Leading Campus Conversations about Engaged Scholarship in Promotion and Tenure

An evidence-based discussion guide for faculty leaders, department chairs, and college deans

Convening constructive conversations about promotion and tenure is challenging, especially when faculty disagreements about the nature of scholarship, the importance of rigor, and the standards of evidence raise deep controversies about "what truly counts" in the academy. For decades institutional leaders have advocated for reform of the faculty roles and rewards system to include outreach and engagement as a recognized form of faculty scholarship. While there is agreement on the need for such reforms, there is little guidance on how to convene the campus conversation on such a contested and controversial topic—engaged scholarship in promotion and tenure.

This discussion guide synthesizes the latest research on faculty engagement into a framework for faculty, department chairs, and college deans to use for leading constructive campus conversations about engaged scholarship in promotion and tenure. Scholarship about motivation for engagement, types of engaged scholarship, continuum of evidence, indicators of quality, career stages, degrees of collaboration, integration of engaged scholarship into faculty roles, and institutional policies from around the country (e.g., Michigan State University, North Carolina State University, IUPUI, and others) form the basis for this evidence-based discussion guide.

Please contact Diane Doberneck at connordm@msu.edu with questions, comments, or requests related to this study.

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