Tenure PromotionTenure Promotion

Jason Cong Jason Cong cong@cs.ucla.educong@cs.ucla.edu

Professor and Past ChairProfessor and Past Chair

Computer Science DepartmentComputer Science Department

University of California, Los AngelesUniversity of California, Los Angeles

Important Factors for Tenure Decision by the DepartmentImportant Factors for Tenure Decision by the Department

Candidate’s recordCandidate’s record ResearchResearch

VisibilityVisibility

TeachingTeaching

ServiceService

Outside lettersOutside letters

Comparative Metrics Comparative Metrics

Faculty committee reportFaculty committee report

Research Contributions Research Contributions Publications, Publications,

Journal papers and full-length refereed conference papers, Journal papers and full-length refereed conference papers, The selectivity, quality, and prestige of the journal/conference are important. The selectivity, quality, and prestige of the journal/conference are important. Quality is more important than quantity (about 5 papers will be mailed to the Quality is more important than quantity (about 5 papers will be mailed to the

references)references)

FundingFunding A measure of the interest of the broader community in the candidate's A measure of the interest of the broader community in the candidate's

research. research. Both the size of the grants, and the quality of the review process are important Both the size of the grants, and the quality of the review process are important

measures. For example, DARPA vs NSF grants measures. For example, DARPA vs NSF grants When there are several PI/CO-PIs on a grant, a % of the candidate's When there are several PI/CO-PIs on a grant, a % of the candidate's

participation should be stated. participation should be stated.

Both research independence and collaboration are important and Both research independence and collaboration are important and should be represented in candidates' research. should be represented in candidates' research.

FundingFunding

Target prime funding opportunitiesTarget prime funding opportunities Bookmark and visit funding agencies sites regularlyBookmark and visit funding agencies sites regularly

• Find out hit rates if possible (e.g., equip. grants)Find out hit rates if possible (e.g., equip. grants) Industry career development monies to dept.Industry career development monies to dept. NSF/ONR/ARL CAREER competitionsNSF/ONR/ARL CAREER competitions

• borrow sample proposals from successful colleaguesborrow sample proposals from successful colleagues

Schedule a visit to funding agencySchedule a visit to funding agency Volunteer to be on NSF review panelsVolunteer to be on NSF review panels Ask successful colleagues to review your proposal outline, read Ask successful colleagues to review your proposal outline, read

your proposal and your proposal and listenlisten to their feedback to their feedback If at first you don’t succeed, try, try againIf at first you don’t succeed, try, try again

Visibility Visibility Awards and honors: e.g., NSF career award, best paper awards, etc. Awards and honors: e.g., NSF career award, best paper awards, etc. Professional servicesProfessional services

Serving as a member or chair of TPC of high-quality conferences and Serving as a member or chair of TPC of high-quality conferences and workshops; workshops;

Being active in reviewing papersBeing active in reviewing papers Serving on the editorial board, of high-quality journals, and comparable Serving on the editorial board, of high-quality journals, and comparable

responsibilities. responsibilities.

Invited talks, and external seminars Invited talks, and external seminars CitationsCitations

TotalTotal Top citations (would like to see a few high-impact work)Top citations (would like to see a few high-impact work) H-numberH-number Use of research results by others as contrasted with a simple citation. Use of research results by others as contrasted with a simple citation.

Teaching Teaching

The quality of a candidate's teaching will be assessed The quality of a candidate's teaching will be assessed

against that of other members of the department. against that of other members of the department. Standard course evaluation metrics will be used primarily. Standard course evaluation metrics will be used primarily.

Peer teaching review consisting of Peer teaching review consisting of • lecture evaluationlecture evaluation• course material evaluation. course material evaluation.

