The Sound & the Faculty

1. The Sound & the Faculty A Story for Chairs • Tenure and Promotion • Non-Tenure Track Faculty III. Looking ahead

2. The Sound & the Faculty A Story for Chairs • Tenure and Promotion • Non-Tenure Track Faculty III. Looking ahead

3. Tenure is not an individual right • Rather, it is a privilege of academics that, • In the pursuit of truth for the common good, • have established themselves as worthy of an academic institution • (or a state, in cases of public education) • that is willing to continuously support them for the next three to four decades. • In the present world these are major words…

4. None of that is to say… • … that tenure is necessary for all academic institutions. • For instance, clinical positions often do not involve tenure. • And whether, say, librarians should or should not involve permanent job is debated across universities. • Similar questions seem to arise across universities regarding their extension programs…

5. In a nutshell: • The main expectation of the APT committees • … is that every unit takes the APT process seriously. • One size does not fit all, however… • We should all abide by rules that seek excellence in the pursuit of truth for the common good. • Otherwise tenure would simply not be justified.

6. The APT committee… • … seeks to understand THE CANDIDATE and work you do IN THE UNIT. • The most important thing a dossier does is tell a story. • It is a narrative with several layers, • Told by 3 different committees and 3 different university officers. • The hope is that conglomerate does justice to the case.

7. The APT Process Dept. College Campus Chair Dean Provost

8. What is important… • … is to show the significance of the candidate’s work, their program, their achievements. • Why should the State of Maryland fund them and what they do for four decades? • Why, in this crazy and complex world, should we pause to see what they do and find it really worthy? • That’s their story, and telling it accurately and profoundly often requires taking a step back for perspective.

9. Things to think about… • Be critical with your candidate and your discipline. • Reach out to peers, get to understand what they do and to get them to understand what you do. • Don’t procrastinate. Think of APT cases from the day they ask for the unit’s criteria for tenure, as they enter the job – and keep asking them how they’re doing. • Expect folks to be proactive in the profession and to keep a record of their activities and their achievements. • Measure their results, don’t take them for granted.

10. Things to avoid… • Don’t get candidate’s friends or collaborators to write evaluation letters! • Committees: don’t dismiss evaluators that you’ve chosen. If they write a lousy letter, bite the bullet! • Take seriously both the positive AND THE NEGATIVE criticism, and address it always head on and rationally. This applies both to letters and votes. • Only if you are tough with yourself and your environment will it evolve to be worthy, and this is what you reflect in a tenure narrative.

11. Indicators • Your field is always unique – everyone knows that (I mean, everyone knows THEIR field is unique…) • That being said, you need to establish your own indicators of excellence – and to apply them. • In part this is not rocket science: What does YOUR FIELD (outside this university, going into our peers) determine as measures of success? • Your best strategy is to clearly determine these indicators, and then to show how you follow them.

12. The university is changing • An emergent culture of cooperation and interdisciplinarity is growing. • Great societal issues (climate change, renewable energies, social justice, international cooperation) are becoming more and more central. • The university is also being ‘professionalized’. • UME, the libraries, the new clinical positions, even the reorganization of so-called “adjuncts” across colleges, are all at the center of this.

13. Just one more thing… • Mentorship, mentorship, mentorship… • When you mentor a colleague you are strengthening the whole system – it is never a waste of time. • Indeed, you are also strengthening your own individuality, making yourself more valuable and knowledgeable. • The best teachers/mentors are typically also the most creative individuals in general, and vice-versa. Not a logical necessity, but a clear tendency.

14. So… • That you take reviews seriously, exercising them professionally and courteously. • Now remember: part of being courteous is to be honest. • Tenure is not for everyone. Spotting difficult cases as soon as possible… • And somehow deciding whether to push harder or pull back… • Is part of the art of being an academic.

15. The bottom line: • Learn how to prepare an informative dossier. • Learn how to ask for substantive external letters. • When you get such letters, learn how to interpret them – particularly if they are negative. • Learn how to mentor one another, how to review one another, how to share governance of your institution. • In the end, that is the essence of being an academic.

16. Chair’s role (Guidelines, p. 20): • Oversee entire process—not just letter atend! • Ensure APT Committee and APT decision meeting conducted properly. • Inspect dossiers for accuracy, completeness, and conformity with guidelines before decision meeting. • Meet with and mentor junior faculty regularly and give written feedback—not just at third year review. • Write letter to higher level administrator: a critical piece of the dossier, providing context.

