Earlies or Seasoned

April 11, 2024

Some of you might be thinking that it is much too early for a blog to address putting in an application for rank and tenure. On the contrary, now is precisely the time to start planting the seeds for this process. Not in the fall. Now. 
 
The R&T process really does take a village (a department? a college?). All of us touch this process, from faculty who have just started in the past few years to those who have been here for decades. 
 
There are two groups to whom this blog is addressed: 

1. Those of us who will be applying for mid-tenure, tenure and promotion, or senior teaching professor in the next year or two. I name this group “Earlies.”
2. Those of us who are associate, full, or senior teaching professors who are in departments with Earlies. I name this group “Seasoned.”  

 
For Earlies: 

1. Make sure you understand the timeline and the process for submission of materials. Likewise, make sure you understand the rank and tenure website and what will be required of you.
2. I suggest you at least familiarize yourself now with what is required within your application. It likely makes sense to spend some time the summer before your application will be submitted working on your essay and gathering your materials. These tasks are much harder when the semester is in full swing.
3. Check in with your mentor and chair. Check in with the Seasoned in our college to whom you have a connection. Each of these faculty members is a fount of information – use them!
4. As you write your essay, make sure it is readable by faculty from all departments, not just yours. More important, make sure it clearly makes your case for rank and tenure.

 
For Seasoned: 

1. Check in with the Earlies you know. This is not only the purview of chairs and mentors for Earlies, but a responsibility for all of us who are Seasoned. Every Seasoned has wisdom to share or encouragement to impart. 
2. Offer to read the Earlies’ essays that will be in the dossier. This is key for all Earlies. And, for Earlies outside your department it might be especially helpful for you to offer to read and understand their essay, making sure that their essay will be understood by a general audience.
3. One key way for Earlies to prove that they are an excellent teacher is by having a clear record of peer observations. This is especially important given the well-documented biases in teaching evaluations. Set Earlies up for success by sitting in on their classes. Familiarize yourself with their teaching style. This should not wait until the semester an Early goes up for R&T. 
4. Make sure that Earlies understand which key phrases from the Faculty Handbook they will be wanting to write towards. Likewise, discuss your department’s rank and tenure criteria. 
5. Especially if you have gone through the process recently, think about sharing some of your materials – especially your essay - with Earlies. It is helpful for Earlies to have examples of what others have done.

 
The R&T processes are complicated, and we CAS Seasoned need to support each of the Earlies among us. Be kind. Check in. The time from now through the next few months is one of the most crucial for us Seasoned to show Earlies that we are truly invested in them and their success.  It takes a village. 

Dr. Dena Morton
Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences|
Professor, Mathematics