U11A:
Moving the Needle Together: Valuing Nontraditional Approaches to Faculty Tenure, Promotion, and Advancement


Note: Abstract submissions to Union sessions are by invitation only.


Session ID#: 45829

Session Description:
The principal purpose of tenure is to safeguard academic freedom, which is necessary for those teach and conduct research. Most departments, colleges, and universities have well-articulated tenure policies and faculty expectations that fit their unique institutional circumstances. Today many faculty are seeking out new ways to conduct research and to maximize the benefits of their work through entrepreneurship, community science, outreach, policy building, and technology-science application. As society and the economy evolve, institutions must also evolve to find ways to recognize these types of geoscience research activities and to value their role in contributing to national and global security and the public’s health and prosperity. To that end, institutions could enable policy and procedural changes to broaden tenure practices and recognize a variety of demonstrations of faculty productivity, research, and scholarship. Panelists will discuss examples of current non-traditional approaches to assist, encourage, and champion faculty advancement towards tenure and promotion.
OSPA Liaison:  Pranoti M. Asher, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, United States
Primary Convener:  Pranoti M. Asher, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, United States
Conveners:  Chris Keane, American Geosciences Institute, Alexandria, VA, United States and Alexandra Shultz, American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, United States
Chairs:  Pranoti M. Asher1, Chris Keane2 and Alexandra Shultz1, (1)American Geophysical Union, Washington, DC, United States(2)American Geosciences Institute, Alexandria, VA, United States

Cross-Listed:
  • ED - Education
  • PA - Public Affairs
Index Terms:

0810 Post-secondary education [EDUCATION]
0855 Diversity [EDUCATION]
6620 Science policy [PUBLIC ISSUES]
6630 Workforce [PUBLIC ISSUES]

Abstracts Submitted to this Session:

Professional Societies Role in Moving the Needle (Invited) (394285)
Vicki S McConnell1, Kimberly A Hannula2 and Kasey S White1, (1)Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO, United States, (2)Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO, United States
Embracing Impact: Remaking Promotion Criteria at WPI to Reflect the Breadth of Scholarly Work (Invited) (348698)
Laurie A Leshin, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Office of the President, Worcester, United States and Peter H Hansen, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Department of Humanities & Arts, Worcester, MA, United States
Promotion and Tenure Guidelines: Opportunities for Conversations Related to the Role of Universities in Society (Invited) (370662)
Jacqueline E Huntoon, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI, United States and John Scott Gierke, Michigan Technological University, Department of Geological and Mining Engineering and Sciences, Houghton, United States
Centering Public Engagement and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Activities in Faculty Hiring and Promotion - Emerging Models and Personal Reflections (Invited) (458635)
Kim M Cobb, Georgia Institute of Technology, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Atlanta, GA, United States
Supporting science literacy and encouraging civic engagement takes work, but first, what are we doing? (Invited) (365121)
Sarah K Fortner, Carleton College, Science Education Resource Center, Northfield, MN, United States and Carolyn E Wilson, American Geological Institute, Alexandria, VA, United States
Public Engagement and Professional Advancement: How High are the Barriers, Really? (Invited) (347599)
Lisa J Graumlich, University of Washington Seattle Campus, Seattle, WA, United States and Jennifer Davison, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States

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