Many scholars that study the professoriate and faculty careers have found a lack of clarity regarding policies for promotion to full professor at American colleges and universities. This issue is significant and needs further investigation because various studies have reported evidence of faculty career stagnation as a growing number of associate…

In the UK, a default retirement age no longer exists and more people choose to 'stay on' in their academic posts. 'Staying on' poses opportunities and threats in the academic labour market. Older academics can make a positive contribution to their institution through their expertise and experience. By continuing to work, paying tax and keeping…

The authors of this report call on their colleagues to adopt "Public Impact Research" (PIR) as a broad label to describe how university research improves lives and serves society--locally, regionally, nationally, and globally. Using PIR consistently along with fundamental discovery and training the next generation workforce communicates…

Despite the precipitous increase in nontenure-track faculty appointments, the promotion and tenure process continues to operate as a central "motivational and cultural force in the academic lives" of many faculty members. As a part of larger reward systems, the promotion and tenure process reflects institutional values, aspirations,…

The rank of professor or "full" professor represents the highest status possible for faculty members, and it is generally gained by attaining professional expertise and a national or international reputation. Beyond this, however, little is known about these individuals or the promotion process at this level. In this qualitative study of…

American institutions of higher education are experiencing a rapid change in academic staffing, leaving the tenure model for a more flexible, contingent workforce. Nearly two in five of all full-time instructional staff holds non-tenure-eligible positions as term-limited academic appointments. This study compared faculty appointment types by…

The focus of this article is the tenure review process in Canadian universities, a rigorous and high-stakes evaluation of junior academics that serves as a prime exemplar of "disciplining academics", our project's title. In-depth interviews in seven Ontario universities with 30 knowledgeable informants such as senior managers and faculty…

Scholars who teach composition, a staple on the schedule of many a college freshman, often wind up stringing together a series of adjunct teaching jobs while keeping an eye out for that first step on the golden track to tenure. This article reports on a group of 20 people hired by St. John's University to teach in its first-year writing program,…

The search for and retention of good faculty is one of the most important tasks undertaken by a university; nothing is more discouraging than when a new faculty member leaves after only a few years. In today's climate of decreasing resources, a college or university must be clear and intentional about its search processes. This essay discusses…

In academia, there are two different worlds, one inhabited by tenure-track and the other by non-tenure-track faculty. In the first, people encourage faculty to become involved in a series of important reforms that increase student success, completion, and learning. In this first world, people envision faculty simultaneously increasing their…

In response to external pressure for change, the subject university engaged in major restructuring activities during the mid to late 1990's. As predicted by organizational theory, faculty reacted to the restructuring in order to define the conditions and methods of their work and to legitimate their professional autonomy. Although this university…

Organizational rules explain organizational stability and change. Using national surveys and fieldwork, we examine changes in tenure and promotion rules at comprehensive colleges and universities from 1969 to 2002. We find that increased rule founding and change arise from the increasingly rationalized environment, such as the academic…

"Gender Differences at Critical Transitions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty" presents new and surprising findings about career differences between female and male full-time, tenure-track, and tenured faculty in science, engineering, and mathematics at the nation's top research universities. Much of this…

This report examines the assertion that selections for promotion to administrative and supervisory position should be made from personnel within the district and that it is economically and educationally beneficial for school districts to carry on active programs to identify leadership potential. Few research findings are available to substantiate…

Examines the controversy over the lack of faculty diversity at Harvard Law School and highlights the school's past practices regarding hiring and promotion of minority teaching staff. The pool problem issue is discussed, and the current status of faculty diversity is presented. (GLR)