Inside Iowa State: Iowa State University

January 30, 2004

Senate likely to seek review of P&T policy

by Linda Charles
The Faculty Senate will continue discussion of a resolution to review the promotion and tenure policy during its February meeting.

The resolution, introduced in January by senate president Jack Girton, calls for departments to examine how the four-year-old promotion and tenure policy is working. Girton said he hopes the resolution will instigate university-wide discussions of the policy.

The promotion and tenure policy broadened the definition of scholarship to include activities beyond traditional research. The policy says, "Scholarship is the umbrella under which research falls, but research is just one form of scholarship. Scholarship also encompasses creative activities, teaching, and extension/professional practice."

Scholarship, as defined by the promotion and tenure policy, was the subject of the 2003 faculty conference. Following the conference, the provost had discussions with faculty from each college about how the promotion and tenure policy is working or should work.

"The time appears ripe for these discussions to be continued at the department level," the resolution states. "Departments are the key point in the P&T process. This is where the process begins, and where peers are the most qualified to evaluate a faculty member's accomplishments. The department is also where faculty seek guidance in shaping their programs."

The resolution seeks information about the expectations of faculty members at different stages in their careers and how scholarship is evaluated by departments for promotion and tenure.

The promotion and tenure policy also introduced position responsibility statements. Each faculty member, working with his or her department, develops a statement that spells out how much time is expected to be spent on teaching, research and other activities.

The resolution asks that departments determine how these position responsibility statements figure into their promotion and tenure processes, and how faculty with different responsibilities are reviewed.

"For example," the resolution reads, "how would the expectations of a faculty member with 70 percent teaching and 30 percent research differ from those of a faculty member with 30 percent teaching and 70 percent research?"

Departments also would be asked to examine the role of non-scholarship accomplishments (teaching, extension, service and administrative activities) in the promotion and tenure process and how they recognize excellence in these areas.

The resolution calls for each department to prepare a statement of its policies and standards to be reviewed by its college, then the university president and provost.

The senate meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at The Hotel at Gateway Center.