© Copyright 2006, Rhonda F. Drayton ([email protected]) Navigating the Academic Tenure Process in Ideal and Non-ideal Environments Rhonda Franklin Drayton

© Copyright 2006, Rhonda F. Drayton ([email protected])

Navigating the Academic Navigating the Academic Tenure Process Tenure Process

in Ideal and Non-ideal in Ideal and Non-ideal EnvironmentsEnvironments

Rhonda Franklin DraytonRhonda Franklin Drayton

Associate ProfessorAssociate Professor

Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringDepartment of Electrical and Computer Engineering

University of MinnesotaUniversity of Minnesota


OverviewOverview

Clarify tenure and its significanceClarify tenure and its significance Tenure Proposal (i.e. Dossier)Tenure Proposal (i.e. Dossier) Drayton Philosophy on Tenure AspectsDrayton Philosophy on Tenure Aspects Tenure toolsTenure tools


OverviewOverview

Clarify tenure and its significanceClarify tenure and its significance Tenure Proposal (i.e. Dossier)Tenure Proposal (i.e. Dossier) Drayton Philosophy on Various AspectsDrayton Philosophy on Various Aspects Tenure toolsTenure tools


Tenure? Tenure?

What is tenure?What is tenure? A permanent employment position that offers the A permanent employment position that offers the

broadest range of opportunities within an academic broadest range of opportunities within an academic institution to work on faculty-focused interests.institution to work on faculty-focused interests.

Difference from industry/governmentDifference from industry/government: Work on : Work on management-focused interests.management-focused interests.

How is it obtained?How is it obtained? From a 2-phase proposal processFrom a 2-phase proposal process

Part 1: Tenure Pre-proposal: Interview process based on Part 1: Tenure Pre-proposal: Interview process based on supervised worksupervised work

Funded Results: Job OfferFunded Results: Job Offer Part 2: Tenure Full Proposal: Pre-tenure academic career Part 2: Tenure Full Proposal: Pre-tenure academic career

phase based on self-supervised workphase based on self-supervised work Funded Results: Tenure + PromotionFunded Results: Tenure + Promotion


Tenure Rumors…Fact or Fiction?Tenure Rumors…Fact or Fiction? How do I get tenure?How do I get tenure?

Teach lots of courses very wellTeach lots of courses very well Get great student evaluationsGet great student evaluations Publish lots of papersPublish lots of papers Raise lots of money for researchRaise lots of money for research Supervise and graduate lots of Ph.d. studentsSupervise and graduate lots of Ph.d. students Work on campus and national service Work on campus and national service

committeescommittees Establish a national reputationEstablish a national reputation

Okay…How Many?….


Pre-tenure period can feel like….Pre-tenure period can feel like….

29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 3832

0 1 2 4 5 63

1 2 3 4 5 6

AGE

TIME

Get a life….Put non-professional life on hold……

FriendshipRelationships

Marriage Children


Big PictureBig Picture

25 30 35 45 50 55 60 65 7040

0 5 10 20 25 30 35 4015

29 30 31 33 34 35 36 37 3832

0 1 2 4 5 6 7 83

1 2 3 4 5 6

Long-Term

Short-Term – Pre-tenure phase

Live life,but know theBig Picture

age

time

Possible retirement


Academic Career LadderAcademic Career Ladder

Full

Chaired

Associate*

Assistant

Endowed Chair

Lab Director

Assoc. Dean

Dean

Head

Full

Provost

President

Tec

hn

ical

Ad

min

istrative

Track 1 Track 2

Track 3:Combination of 1 and 2M

ajo

rity

of

facu

lty

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

5

•Tenured positionAdvancement occurs the following year

Career Climbing

Career Climbing


OverviewOverview

Clarify tenure and its significanceClarify tenure and its significance Tenure Proposal (i.e. Dossier)Tenure Proposal (i.e. Dossier) Drayton Philosophy on Various AspectDrayton Philosophy on Various Aspect Tenure toolsTenure tools


Tenure Full ProposalTenure Full Proposal

Objective:Objective: To describe PI’s demonstrated ability To describe PI’s demonstrated ability to produce to produce

significant return on investment of institutional seed significant return on investment of institutional seed resourcesresources - space, start-up funds, student and faculty - space, start-up funds, student and faculty support, etc. - in areas that align with the institution’s support, etc. - in areas that align with the institution’s mission. mission.

