This is my personal advice on the tenure process. One of the challenges with these processes is that they are all somewhat different. This makes the idea of a single source of wisdom is a bit misleading. That said, having seen the tenure process from both sides I hope I can give a few things to think about.
The Aim Of Academia Is Not Tenure
As academics we tend to obsess about tenure. I can see the value in tenure. After all the academics specialize so much as part of their studies that they are quite vulnerable to exploitation after graduation. In PhD studies we become best-suited to one type of employment which can leave extremely well qualified people with few alternative sources of employment and thus bad pay and conditions. Thankfully this doesn’t happen as much in business academia but it can happen. This is certainly a greater concern when the protections of tenure go away.
Furthermore, tenure theoretically allows you to speak truth to power. Although many who get tenure, and so earn the right to do something radical, end up continuing doing what they were doing before. After all that is what they are good at. (Some do even less to be fair). Still, the protections of tenure can matter a lot in some disciplines. In some disciplines in some universities I would think tenure is vital.
In business this is often less of a concern. Our problem is more often non-academics not caring what we do rather than being out to get us. We, and I totally include myself, aren’t important enough to develop powerful enemies. Although teaching sustainable business certainly has potential to annoy some powerful people in the US. To be honest, I’d be flattered if a bunch of congresspeople decided they hated my work.
Is Tenure Useful Then?
Of course, it is. It is much more pleasant to have tenure than not. That said, it isn’t worth destroying your life to get it. Remember between starting your PhD studies and getting tenure there is usually over a decade even if things go well. You may well have kids during that period, or at least experience many of the prime years of your life. Don’t waste them obsessing over whether you will get tenure.
Hopefully you will get tenure but if you don’t there are plenty of other universities and positions. You may enjoy them more, even if the role may be a little different or less prestigious. It isn’t clear that those who miss tenure are any less happy than those who get it. (See the work of Dan Gilbert on affective forecasting, Wilson & Gilbert (Advances).pdf and 75_J_Personality_Social_Psychology_617_(Gilbert).pdf). We often aren’t great at predicting how we will feel in the future. Not getting tenure probably won’t be as bad as you fear and getting it won’t be as exciting.
Still, tenure is useful so do take reasonable steps to secure it.
Get To Know The Expectations
A lot of research schools have lists of journal which count for tenure if you have a paper in them. You might even have a “number” of A journal papers quoted as needed. Everyone knows that a number, e.g., 4As, is a silly way to judge a person’s academic prowess. But it happens, a lot. You can scream it is silly but it won’t change much. When you are senior you can agree it is silly, but chances are you won’t be able to change much then too. Part of the reason is it is just much easier to deny tenure because they need four papers and have two than write a complex discussion of the merits of the work.
So know the expectations. Don’t ruin your life but some journals count and some don’t. Focus on the journals that count.
Your school may accept more, lower tier papers instead of fewer papers on the list. More prestigious schools probably won’t though. That can be tricky. Sometimes you might have to end working on a good idea that isn’t going to be published in a top journal. The good news is that your co-authors who are supportive will understand. And those who don’t understand you don’t want to be working with. (Obviously, harder if they control your destiny but most advisers should be reasonable).
You can always return to any fun papers later when you have the right number published.
Beyond Papers — Teaching
So papers are key. Still, there are other things that help. A lot of these are at the margin but if you are close these “extras” can be the difference between a small win and a small loss on a tenure decision.
Teaching does matter. Often teaching quality is interpreted as student satisfaction. As such, do work on building a rapport with your students. Remember they don’t know as much as you but don’t look down on them. You didn’t know the stuff you are teaching not that long ago.
Don’t fight with your students. Pre-tenure isn’t the time to tell the next generation they are coddled even if you personally believe that.
Student evaluations have lots of problems. It is similar to paper counts. People know the problems and bias but they are much easier to use than other possibilities for teaching assessment. Do make sure your assessors know that student evals are imperfect but they probably already know.
So work on getting the students to appreciate you. I would think that it often helps to show them your true personality. (But I guess that depends a little on your personality).
If you are at a research university work hard to ensure that teaching doesn’t dominate your life. Hopefully you can get lesson plans/slides from other teachers. If not, I’m not a textbook fan but they are new teacher’s friend. Don’t try and be too clever in your teaching pre-tenure if you are at a research university.
Get To Know People In The School And The Wider University
One of the great things about universities is that they have lots of cool people (as well as a few weirdoes). Think of a few things that you will enjoy and let yourself have time to do them. I’m personally not convinced focusing all day every day on an obscure topic helps. You might be surprised about the ideas/data/references you get from talking to people across campus.
Being a junior professor is a wonderful opportunity to find out new things and you probably got into academia because you like learning things not revising papers. Take the opportunity to learn, you will feel better and it may even help.
When you go up for tenure it is helpful if your colleagues know and like you. Again this can be the difference between just getting tenure or just missing it. Academics can be a bit solitary so take the time to chat even if they are a bit standoffish. There are more socially awkward academics than truly evil ones.
Enjoy Yourself And Be Yourself
Being a junior professor is a wonderful opportunity. Often we miss having fun through worrying. Try and appreciate what you have. When you see something silly at a university instead of getting annoyed try and find the funny side.
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