17. SOME NUMBERS # of Cases coming forward 2010 2011 2012 • Tenure Cases: 58 61 64 • Promotion to Professor: 30 34 36 • TOTAL CASES 88 95 100 • Withdrawals to Associate 10 5 12 • Denials to Associate 3 7 6 • Withdrawals to Full 11 7 7 • Denials to Full 4 1 0

18. To put things in perspective: Tenure

19. To put things in perspective:Professorships

20. It may be useful to also look at “slam-dunks”:

21. The Sound & the Faculty A Story for Chairs • Tenure and Promotion • Non-Tenure Track Faculty III. Looking ahead

22. UM is like other universities: ~1,550 Tenured/Tenure-track Faculty & ~3,200 Non-Tenure Track Faculty

23. NTT Faculty: • Deliver 40% of undergraduate credits, equal to that delivered by T/TT faculty (staff and GAs account for remaining 20%) • Bring $100,000,000 in research awards to campus annually • Connect campus to local, state, and federal agencies through appointments and outreach efforts off campus

24. “NTT” Not Homogenous Non-tenure-track • Instructional Faculty • 300 Full-time • 350 “Adjuncts”, i.e. one course/semester or year • 350 Part-time, teaching is primary career • Research Faculty • 600 post-docs, a.k.a. “Research Associate” • 400 Research faculty (e.g. “Research Scientist”) • 800 Faculty Research Assistants (FRAs) • Service • 300 Extension across the state • 100 Clinics and teacher certification programs • “Faculty Research Assistants” • Students with Bachelor’s degrees • Researchers with PhDs as Co-PIs on grants • Everything in between

25. Task Force Report: Areas of Concern • Compliance with policies for contracts and the related provision of benefits • Appointment system which forces departments and units to create ad hoc solutions for many NTT appointments, which in turn lead to various problems, both legal and administrative • Inadequate system of titles leading to significant mismatches between someone’s title and responsibilities – e.g. Lecturers who do no lecturing and Research Professors who do no research – and thus to unclear expectations

26. Task Force Report: Areas of Concern • Poorly defined and inconsistently applied standards for evaluating and promoting NTT faculty – and for instructional faculty and FRAs, essentially no opportunity for promotion even after prolonged, high-level contributions • Little to no support or recognition, through either compensation adjustments or awards, for participation in professional development activities or professional accomplishments • Inadequate opportunities for participation in shared governance at all levels

27. Summary: • NTT faculty are dedicated and want to contribute more to the institution but are hindered by current policies and procedures. • Compliance with existing policies varies widely across units, which is detrimental to both NTT faculty and the institution. • Offered 21 recommendations for addressing concerns. • The University of Maryland can become a leader in creating a new model for how a major research institution fully engages all members of its faculty regardless of their tenure status.

28. Immediate 1st Steps • In the Senate: The Senate’s Faculty Affairs Committee has been charged with formulating a new policy on titles, appointment criteria, performance evaluations, and opportunities for both professional development and promotions for NTT faculty. • From the Provost: • New templates from Legal Affairs are designed to reduce number of semester-to-semester contracts. • Contract tracking/management system.

29. The Sound & the Faculty A Story for Chairs • Tenure and Promotion • Non-Tenure Track Faculty III. Looking ahead

30. What title to use for this hire?

31. What title to use for this hire? Some appointments are fairly straightforward: • Assistant Professor • Associate Professor • Full Professor?

32. What title to use for this hire? • Assistant Professor? • Associate Professor? • Full Professor? But then, how about • Associate Professor … without Tenure?

33. What title to use for this hire? • Assistant Professor? • Associate Professor? • Full Professor? • Associate Professor without Tenure? • Visiting(Assistant, Associate, full) professor (ergo w/o tenure – for now)? • Affiliate?