Institutional MissionsInstitutional Missions

ResearchResearch R/TR/T T/RT/RTeachingTeaching

100% 100% >50%/T>50%/T >50%/R 100%>50%/R 100%


Tenure Full ProposalTenure Full Proposal What constitutes significant return on investment?What constitutes significant return on investment? Research Institutions:Research Institutions:

Effective use of start-up funds to seed new projectsEffective use of start-up funds to seed new projects Increased institutional recognition and/or enhancement of Increased institutional recognition and/or enhancement of

institutional reputation frominstitutional reputation from Research AspectResearch Aspect

Excellence in work Excellence in work Significant impactSignificant impact Visibility conferences and publications Visibility conferences and publications National faculty recognitionNational faculty recognition Active involvement in technical/professional community (e.g. government Active involvement in technical/professional community (e.g. government

and industry)and industry) Placement of graduate students in academia, industry or governmentPlacement of graduate students in academia, industry or government

Teaching AspectTeaching Aspect Effectiveness in instructing undergraduatesEffectiveness in instructing undergraduates Effectiveness in improving the educational programEffectiveness in improving the educational program Effectiveness in advising and mentorshipEffectiveness in advising and mentorship


Tenure Proposal ContentTenure Proposal Content(Completed work through the N(Completed work through the Nthth-1 year)-1 year)

Teaching ProfileTeaching Profile PhilosophyPhilosophy Courses taught Courses taught Student EvaluationsStudent Evaluations Colleague EvaluationColleague Evaluation

Research ProfileResearch Profile PhilosophyPhilosophy Faculty CV Faculty CV Productivity RecordProductivity Record

Research projects directedResearch projects directed

Funded GrantsFunded Grants PublicationsPublications Students advised, Students advised,

supervised and graduatedsupervised and graduated Technical ReferencesTechnical References

Service ProfileService Profile DepartmentDepartment College or UniversityCollege or University ProfessionalProfessional

Technical societyTechnical society Government and industryGovernment and industry


OverviewOverview



Drayton’s Tenure Proposal Philosophy – Drayton’s Tenure Proposal Philosophy – Research AspectsResearch Aspects

Year 1: Year 1: Evaluate and test your new environment with an old and new ideaEvaluate and test your new environment with an old and new idea Learn the internal proposal submission process and Identify suitable external funding Learn the internal proposal submission process and Identify suitable external funding

agency for researchagency for research Submit proposals to obtain experience and hopefully fundingSubmit proposals to obtain experience and hopefully funding

Year 2: Year 2: Prepare the environment to explore new ideas (Round I) Prepare the environment to explore new ideas (Round I) Actively seek funding using preliminary data from university sponsored seed fundingActively seek funding using preliminary data from university sponsored seed funding

Year 3: Year 3: Communicate Round I research outcomes, seek feedback, and listen carefullyCommunicate Round I research outcomes, seek feedback, and listen carefully Prepare a preliminary Tenure proposalPrepare a preliminary Tenure proposal Year 3 - Proposal reviewYear 3 - Proposal review

Year 4: Year 4: Plant new research ideas (Round 2) and prepare for Round I project close-out;.Plant new research ideas (Round 2) and prepare for Round I project close-out;. Seek funding for Round 2 ideasSeek funding for Round 2 ideas Develop first Draft of tenure proposal and philosophy statementsDevelop first Draft of tenure proposal and philosophy statements

Year 5: Year 5: Wrap-up Round I work and mature Round II ideasWrap-up Round I work and mature Round II ideas Address weaknesses in tenure proposalAddress weaknesses in tenure proposal

Year 6: Year 6: Submit Tenure Proposal (Casebook); Submit Tenure Proposal (Casebook); Communicate Round 2 idea resultsCommunicate Round 2 idea results


Drayton’s Tenure Proposal Philosophy – Drayton’s Tenure Proposal Philosophy – Teaching AspectsTeaching Aspects

Year 1: Year 1: Develop new course materials Develop new course materials Take courses on instructionTake courses on instruction

Year 2: Year 2: Introduce a new courseIntroduce a new course Address teaching concerns, if anyAddress teaching concerns, if any

Year 3: Year 3: Have faculty colleague assess teachingHave faculty colleague assess teaching

Year 4: Year 4: Develop education community service activityDevelop education community service activity

Year 5: Year 5: Address unresolved teaching issuesAddress unresolved teaching issues

Year 6: Year 6:


Drayton’s Tenure Proposal Philosophy – Drayton’s Tenure Proposal Philosophy – Work RelationshipsWork Relationships

Year 1: Year 1: Build relationships within your institution – staff, faculty (inside and outside your Build relationships within your institution – staff, faculty (inside and outside your

department), graduate students, sponsored grants office, purchasing departmentdepartment), graduate students, sponsored grants office, purchasing department Hire and train research staff Hire and train research staff

Year 2: Year 2: Build relationships outside your institution - academic, industry, governmentBuild relationships outside your institution - academic, industry, government Participate in review processes – grants and papersParticipate in review processes – grants and papers Get to know your undergraduate studentsGet to know your undergraduate students Prepare for staff transitions (MS and/or PhD)Prepare for staff transitions (MS and/or PhD)

Year 3: Year 3: Develop reference list with colleagues and students ( at least 4 each/yr) Develop reference list with colleagues and students ( at least 4 each/yr) Develop industry contacts for graduate studentsDevelop industry contacts for graduate students Identify several institutional faculty “champions”; nurture these relationshipsIdentify several institutional faculty “champions”; nurture these relationships

Year 4: Year 4: Actively volunteer service to your technical communityActively volunteer service to your technical community Update academic and technical community about your researchUpdate academic and technical community about your research Ask for tenure proposal referencesAsk for tenure proposal references

