What is Expected of
New Faculty Members?
(How to succeed?)
Bernie Engel, Professor and Head
Agricultural and Biological Engineering
March 25, 2014
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What is Expected of
New Faculty Members?
(How to succeed?)
Klod Kokini
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
College of Engineering
Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Future Faculty Workshop
Purdue
March 10, 2014
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What do faculty do?
o Research (discovery)
o Teaching (learning)
o Service (engagement)
o Understand expectations in each of these
o Understand these expectations within your
culture (Department and College)
Research (Discovery)
o Quality and impact
o Refereed papers
• High quality journals
• Refereed conferences
o Mentoring graduate students (in particular
PhD students) and post docs
o Funding to support your research
o Presentation at conferences (networking)
Teaching (Learning)
o Good teaching at all levels (undergraduate
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and graduate) is required
Measured by student evaluations
Other measurements options include peer
evaluations
Take advantage of “teaching/learning
workshops”
Advising/mentoring undergraduates
Service (Engagement)
o Department, college, university committees
o Usually these are reduced and/or strategic
at the beginning
o Professional organizations: very important
to connect through review panels,
committee work, session organization,
ultimately leading to becoming Associate
Editor, Conference Chair, etc.
o Extend information/findings to audiences
beyond university
o However…be selective and strategic!
Other Expectations
o Collegiality
o Entrepreneurial
o Problem solver
Strategic Plan
o Know strategic plan of University,
College/School, Department
o Identify metrics that relate to you and your
goals
o Align your activities
Research on Quick Starter Faculty
(R. Boice, 2000)
o 95% of new faculty meet or exceed
expectations in 4-5 years
o 5% do it in 2 years…How?
• Writing papers and proposals regularly
• Spending right amount of time, but not over
prepare for teaching
• Network, socialize with colleagues, internally
and externally
• Set clear goals and plans – write them down
Annual Performance Review
o Obtain copy of annual performance review guidelines
o Common items
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Goals
Teaching; evidence of teaching/learning effectiveness
Scholarly publications
Grantsmanship
Graduate students and post docs mentored
Presentations
Awards
Engagement
Citizenship/collegiality
Teamwork
Faculty Orientation Essentials
o Annual faculty expectations
o Guidelines for promotion and/or tenure
o Format for promotion and/or tenure
document
o Guidelines for evaluation of teaching
o Development plan moving toward
promotion and/or tenure
o Mentoring plan
Understanding P&T
o What are the criteria?
o How is annual review with head different
than promotion and/or tenure review?
• Frequency
• Evaluators
• Third year review
Some suggestions as you start
o Understand process and requirements for success
very early on
o Seek advice and mentoring from technical mentors
as well as non-technical colleagues
o You have 5 years (without any tenure clock
extensions) to showcase your excellence
o Quality and impact (not necessarily quantity) are
key
o Ask (demand) for feedback (preferably in writing)
at least once a year from head (chair)
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Faculty Career Progress
o Assistant Professor..contract review in the 2nd/3rd year
o Mentoring and feedback are critical starting day one
o Nomination to Associate Professor with tenure no later
than the beginning of the 6th academic year
o No time limit for nomination to Full Professor. .. typically
within 5-6 years from promotion to Associate Professor
o Named/Distinguished Professor
o Administrative or other paths
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Some Helpful Resources/Policies
o Ask about any mentoring practices and policies
(e.g. formal mentoring in CoE)
o Tenure clock extension policy
o Family leave policy
o Purdue Teaching Academy, Center for Instructional
Excellence (CIE) (or other teaching/learning resources)
o Child care (including infant care) availability
o ADVANCE Programs
o Butler Center for Leadership Excellence
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Resources/Policies (cont’d)
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Ask about any other helpful practices and policies
in your college (e.g. Flexible Workload Policy in
CoE)
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Ask about activities that may help you get
involved (e.g. Women’s Faculty Committees,
Diversity Action Committees), but be strategic
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Take advantage of programs for new faculty;
• University: grant writing workshops, orientation
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programs,
College: new faculty learning communities,
Department: business office, graduate office
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Questions?