34. What title to use for this hire? • Assistant Professor? • Associate Professor? • Full Professor? • But wait: There’s the EXTENSION… • Principal Agent • Senior Agent • Agent

35. What title to use for this hire? • Assistant Professor? • Associate Professor? • Full Professor? • AND: Don’t forget the LIBRARIES… • Librarian IV • Librarian III • Librarian II • Plus non-permanent Title Librarian I • (At least those are easy to remember…)

36. What title to use for this hire? • And why not in the NTT tracks? • S/he may be teaching lots, so… • Lecturer • Or senior Lecturer

37. What title to use for this hire? • Or s/he may be a professional Clinical Assistant, Associate or full professor • Plus of course Professor of the practice

38. What title to use for this hire? • Then again they may be researchers/creative… • Research Assistant, Associate, full Professor • Assistant, Associate, Senior Research Scientist • Assistant, Associate, Senior Research Scholar • Assistant, Associate, Senior Research Engineer • Assistant, Associate, Senior Artist-in-Residence

39. Actually there’s MORE!!! • Instructor, Assistant Instructor, Faculty Research Assistant, Research Associate, Associate Agent, Faculty Extension Assistant, Faculty Extension Associate, College Park Professor, University of Maryland Professor, Emeritus/emerita, Tax collector, Butterfly Catcher, Catcher in the Rye, Singer in-the-rain, Guardian Angel, Little Drummer boy, exterminator, Inseminator, Gladiator,

40. Academic Dimensions and Title Series Available Faculty Ranks 1 2 3 Was that unclear? Current Titles and Ranks Basic – Tenured / On Track Assistant Professor Associate Professor (ᴓ) Professor Extension – Tenured / On Track (ᴓ) Agent Senior Agent Principal Agent Library – Permanent / On Track Librarian II Librarian III Librarian IV Non-Tenure Track Research Research Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Research (ᴓ) Professor Clinical Teaching Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical (ᴓ) Professor Research Scientist, etc. Assistant Research X Associate Research X Senior Research X Artistic Creativity Assistant Artist in Residence Associate Artist in Residence Senior Artist in Residence Teaching (ᴓ) Lecturer Senior Lecturer Post-doctoral Research Associate (RA) Research support Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) Extension support Associate Agent Faculty Extension Assistant Faculty Extension Associate Library support Librarian I Academic Administration (None)

41. Academic Dimensions and Title Series Available Faculty Ranks 1 2 3 Was that unclear? “Senior” can be mid- or highest Basic – Tenured / On Track Assistant Professor Associate Professor (ᴓ) Professor Extension – Tenured / On Track (ᴓ) Agent Senior Agent Principal Agent Library – Permanent / On Track Librarian II Librarian III Librarian IV Non-Tenure Track Research Research Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Research (ᴓ) Professor Clinical Teaching Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical (ᴓ) Professor Research Scientist, etc. Assistant Research X Associate Research X Senior Research X Artistic Creativity Assistant Artist in Residence Associate Artist in Residence Senior Artist in Residence Teaching (ᴓ) Lecturer Senior Lecturer Post-doctoral Research Associate (RA) Research support Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) Extension support Associate Agent Faculty Extension Assistant Faculty Extension Associate Library support Librarian I Academic Administration

42. Academic Dimensions and Title Series Available Faculty Ranks 1 2 3 Was that unclear? ᴓ can be lowest or highest rank Basic – Tenured / On Track Assistant Professor Associate Professor (ᴓ) Professor Extension – Tenured / On Track (ᴓ) Agent Senior Agent Principal Agent Library – Permanent / On Track Librarian II Librarian III Librarian IV Non-Tenure Track Research Research Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Research (ᴓ) Professor Clinical Teaching Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical (ᴓ) Professor Research Scientist, etc. Assistant Research X Associate Research X Senior Research X Artistic Creativity Assistant Artist in Residence Associate Artist in Residence Senior Artist in Residence Teaching (ᴓ) Lecturer Senior Lecturer Post-doctoral Research Associate (RA) Research support Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) Extension support Associate Agent Faculty Extension Assistant Faculty Extension Associate Library support Librarian I Academic Administration

43. Academic Dimensions and Title Series Available Faculty Ranks 1 2 3 Was that unclear? Some flip-flop the parts Basic – Tenured / On Track Assistant Professor Associate Professor (ᴓ) Professor Extension – Tenured / On Track (ᴓ) Agent Senior Agent Principal Agent Library – Permanent / On Track Librarian II Librarian III Librarian IV Non-Tenure Track Research Research Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Research (ᴓ) Professor Clinical Teaching Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical (ᴓ) Professor Research Scientist, etc. Assistant Research X Associate Research X Senior Research X Artistic Creativity Assistant Artist in Residence Associate Artist in Residence Senior Artist in Residence Teaching (ᴓ) Lecturer Senior Lecturer Post-doctoral Research Associate (RA) Research support Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) Extension support Associate Agent Faculty Extension Assistant Faculty Extension Associate Library support Librarian I Academic Administration

