Steps to Tenure and Promotion at East Tennessee State University ETSU is a good place to work and a good place to build a professional career. Norma Hogan Professor, Curriculum and Instruction New Faculty Orientation, 2011

1. Check out the ETSU Faculty Handbook 2.3 and 2.4.

2. Make sure you know the terms of your employment, including tenure and promotion.  Date of appointment.  Years credit toward tenure and/or promotion—in writing.  Date you must submit dossier and application.  Appointment letter and contract—make an employment file.

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion.  Check out your department’s official statement of department- specific criteria for tenure and promotion at ate/facultyhandbook/coll dept/. ate/facultyhandbook/coll dept/

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion.  Find out if one or more mentors will be assigned to you. If not, ask for one or more mentors. Possibly, your chair will volunteer and identify senior faculty.  Begin dialogue with your department chairperson about expectations and performance.  Example: Ask your chair and mentor(s) to go over your curriculum vitae and your departmental criteria with you, critique your CV, and discuss what they will want to see on your CV as you move toward tenure and/or promotion.

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion.  Example: Will there be a “third-year review”?

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion.  Example: How will your department handle the required peer evaluation of your teaching?

4. Set up three files for documentation— Teaching, Research, and Service  Digital files are fine. (We have a new, way-cool, 100% online T&P application process.)  Most people will also need paper files.  What to put in your files: Save (almost) everything and winnow periodically:  Evidence of what you did.  Evidence of its quality.  Make sure you have backups for your most important documentation—paper and digital.

5. Check out the new, online T&P system.  Watch online tutorial at n_demo.html. n_demo.html  Read the attachment to Bill Kirkwood’s on the new system.  (Let me know if you have not received it by now.)

6. Annual Evaluation  Annual evaluation: Obviously should build toward tenure/promotion, but not a guarantee.

7. Pay attention to interpersonal relationships with colleagues but don’t worry excessively.  Treat all colleagues with respect.  Work hard and do a good job.  Participate in the life of department, college, university and community.  Don’t be afraid to exchange views in a respectful, open manner.  Listen carefully and don’t make others hesitant to give you helpful criticism and advice. Be nice to dinosaurs because you hope to become one.

ETSU is a good place to earn tenure and promotion.