The production of top graduate students, as measured by their The production of top graduate students, as measured by their • Resumes and Resumes and • Place of employment (esp. major research universities)Place of employment (esp. major research universities)

Teaching PortfolioTeaching Portfolio

Teach a blend of courses (small/large, undergrad/grad, etc.)Teach a blend of courses (small/large, undergrad/grad, etc.) Teach as Teach as fewfew different courses as possible different courses as possible

Courses that are easy for you or graduate courses in your areaCourses that are easy for you or graduate courses in your area• stay away from weeder courses and large time commitment junior stay away from weeder courses and large time commitment junior

courses if possiblecourses if possible Invest your time in developing a good set of notes and use them over and Invest your time in developing a good set of notes and use them over and

over againover again Good learning is not Good learning is not hardhard teaching teaching

Learn when/how to say Learn when/how to say no no (no because …)(no because …) Negotiate for release from teachingNegotiate for release from teaching

As part of start-up package, for developing new courses and labs, pretenure As part of start-up package, for developing new courses and labs, pretenure mini-sabbaticalsmini-sabbaticals

Research AdvisingResearch Advising

Recruit good graduate studentsRecruit good graduate students Balance PhD and MS studentsBalance PhD and MS students

• Try to graduate at least one PhD by year sixTry to graduate at least one PhD by year six• Don’t take on too many MS studentsDon’t take on too many MS students

Offer grad level reading course as overloadOffer grad level reading course as overload

Use start-up RA and equipment monies wiselyUse start-up RA and equipment monies wisely

Serve on dept. grad recruiting committeeServe on dept. grad recruiting committee

Learn when and how to say “no”Learn when and how to say “no”• A bad student is worse than no studentsA bad student is worse than no students• Don’t agree to work with any student you haven’t seen “in action”Don’t agree to work with any student you haven’t seen “in action”

Service Service

The fulfillment of "good citizen" duties is important.The fulfillment of "good citizen" duties is important.

Opportunities for service Opportunities for service DepartmentDepartment

SchoolSchool

CampusCampus

Research communityResearch community

Budget your time properlyBudget your time properly Feel free to tell your department chair if you are overloaded. Feel free to tell your department chair if you are overloaded.

Outside Reference LettersOutside Reference Letters

Very important in the decision making processVery important in the decision making process

The candidate suggests half and the department chooses The candidate suggests half and the department chooses

half for a total about 10-12 referenceshalf for a total about 10-12 references

Plan your references earlier (in 3Plan your references earlier (in 3rdrd or 4 or 4thth years) years) Get to know them at conferencesGet to know them at conferences

Visit their departments to give seminarsVisit their departments to give seminars

Send them your important workSend them your important work

Comparative Metrics Comparative Metrics

A small Paragon Set (PS) of young scholars will be A small Paragon Set (PS) of young scholars will be

identified from the candidate's research area. identified from the candidate's research area. Consist of 3-5 leading scholars, including some who have just Consist of 3-5 leading scholars, including some who have just

made tenure, or are in the process of making tenure, at the top-made tenure, or are in the process of making tenure, at the top-ten research universities. ten research universities.

Selected by the department, in consultation with the candidate, Selected by the department, in consultation with the candidate, and faculty in his/her field of research. and faculty in his/her field of research.

Compare the candidate and the PSCompare the candidate and the PS• ResearchResearch• VisibilityVisibility

Knowing Your RightsKnowing Your Rights

Able to see redacted copies of the outside letters and Able to see redacted copies of the outside letters and

departmental reports (at least in the UC system)departmental reports (at least in the UC system)

Can provide rebuttal before and after Can provide rebuttal before and after Faculty committee reportFaculty committee report

Departmental vote, and Departmental vote, and

Chair’s recommendationChair’s recommendation

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

““Excellence in Tenure Decisions” by UCLA CSD former department Excellence in Tenure Decisions” by UCLA CSD former department

chairs (R. Muntz, M. Ercegovac, J. Cong)chairs (R. Muntz, M. Ercegovac, J. Cong)

““The Tenure Process”, Debra Richardson, Janie Irwin, and Sandhya The Tenure Process”, Debra Richardson, Janie Irwin, and Sandhya

Dwarkadas Dwarkadas