role of chairs and deans during the tenure-track process theme = “onboarding faculty” webster:...
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Role of Chairs and DeansDuring the Tenure-Track Process
Theme = “Onboarding faculty”
Webster: “un-bearding”?“in-breeding”?
Opposite = “off-boarding ”
Collins: “induction and assimilation of new employee into company and organization”
NOT “Waterboarding”
Preparing Faculty for SuccessMentor
Listen
Guide
Feedback: formal (annual) informal (keep records if appropriate)
Laurier: 2 stage process Provisional: 2 years Candidacy: 3 years
} Collegiality
New Faculty Member:
Orientation
Available resources:- teaching support- access to Dean, Chair, peers
Make clear what are the expectations- reinforce periodically
Engage in life of department- seek their input
Evaluation:
Teaching
Scholarship
Service } Make sure written feedback is detailed and explicit
Teaching:Case Study: “Fred”
strong research profile
Fred –
committed teacher ……..but- poor scores- student comments
- developing negative reputation, confrontational
Chair, Dean, Peer mentoring (classroom) modified approach
Scholarship:
Parameters: productivity quality quantity graduate education (students)
Scholarship:Case Study: “Dianne”
strong pedigree
struggled to get funding – lost confidence
lack of peer-reviewed publications- working on “big one”
Chair: Good teacher reduced load strategy to succeed- papers/grants- picking up more teaching again
Service:Case Study: “Dave”
position co-sponsored by outside agency
difficulty in working relationship- politics
“Dave” felt squeezed- concerned about influence of third party on career development
Service:
Chair – detailed records, written
clarify/reassure – nature of relationship- input into T & P – not determinative
demonstrates Chair doing everything possible to resolve concerns
Summary:• Make expectations clear without being prescriptive
• Provide pro-active mentoring
• Engage range of university services as needed
• Document actions expected on both sides if there are issues to resolve
• Avoid being adversarial
• Provide clear, explicit feedback throughout performance evaluation and tenure processes
Summary:
Colleague who will contribute effectively for 30+ years
Things to consider:
Need to ensure tenure decision consistent with performance reviews
Annual performance review – currently Dean only
External referees for tenure - advisory not determinative