Steps to Tenure and Promotion at East Tennessee

State University

Norma HoganProfessor, Curriculum and Instruction

New Faculty Orientation, 2011

1. Check out the ETSU Faculty Handbook 2.3 and 2.4.

2. Make sure you know the terms of your employment, including tenure and promotion. Date of appointment. Years credit toward tenure and/or promotion—in writing. Date you must submit dossier and application. Appointment letter and contract—make an employment file.

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion. Check out your

department’s official statement of department-specific criteria for tenure and promotion at http://www.etsu.edu/senate/facultyhandbook/colldept/.

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion. Find out if one or more mentors will be assigned

to you. If not, ask for one or more mentors. Possibly, your chair will volunteer and identify senior faculty.

Begin dialogue with your department chairperson about expectations and performance.

Example: Ask your chair and mentor(s) to go over your curriculum vitae and your departmental criteria with you, critique your CV, and discuss what they will want to see on your CV as you move toward tenure and/or promotion.

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion. Example: Will there be a “third-year review”?

3. Find out what your departmental requirements and expectations are for tenure and promotion. Example: How will your department handle the

required peer evaluation of your teaching?

4. Set up three files for documentation—Teaching, Research, and Service Digital files are fine. (We have a new, way-cool,

100% online T&P application process.) Most people will also need paper files. What to put in your files: Save (almost) everything

and winnow periodically: Evidence of what you did. Evidence of its quality.

Make sure you have backups for your most important documentation—paper and digital.

5. Check out the new, online T&P system. Watch online tutorial at

http://www.etsu.edu/streaming/tenure_and_promotion_demo.html.

 Read the attachment to Bill Kirkwood’s email on the new system. (Let me know if you have not received it

by now.)

6. Annual Evaluation Annual evaluation: Obviously should build toward

tenure/promotion, but not a guarantee.

7. Pay attention to interpersonal relationships with colleagues but don’t worry excessively. Treat all colleagues with respect. Work hard and do a good job. Participate in the life of department, college,

university and community. Don’t be afraid to exchange views in a respectful,

open manner. Listen carefully and don’t make others hesitant to

give you helpful criticism and advice.

Be nice to dinosaurs because you hope to become one.

ETSU is a ETSU is a good place good place

to earn to earn tenure and tenure and promotion.promotion.