About Academia John Keyser CSCE 481 Spring 2010

Academia – Types of Schools Lots of different ways to classify schools –Research Universities Research is a major part of the school’s function Usually offer full range of graduate degrees –Teaching Universities Primary focus is on the teaching aspects of education Usually focused on undergraduate education

Academia – Carnegie Classification Classification System for “labeling” Universities based on various factors –Focus of the University –Types of degrees awarded –Amount of Research Has gone through several changes

Carnegie Classification Terminology Pre-2000: Research I 2005: Doctoral/Research University Extensive Current: Research University/Very High Research Activity

Academic Institutions Carnegie Classification Doctorate Universities Master’s Colleges and Universities Baccalaureate Colleges Associates Colleges Special Focus Institutions

Carnegie Classification Doctorate Universities At least 20 doctoral degrees per year Research Universities (very high research activity) (RU/VH) –Offer Doctorates, Large amount of research expenditure –Texas A&M, Rice, UT-Austin Research Universities (high research activity) (RU/H) –Offer doctorates, moderate amount of research expenditure –Baylor, Texas Tech, U of H, UNT, UT-Arlington, UT-Dallas, UTEP Doctoral/Research Universities (DRU) –Offer doctorates, limited research expediture –Sam Houston, SMU, TAMU-Commerce, TAMU-Kingsville, TCU, Texas Women’s

Carnegie Classification Master’s Colleges and Universities At least 50 Master’s degrees per year, split by number of Master’s degrees awarded Larger Programs (Master’s/L) –Dallas Baptist, Lamar, Our Lady of the Lake, Prairie View A&M, St. Edward’s, Stephen F. Austin, Sul Ross State, Tarleton State, TAMU-Corpus Christi, Texas State, University of Dallas, University of Houston-Clear Lake, University of Houston-Victoria, UT-San Antonio, UT-Tyler, UT-Pan American, University of the Incarnate Word, West Texas A&M Medium Programs (Master’s/M) –ACU, Amberton, Angelo State, Hardin-Simmons, Houston Baptist, LeTourneau, Midwestern State, Texas A&M International, TAMU-Texarkana, Texas Southern, Texas Wesleyan, Trinity, UT-Brownsville, UT-Permian Basin, Wayland Baptist Smaller Programs (Master’s/S) –DeVry, Lubbock Christian, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor

Carnegie Classification Baccalaureate Colleges Baccalaureate is at least 10% of undergrad degrees Arts and Sciences (BAC/A&S) –Austin College, College of Saint Thomas More, Huston-Tillotson, Jarvis Christian, Southwestern, Texas Lutheran Diverse Fields (BAC/Diverse) –Concordia, East Texas Baptist, Howard Payne, McMurry, Paul Quinn, Schreiner, Southwestern Adventist, Southwestern Assemblies of God, TAMU-Galveston, Texas College, Houston-Downtown, Wiley Baccalaureate/Associate’s Colleges (BAC/Assoc) –Southwestern Christian

Carnegie Classification Associate’s Colleges Degrees at Associate’s level Several variations, from community colleges, to 4-year non-profit, to 4-year for profit

Carnegie Classification Special Focus Institutions High concentration of degrees in a single area –Theological seminaries, Bible colleges, other religious schools –Medical schools and centers –Health profession schools –Schools of engineering –Technology-related schools –Schools of business and management –Schools of art, music, and design –Schools of law –Others Tribal Colleges

Differences in Schools In addition to those categories, other variations: –Public, Public Land-Grant, Private, Private for-Profit –Residential, “Commuter” The category of the school tends to affect several things about it: –Mission –Expectations for faculty –Degree offerings –Types of students

Positions in Academia Faculty Administration –For many upper-level positions, graduate degree is needed –Often move to administration from faculty Support –Specialized services/technologies/knowledge –Usually the largest percentage of employees

Faculty Positions Tenured/Tenure-Track Faculty Teaching Faculty/Lecturers Research Faculty

Primary duty is research –Expected to be funded from grants Most if not all salary is from grants –Sometimes coordinate rather than work directly on research topics Limited other duties –Usually don’t teach, limited service –Might still serve on graduate student committees, but usually won’t chair

Teaching Faculty Primary role is teaching –Most do not actively pursue research –Usually have ~2x teaching load of tenured faculty Research Universities: –Lecturers –Not Tenure-Track Teaching Universities: –Faculty –Can be tenured

Tenure-Track/Tenured Faculty The “regular” faculty members Research, Teaching, Service Supervise graduate students Tenure-track (pre-tenure) or Tenured

The Role of Research The role of Universities is the “the pursuit, understanding, and dissemination of knowledge” Knowledge transfer is expected –Teaching in classes –Graduate students –Publications/Presentations to larger community –Cooperation with industry/government Research plays a large role at Research Schools, less so at Teaching Schools Research is a (THE) major part of graduate studies, particularly for Ph.D.

Research in Academia Typically more “basic” research than that funded by corporate entities –R&D at companies is usually mainly “D” Research is evaluated by peer review Research is disseminated through publication –Conferences, Journals Research affects teaching

Teaching in Academia Teaching “load” will vary by type of institution, department, and other factors (such as other faculty responsibilities)

Service in Academia Support the University’s infrastructure –Committees in Department, College, University –Advisors to groups –Administrative duties (overseeing programs) Support the wider scholarly field –Peer review of proposals and papers –Editorial boards and Program committees –Professional organizations Support outreach – “engagement” –To industry –To general public

What is Tenure? Reviewed after ~5 years, by senior faculty/administrators –Process takes about 1 year –Sufficient experience prior to joining can be used Usually either get tenure or must leave

What is Tenure? Reviewed after ~5 years, by senior faculty/administrators –Process takes about 1 year –Sufficient experience prior to joining can be used Usually either get tenure or must leave Demonstrate “high level of scholarly accomplishment” –Research (publications/grants) often considered most important –Reviews from faculty outside of your own University –Teaching, Service also considered

What is Tenure? Reviewed after ~5 years, by senior faculty/administrators –Process takes about 1 year –Sufficient experience prior to joining can be used Usually either get tenure or must leave Demonstrate “high level of scholarly accomplishment” –Research (publications/grants) often considered most important –Reviews from faculty outside of your own University –Teaching, Service also considered (level depends on University) Security –Freedom to choose research directions/express opinions –Economic security (Incentive for academic jobs)

Why do You Need a Graduate Degree for Academic Jobs? Of course, provides a “certification” of sorts If you will be doing research, need to have demonstrated research aptitude –Almost always means Ph.D. Supervising graduate students (know expectations) Can demonstrate knowledge level sufficient to teach Master’s/Ph.D. needs change depending on school type.

Recommended Resources Texas A&M Faculty Senate, TAMU Faculty Facts (Answers to questions about faculty roles and responsibilities at TAMU) – Tomorrow’s Professor Preparing for Academic Careers in Science and Engineering –Richard Reis, IEEE Press, 1997 Carnegie Classification: –