expectations Increased expectations Generational differences Generational differences

What now? Career Stage Career Stage Identify largest challenges Identify largest challenges Mapping out plans Mapping out plans Creating a faculty identity Creating a faculty identity

Questions?