Summary Notes on "A More Evenhanded Approach to Tenure," by P. Wankat and F. Oreovicz, prism, ASEE, April 2001, p. 37.

Summarized by J. T. P. Yao, 4/20/01

"Just how important is teaching in engineering education? Students, parents, and state legislators consider it very important. … But at tenure time, research and the ability to bring in money are what generally matter most. … For the most part now, adequate teaching is a minimum requirement, but the decision is still usually based on research and funding. Great teaching can play a role in questionable cases or when tenure is considered a year early, but outstanding teachers who don't have research credentials are not likely to win tenure."

"At the same time, teaching has become more important. … Then how should teaching quality be judged? The best way is by using multiple measurements. … Student evaluations are a valid approach because studies have shown that the answers to general questions such as determining the 'best teacher' or 'best course' do correlate with how much the student learns. However, …, student evaluation scores should be adjusted for student motivation, class size, course level, course type (core vs. elective), and other factors that are known to affect the score. Another useful measure is a direct comparison of student learning among different instructors. … Other methods include the time-consuming … peer review of reading assignments, homework, and tests to determine the level of content coverage. Classroom visits are reliable if reviewers are trained in what to look for and if they make repeated visits."

"When teaching is included in promotion and tenure decisions, professors are motivated to improve their teaching. … Portfolios are effective for arranging all of this information, and they encourage professors to reflect on their teaching. … Since the bar for tenure is forever being raised, future candidates need to understand both the written and the unwritten requirements. … Full professors, who sit on tenure committees, and administrators are the ones who should take the lead in the priority of teaching."

"Teaching may never be accorded the status of research, but improving your teaching will buttress your research record when the time comes for the tenure decision. And for established scholars, it may add another feather to your cap."

[Readers who are interested in this article are encouraged to read the original paper in its entirety. Other summary notes on faculty reward systems are available on the Internet at http://lohman.tamu.edu under the heading "Summaries of Papers ..."]

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