Toolkit Home

Executive Summary

Monitoring Dept. Health and Welfare

Transparency in Operations

Creating a Welcoming Climate

Mentoring

Valuing Diversity in the Dept.

Supporting Pre-Tenure Faculty Career Development

Encouraging Mid-Career Professional Development

Faculty Development Programs, Benefits, & Resources

Flexible and Accommodating Policies & Practices

Acknowledgements

References

TRANSPARENCY IN OPERATIONS

COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP ROTATION:

Different committees have access to different information. By rotating committee membership and leadership, different people have the opportunity to gain exposure to various elements of departmental operations.  While it is not advisable to frequently change responsibilities or assignments, it is important that all faculty have the opportunity to take on important positions. New people bring new ideas and perspectives and reduce stagnation.  Moreover, some faculty may feel excluded or frustrated about not being given important roles.

TRANSPARENCY IN THE PROMOTION AND TENURE PROCESS:

Transparency in operations should also be applied to the Promotion and Tenure (P&T) and salary increase processes.  A common perception of the P&T process is that it is not always objective.  To allay concerns about the process, departments could develop and maintain objective criteria for granting tenure and promotions and inform their faculty of these expectations.  Although it is impossible to guarantee any element of the faculty reward system, the process should be openly communicated to prevent unnecessary anxiety.  Chapters 24 and 25 of the Faculty Code describe the P&T process.  This formal description should be supplemented with more informal information-sharing opportunities. For example, this information can be reinforced through promotion and tenure workshops such as the College of Arts and Sciences Promotion and Tenure workshops  or at annual review meetings (see Chapter 24, Section 24-57 C.).  Although there may be no single scale against which all cases are measured, it is still useful to share as much detail as possible. (e.g. UW College of Arts and Sciences Promotion and Tenure Guideline.)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANTS:

The ADVANCE CIC has hired two senior faculty members as professional development consultants to help create transparency in the P&T process. These consultants, one from the College of Engineering and one from the College of Arts & Sciences, are available for confidential discussions on career paths with individual faculty members, particularly on how to best prepare the curriculum vitae during the period before promotion.  Having previously served on their respective colleges' Promotion and Tenure committees, they have a unique perspective on the criteria for excellence that the College values.  This program does not ensure promotion or career advancement but can help dispel some myths about the P&T process. (For additional information, please contact CIC Director Eve Riskin.)

ACCESS TO EVALUATION PROCESS:

Just as all faculty gain valuable information about what makes a good proposal by serving on proposal review boards, pre-tenure faculty could also benefit from serving on tenure portfolio preparation or annual review evaluation committees.  (See, for example, the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Principles for Best Practices or the University of California, Irvine, Faculty Recruitment Manual.) If committee membership is not feasible, the faculty could be allowed to observe the process, perhaps outside their department.  As with proposal reviews, all committee discussion would remain confidential. It is best if pre-tenure faculty have this experience before their own portfolios are evaluated.  By experiencing the process first-hand before being reviewed, pre-tenure faculty can truly see how tenure portfolios and/or annual review documents are evaluated. This kind of information will help pre-tenure faculty better understand expectations and strategize how to successfully present their work.

Last Updated: July 07, 2005

advance@engr.washington.edu

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