Tenure at Northeastern: Principles and Processes Deb Franko Senior Vice Provost for Academic Affairs August 28, 2019

But First…

But First… President’s dinner for new tenured and tenure-track faculty is Tuesday, September 3rd at 5:30pm Dinner activity: In one minute... Your Name, Department, College Where were you before Northeastern (one place)? Why is your research cool and interesting?

Principles What is Tenure? A long-term commitment to the career of a faculty member A key support of academic freedom A process of review and assessment on both sides A process that vests tenured faculty members as full citizens of the university Recalling President Aoun’s question from presentation earlier today: WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE? WHAT ARE WE TRYING TO ACHIEVE with TENURE? Steve speaks (following President Donald Kennedy of Stanford) about ACADEMIC DUTY as well as ACADEMIC FREEDOM—both key to full citizenship. We intend that every one of you here today be able to become tenured. No quotas, no elimination rounds. We brought you here with a commitment to your success.

Principles What are Northeastern’s university-wide performance expectations of tenure-track faculty? Excellence in research, scholarship, or creative activity Excellence in teaching Rank-appropriate service to the university Performance expectations included in the Faculty Handbook

The Tenure Process: Six-Year “Clock” 2019-2020: 1st annual review of progress toward tenure in Spring 2020-2021: 2nd annual review 2021-2022: 3rd year review of progress toward tenure, spring term of third year, culminating in departmental recommendation and vote 2022-2023: 4th annual review 2023-2024: Preparation for tenure review begins in spring term with notification of candidates and selection of external referees 2024-2025: Tenure review by unit, college, Provost and President; Positive recommendations brought to Board of Trustees in June

Delay of Tenure Consideration Six-year probationary period may be extended: Birth or adoption of a child Family leave Medical leave Compelling circumstances delaying expected professional development

What will my tenure dossier contain? Documentation of accomplishments in research, teaching, and service All details can be found on the Office of the Provost website Dossiers proper (as opposed to the massive appendices) are compiled electronically, now, and we ask candidates and their departments to aim at a concise 100 pages. Of great stuff, obviously.

Interfolio The software package from Interfolio will be used for both dossier submission and dossier review Simple straightforward program much like manuscript submission process Training available from your associate dean for faculty (when the time comes)

How do I get there? Pre-Tenure Review Annual review Third-year review These are the important procedural points for taking stock and receiving formal feedback on your progress.

Getting off to a good start Make time for research/scholarship from the outset Take advantage of resources for learning to teach smarter Assess your record-keeping habits and make them serve you Use your mentors, internally and externally ADVICE: write every day. Or the equivalent in your discipline. CATLR workshops—as you heard from Susan Ambrose this morning ALSO: your own colleagues LEARN how you learn about teaching and make the most of it. REPEAT courses when you can and IMPROVE them, consistent with developing the portfolio expected of you. [more an issue in some fields than others]

Formal and informal mentoring Workshops on tenure process, funding opportunities, teaching resources offered through Provost’s Office All tenure-track faculty members have at least one departmental mentor “on the record” In some colleges, external mentor(s) also formalized Think about the variety of roles you’re asked to fill as a faculty member and tasks to accomplish: get help in EACH? Concrete help? Some senior faculty members can SPONSOR you to new professional roles (as can your old graduate mentor). Recently tenured colleagues can share information on the process. Peers can be a writing group. We’re going to “push” suggestions out to you and mentors “of record” this year-- (etc….)

Multiple Mentors Teaching Research Service Work-Life Balance New Faculty member Teaching Research Service Work-Life Balance ADVANCE program has

Resources Mentor / Chair / Dean’s office Center for Advancing Teaching and Learning through Research ADVANCE Office of Faculty Development ADVANCE program does lots of workshops—SEE CALENDAR. ALSO has a new grant program for “mutual mentoring”—one way of getting beyond the dyad of mentor mentee that might interest you.

ADVANCE: Office of Faculty Development Support faculty through professional development programs Fall 2019 calendar in your packets Contact: Diedra Wrighting and Erinn Taylor de Barroso https://faculty.northeastern.edu/advance In person: 490 Renaissance Park Email: nuadvance@northeastern.edu

National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) Online access to mentoring, tools, and support to thrive in the academy 14-Day Writing Challenge Video library and webinars Become a Member at: https://www.facultydiversity.org/

Recently Tenured Faculty Panelists Possibly others to participate, check with Phil He Heather Brenhouse, COS Eno Ebong, COE Taskin Padir, COE Christie Rizzo, Bouvé Laura Senier, Bouvé/CSSH