Promoting Promotion: Strategies and Recommendations

In our more than 15 years of experience working in leadership positions in an institution that has evolved into a research university, we have seen the challenges that design faculty face from promotion and tenure reviewers who are wed to either the scholarly model of peer-reviewed research or the artistic model of peer-reviewed creative activity, and/or who give relatively little weight to collaborative activities. Since peer review is not readily available for much of the work designers do, we advocate preparing a tenure file that showcases the impact of designers' work, including the impact that they have through collaborative projects and grants. In our remarks, we will share framing tactics that have been helpful for design faculty preparing dossiers at our institution, and will suggest methods for supporting design faculty in both the pre-tenure process and the process of advancing towards full professor. (Co-presenter: Carole Woodlock, RIT)