Year 5: Expand industry and government networkYear 5: Expand industry and government network Year 6: Consider sabbatical opportunitiesYear 6: Consider sabbatical opportunities


OverviewOverview



Tenure Tools:Tenure Tools: Managing Research Projects Managing Research Projects

PhysicalPhysical Create an agency specific deliverable modelCreate an agency specific deliverable model

Report requirements Report requirements Template for reportingTemplate for reporting Procedure for pursuing additional fundingProcedure for pursuing additional funding

Develop timeline for Develop timeline for staff hiring needsstaff hiring needs project reporting requirements project reporting requirements budget targets and spending ratesbudget targets and spending rates

PeoplePeople Prepare graduate students to managePrepare graduate students to manage Prepare to transition between new/old staff hires ( typically, year 3)Prepare to transition between new/old staff hires ( typically, year 3)

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development: Seek management, project management and : Seek management, project management and budget trainingbudget training

TipTip: Be patient and flexible while developing your management style.: Be patient and flexible while developing your management style.


Tenure ToolsTenure Tools:: Creating active collaborations Creating active collaborations

Pursue summer faculty fellowshipsPursue summer faculty fellowships Access: DOD and DOE organizationsAccess: DOD and DOE organizations

Use various leave options, if availableUse various leave options, if available Semester leaveSemester leave Sabbatical (post tenure)Sabbatical (post tenure)

Take short-term (1-2 week) visits for research collaborationsTake short-term (1-2 week) visits for research collaborations Use annual conferences to develop proposal and research Use annual conferences to develop proposal and research

collaboration meetingscollaboration meetings

Professional development:Professional development: Seek grant writing and budgeting training Seek grant writing and budgeting training TipTip: Partner student projects with 1 external collaboration to seed : Partner student projects with 1 external collaboration to seed

relationships.relationships.


Tenure ToolsTenure Tools::Funding Research IdeasFunding Research Ideas

InstitutionalInstitutional Seed grantsSeed grants Campus center grantsCampus center grants

GovernmentGovernment Grants (i.e. seed and full proposal)Grants (i.e. seed and full proposal) ContractsContracts

IndustryIndustry ContractsContracts Faculty AwardsFaculty Awards

FellowshipsFellowships FacultyFaculty StudentStudent

Professional DevelopmentProfessional Development: Seek grant writing and budget training: Seek grant writing and budget training TipTip: : Write as much as possible to solidify ideas and improve written Write as much as possible to solidify ideas and improve written

communicating skills communicating skills


Tenure ToolsTenure Tools::Personal DevelopmentPersonal Development

Minimize isolation, nurture family and friend relationships Minimize isolation, nurture family and friend relationships Develop institutional and local professional friendshipsDevelop institutional and local professional friendships Pursue your personal goals (i.e. marriage, children, etc..)Pursue your personal goals (i.e. marriage, children, etc..)

Create a support system where needed (e.g. cleaning and care-giving)Create a support system where needed (e.g. cleaning and care-giving) Remember: You cannot violate natural laws: Time is conserved (1 week = Remember: You cannot violate natural laws: Time is conserved (1 week =

168 hours) for everyone.168 hours) for everyone. Make flexible plans and be adaptiveMake flexible plans and be adaptive

Take care of yourself; you will get older.Take care of yourself; you will get older. Strive to exercise and eat properlyStrive to exercise and eat properly

RememberRemember: A career is a 35-year marathon. Run hard and : A career is a 35-year marathon. Run hard and deliberate, but PACE yourself. You have at least deliberate, but PACE yourself. You have at least sevenseven 5-year 5-year cycles to pursue your interest and dreams.cycles to pursue your interest and dreams.


Tenure ToolsTenure Tools::Managing DistractionsManaging Distractions

Excessive Service RequestsExcessive Service Requests Participate within reasonParticipate within reason Learn to say “NO”, but expect to feel guiltyLearn to say “NO”, but expect to feel guilty Don’t isolate yourself; loneliness will make you crave and need to serve others to Don’t isolate yourself; loneliness will make you crave and need to serve others to

feel humanefeel humane Excessive OpportunitiesExcessive Opportunities

A successfully developed tenure proposal will create numerous opportunity (i.e. A successfully developed tenure proposal will create numerous opportunity (i.e. job offers, speaking engagements, reviewing proposals, etc.)job offers, speaking engagements, reviewing proposals, etc.)

Participate within reason; your academic business should be “open” in your Participate within reason; your academic business should be “open” in your absence. Who will lead, manage, and open the store in your absence?absence. Who will lead, manage, and open the store in your absence?

Focus on clarifying your vision for your work and career. Avoid job hopping Focus on clarifying your vision for your work and career. Avoid job hopping without significant motivation for doing so.without significant motivation for doing so.

RememberRemember: Excellence is a magnet for opportunities: Excellence is a magnet for opportunities..


Thank you for your time!Questions?

Documents

© Copyright 2006, Rhonda F. Drayton ([email protected]) Navigating the Academic Tenure Process in Ideal and Non-ideal Environments Rhonda Franklin Drayton