44. Academic Dimensions and Title Series Available Faculty Ranks 1 2 3 Was that unclear? “Associate” is all over the map Basic – Tenured / On Track Assistant Professor Associate Professor (ᴓ) Professor Extension – Tenured / On Track (ᴓ) Agent Senior Agent Principal Agent Library – Permanent / On Track Librarian II Librarian III Librarian IV Non-Tenure Track Research Research Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Research (ᴓ) Professor Clinical Teaching Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical (ᴓ) Professor Research Scientist, etc. Assistant Research X Associate Research X Senior Research X Artistic Creativity Assistant Artist in Residence Associate Artist in Residence Senior Artist in Residence Teaching (ᴓ) Lecturer Senior Lecturer Post-doctoral Research Associate (RA) Research support Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) Extension support Associate Agent Faculty Extension Assistant Faculty Extension Associate Library support Librarian I Academic Administration

45. Academic Dimensions and Title Series Available Faculty Ranks 1 2 3 Was that unclear? “Assistant” is low- or mid-level Basic – Tenured / On Track Assistant Professor Associate Professor (ᴓ) Professor Extension – Tenured / On Track (ᴓ) Agent Senior Agent Principal Agent Library – Permanent / On Track Librarian II Librarian III Librarian IV Non-Tenure Track Research Research Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Research (ᴓ) Professor Clinical Teaching Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical (ᴓ) Professor Research Scientist, etc. Assistant Research X Associate Research X Senior Research X Artistic Creativity Assistant Artist in Residence Associate Artist in Residence Senior Artist in Residence Teaching (ᴓ) Lecturer Senior Lecturer Post-doctoral Research Associate (RA) Research support Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) Extension support Associate Agent Faculty Extension Assistant Faculty Extension Associate Library support Librarian I Academic Administration

46. Academic Dimensions and Title Series Available Faculty Ranks 1 2 3 And so it all makes sense! Basic – Tenured / On Track Assistant Professor Associate Professor (ᴓ) Professor Extension – Tenured / On Track (ᴓ) Agent Senior Agent Principal Agent Library – Permanent / On Track Librarian II Librarian III Librarian IV Non-Tenure Track Research Research Assistant Professor Research Associate Professor Research (ᴓ) Professor Clinical Teaching Clinical Assistant Professor Clinical Associate Professor Clinical (ᴓ) Professor Research Scientist, etc. Assistant Research X Associate Research X Senior Research X Artistic Creativity Assistant Artist in Residence Associate Artist in Residence Senior Artist in Residence Teaching (ᴓ) Lecturer Senior Lecturer Post-doctoral Research Associate (RA) Research support Faculty Research Assistant (FRA) Extension support Associate Agent Faculty Extension Assistant Faculty Extension Associate Library support Librarian I Academic Administration

47. You get the picture… SEMPER AD HOC • Some "Research Associates" and "Research Professors" are strictly instructional appointments – i.e.some faculty with those titles do no research; • There are "Lecturers" who spend no time in the classroom because they direct academic programs or manage large-scale courses (e.g. 500 seat lab classes). • Some units have overused the "Professor of the Practice" title because the appointees were uncomfortable with the title "Lecturer"; • Associate Deans for Faculty Affairs report that, within some colleges, there is little to no consistency in the evaluation and promotion of research faculty.

48. Given SEMPER AD HOC • How does one evaluate a "Research Associate" or a "Research Professor" who does no research? • How does one evaluate a "Lecturer" who does no teaching? • Why is it that an excellent Faculty Research Assistant of 15 years can never be promoted?

49. Of course, if we look at the matter dispassionately… • Dimensions of Faculty Activity are always the same: I. There is research/scholarship/creativity II. There is teaching/advising/mentoring III. There is service/outreach • These dimensions can be assessed independently • Thereby creating a set of indicators.

50. Dimensions of Faculty Activity also allow us to categorize faculty in a more integrative fashion