Demystifying the Path to Tenure: Insights from NASSM Leaders
The second installment of the NASSM Conversations initiative occurred on September 25, 2024. In this session, President Dr. Thomas Aicher facilitated a candid discussion on the promotion and tenure process with seasoned administrators Drs. Marlene Dixon, Larena Hoeber, and Michael Sagas. Their collective wisdom offered valuable insights for faculty at all career stages, presented below.
Research: Building a Strong Foundation—The panelists emphasized the importance of strategic planning when building a research portfolio. Understanding your institution's faculty criteria document is crucial—it's your roadmap to success. Daily writing habits and strategic collaborations emerged as key recommendations. One panelist noted that building comprehensive datasets can lead to multiple publications while fostering new ideas through collaboration.
Communicating Impact: Beyond the CV—The message was clear when presenting your work to RPT committees: follow the guidelines and start early. Your narrative should go beyond merely reiterating your CV. Instead, focus on articulating the impact of your work with concrete examples. As suggested during the session, phrases like "As a result of my work..." can effectively demonstrate the significance of your contributions.
Teaching Excellence: Evidence Through Engagement—The discussion also highlighted that teaching effectiveness isn't just about student evaluations. Panelists advocated for:
Demonstrating continuous improvement
Regular collection of student feedback
Adapting teaching methods to student learning styles
Practical tips included allocating class time for evaluations and leveraging extra credit to boost response rates (note from the NASSM M&C; check with faculty handbook or department chair about the “legality” of this, as it may be considered unethical). The panelists also emphasized the value of engaging with campus teaching centers and participating in NASSM's teaching and learning initiatives.
Strategic Service: Finding the Right Balance—For service activities, the key takeaway was selectivity. Junior faculty were specifically advised to:
Focus on departmental service (e.g., serving on committees)
Align service with research or teaching when possible
Be strategic about NASSM involvement, considering committees as stepping stones, and being more than a passenger at conferences (i.e., moderate sessions, engage in the mentorship initiatives).
Practical Advice for the Journey
In addition to the panelists insights to the questions prepared by Dr. Aicher, the session ended with a Q&A, which yielded additional insights:
Be selective about review commitments
Choose external reviewers who understand your work, not just renowned names
Frame doctoral student mentoring as both teaching and research contributions
Throughout the conversation, a common thread emerged: the importance of mentorship. Time and again, panelists noted the value in finding a mentor whose career path aligns with your goals who can provide invaluable guidance through the tenure process.