Hello, all
Since our conversation started with an article reporting that a young academic was suing her college for not allowing her enough time to create publications and other materials required for tenure, I think it would be interesting to bring our discussion back to that initial topic.
What obligation does the college have to mentor and/or inform new faculty (or administrators) of the criteria for advancement? What obligation, if any, does the college have to provide opportunity for new faculty to succeed?
When I arrived in Oneonta, I was told repeatedly by my chair (at that time) that there was absolutely no need for me to seek an advanced degree beyond the Masters I possessed when I was hired, since SUNY accepted music public performance in lieu of publications and in lieu of a doctorate.
I was never told that publications would help my career. In retrospect, I see that my superiors in rank gave me incorrect information. Speaking in general, and with no reference to my own case, does the college have any obligation to advise employees of criteria for professional success, and if so, does the college have any liability for not fulfilling that duty?
We do not, to my knowledge, have any organized system of professional mentoring at our school. Should one be developed?
If one is developed, will the college open itself to any sort of legal action if the mentoring is deemed insufficient or ineffective?
Institutional mentoring would offer an important opportunity for institutional acculturation that might be of benefit to all, without interfering with the diversity we seek to support at our college.
Thanks
Janet
Dr. J. Nepkie
NEW EMAIL ADDRESS
[log in to unmask]
SUNY Distinguished Service Professor
SUNY Music Department
Oneonta, NY 13820
tele: 607-436-3425
fax: 607 436 2718
From: "Castendyk, Devin" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Sun, 25 Mar 2012 13:52:04 -0400
To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: Re: A cautionary note to young faculty
Hi Steve (and everyone else),
Your question is a little unfair. What if your daughter loved Byzantine art, had the chance to tour Turkey with an expert in Christian, Byzantine and medieval art, received a research grant to study with this person, and was more likely to get into graduate school because of their reputation? Would that influence her decision?
I noticed that your list did not include:
d. A faculty member that spends large amounts of time on committees and performing service to the college.
Since Service is one of the three things we are required to do at SUNY Oneonta, I wonder where this would rank on your list? Would your daughter have prefered a great teacher who served on 6 different committees, or one who had 6 different publications and was internationally recognized as an expert in her/his field?
Just some thoughts,
Devin
________________________________________
Devin Castendyk, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Water Resources Program Coordinator
Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
State University of New York, College at Oneonta
Oneonta, NY 13820
Phone: 607-436-3064
Fax: 607-436-3547
Email: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
________________________________
From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Pence, Harry
Sent: Sunday, March 25, 2012 8:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: A cautionary note to young faculty
Dear Rhea,
Good post, and a good attitude for a young faculty member. Some time ago you asked me how you can avoid getting burned out; I think you just answered your own question.
Cordially,
Harry
P.S. Does you suppose that any teacher on his or her deathbed ever said, "I wish I had spent more time on committee meetings?" I hate to think of how many thousands of hours I spent in Committee meetings during my career, only ten percent of which really did anything significant. The trick is to identify the ten percent.
Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta
________________________________
From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Nowak, Rhea
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2012 1:15 PM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: A cautionary note to young faculty
The college I went to expected faculty to be serious about their research and it was an exciting and dynamic place to be and to learn. From my point of view as a faculty member I’m a artist and I teach. If I am not regularly retuning to the studio, that place of “not knowing”, that place of creating original visual communication on a regular basis andputting it up for all to see and judge then I don’t reserve the privilege nor am I up to the responsibility of teaching at a college. Art, as are many disciplines, is a practice.
Rhea Nowak
Assistant Professor of Art
SUNY College at Oneonta
Oneonta, NY
(607) 436-2827
From: "Gilbert, Steven" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Reply-To: Teaching Breakfast List <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 10:04:40 -0400
To: "[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>" <[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>>
Subject: Re: A cautionary note to young faculty
A one question multiple-choice test for SUNY students and the parents who (mostly) pay to send them there.
1. A teacher at SUNY is being considered for tenure. Which of the following should be given the least weight in this decision.
a. The quality and effectiveness of teaching
b. The quality and effectiveness of advising and mentoring of students
c. Publication of six to eight articles on early Christian, Byzantine and medieval art in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals
I know how I would have answered as a parent whose children graduated from SUNY-Geneseo and SUNY-New Paltz. And its the same answer I would have given as a faculty member at SUNY-Oneonta.
Steve.
c
Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/03/23/louisville-lawsuit-raises-concerns-familiar-those-tenure-track#ixzz1pwnhOWm2
Inside Higher Ed
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Steven J. Gilbert, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus of Psychology
State University of New York, College at Oneonta
[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Home Page: http://employees.oneonta.edu/gilbersj/stevepage.htm
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________________________________
From: Teaching Breakfast List [[log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>] On Behalf Of Pence, Harry
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2012 8:02 AM
To: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
Subject: A cautionary note to young faculty
I suspect that this is unusual only in that the woman involved is going to court to sue the college.
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2012/03/23/louisville-lawsuit-raises-concerns-familiar-those-tenure-track
This is must reading for young faculty.
Harry
Harry E. Pence
SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Emeritus
SUNY Oneonta