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Personal-Professional Development: A Formula for Success on the Tenure Track

Manoj S. Patankar San Jose State University

Abstract

Most universities in the United States measure the performance of their tenure-track faculty in three areas: teaching, research, and service. This paper presents a “formula,” based on personal experience, which would enable new faculty to better prepare themselves for success on the tenure-track. The central construct of this formula is an understanding of the various factors that can positively as well as negatively affect one’s productivity. The positive factors are (a) 5-year plan, (b) mentor(s), (c) external grants, and (d) graduate assistants. The negative factors are (a) organizational instability and (b) fluctuating teaching assignment.

Introduction

This paper is a personal opinion piece, based on my experience, aimed at helping new faculty in engineering and technology sectors better prepare themselves to succeed on the tenure track. My experience is primarily at an aviation program within a comprehensive public university. Aviation programs are typically administered under one of three colleges: engineering, business, or applied sciences & arts. In my case, the program was originally administered by engineering, then moved to applied sciences & arts, and then returned to engineering.

In many ways, I have had a unique experience while pursuing my tenure. The brief history is as follows: I accepted a tenure-track appointment under the condition that I would obtain a doctoral degree (not unusual in aviation since there were no doctoral degree programs in aviation at that time); four senior faculty members retired within a six-year period (three years before my arrival and three years after); nobody had received tenure in the department for the preceding fourteen years (three candidates were denied tenure and two resigned while on the tenure track); and in nine years, I have served ten department chairs, two deans, and two colleges.

I present some positive as well as negative factors that have influenced my productivity. I will draw upon the relevant body of research in this area and direct the readers to some sources for additional information. The goal of this paper is to provide new faculty with an introduction to the tenure track by identifying the factors that are likely to influence their degree of success.

Proceedings of the 2002 American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition Copyright ã 2002, American Society for Engineering Education

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Patankar, M. (2002, June), Personal Professional Development: A Formula For Success On The Tenure Track Paper presented at 2002 Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada. 10.18260/1-2--10964