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Session 2248

Tenure and Promotion: Technology Faculty And The Research One University

Albert L. McHenry, Lakshmi V. Munukutla Arizona State University East

Abstract

A significant issue has existed for engineering technology faculty members who aspire to faculty positions at universities who have research as a primary mission element. It is the requirement of a doctoral degree as the entry-level credential for the ET professorate. This concern pervades many professional discussions of faculty status both formal and informal. It has led to TAC/ABET guidelines on the subject in an effort to provide a community-wide solution to the perceived problem. Yet these concerns remain. The purpose of this paper is to provide context and quantifiable evidence from Carnegie Research 1 universities that defines the scope of the conditions that give rise to a major component the ET faculty concerns. The information generated, explains variations in patterns of institutional hiring, tenure criteria, and promotion standards and allays negative faculty feelings.

I. Introduction

Engineering technology programs exist in a wide variety of higher education institutions in the United States. There are two-year associate degree programs that are offered in community college; mono-technical institutions that have both two-year and four-year programs; and even in some universities that offer degrees through the doctorate. There is also great variation in the mission of four-year colleges and doctoral degree granting universities that offer degree programs in engineering technology. Therefore, institutions with great differences in mission, goals and accountability characteristics are involved in nurturing engineering technology education programs. These differences usually manifest themselves in the primary requirements and characteristics of the faculty. The faculty executes the institution’s mission. Faculty members teach the students; generate research ideas and write proposals, to acquire funding that supports research activity and manage and execute research operations. Faculty members execute the service goals of the institution, both internal and external. Hence, the institution has a tremendous stake in the selection and retention of every faculty member, since it mission and reputation is raised or lowered by the performance of each individual member.

II. The Situation

Research universities have made a major commitment to the execution of fundamental research. The selection of persons to populate faculty positions in these institutions is critical to the execution of a major element of their institutional mission. Since the accepted minimum credential for research is the Ph.D. degree or equivalent generally, these institutions require it as

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McHenry, A. L., & Munukutla, L. (1999, June), Tenure And Promotion: Technology Faculty And The Research One University Paper presented at 1999 Annual Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina. 10.18260/1-2--7991