By removing the specific service time, Janak said it takes away the scrutiny of trying to become a full professor “early” or “late.”
The requirements to become a full professor at UW have become less explicit.
This past week, UW’s Faculty Senate unanimously passed Senate Bill 331, which eliminates a specific set of time to move from associate to full professor. Originally, the regulation required associate professors to work at the university for six years before consideration for promotion, with any decisions prior considered early.
The bill changes the emphasis from service time to other factors, including, “depth, level and national or international scope and recognition of the candidate’s contributions to the discipline and the university’s mission.”
Edward Janak, UW associate professor and Faculty Senate chair, said serving a specific time to become a professor brought along negative connotations.
“It did eliminate a specific set amount of time as this was proving unwieldy; tenure was perceived more akin to a prison sentence,” he said.
“Now, there will no longer be an argument about their worth because they are ‘going up early.’ If it takes them seven or eight years, okay; now there will no longer be an argument about them ‘being late.’”
To become an associate professor, an assistant professor has to serve six years, being reviewed on a yearly basis. During this review, potential professors must exhibit growth in their field, according to Tucker Readdy, UW assistant professor and Faculty Senate chair elect. Once an associate professor, faculty is not reviewed yearly, unless they are striving for full professorship, he said.
By removing the specific service time, Janak said it takes away the scrutiny of trying to become a full professor “early” or “late.”
“If a faculty member can do it in four years, wonderful,” Janak said. “Now, there will no longer be an argument about their worth because they are ‘going up early.’ If it takes them seven or eight years, okay; now there will no longer be an argument about them ‘being late.’”
Full professors earn more money; however, Readdy said this should not directly affect student tuition. Part of the proposed four percent increase to tuition will account for standard promotion increases, he said, adding salaries are also funded by the state legislature.
The bill was reviewed by the UW Tenure Committee in the 2011-2012 academic year, but it “fell through the cracks” over the past few years, Readdy said. The bill was officially proposed this year with little dispute after filtering through two Faculty Senate committees.
“When you have very little commentary about a change from Faculty Senate as a whole, and two committees have looked at it, you have got to think it’s a pretty good thing,” he said. “In that respect, a lot of people have viewed it and had the opportunity to put in their perspective.”
The bill is officially through the senate and will require a signature from UW President Dick McGinity, Readdy said.
