Got a question that needs an answer? Are you a tenured professor willing to share some of your wisdom and experiences? If so, email Alesha Durfee at Alesha.Durfee@asu.edu. Thanks!
Question: How hard is it for a previous assistant professor who went into the applied field to return to the academic field? Do you think that experience and publications in the applied field would “count” towards tenure?
Answer 1: I think it depends on what kind of university the individual seeks. There a number of departments that include social work in their make-up (i.e. Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice, and Social Work), and they would welcome the practical experience. The fact that the individual remained active in publishing in the field would be a plus for any department. Departments that value service learning approaches, student internships, and collaborations between the academic community and the larger community would also appreciate the experience. Another question would be whether or not the individual had teaching evaluations done at the time s/he was at the college or university – teaching evaluations in addition to experience and publications would make for a strong candidate. At the same time, however, at least at my own university, these factors would get the candidate in the door for an interview. But at the promotion and tenure decision-making level, our assistant professors have to demonstrate what they have published and accomplished since being hired. The P&T dossier that the candidate creates has to show very clearly what was done prior to hiring, and these often count far less, if at all. So, one needs to ask the right questions during the interview about what “counts” towards tenure and promotion.
Answer 2: The short answer to your question is ‘it depends.’ You do not share how long you were in the academic position or how long you have been in the applied field. With the limited information provided, I would say that making the transition back to the academy is very possible even in these tight economic times. However, you should be prepared to respond to why you left your academic position and why you now want to return to the academy. As for publications, I am assuming that these are in fact referred publications. If that is the case, add them to your curriculum vita. If the prospective employers have questions or concerns, they will inquire. Most institutions simply want to know that you can publish and have a commitment to publishing as part of your academic position. Including your publications in your C.V. is evidence that you can and do publish. Academic institutions vary, a research one institution may be unwilling to count them toward tenure; however, smaller or private institutions may be willing to accept them toward tenure as their focus may largely be on teaching. Whether an institution is willing to count previous publications toward tenure is something that you would need to clarify in your job negotiation process, and be sure it is in writing. Good luck on your transition!
Answer 3: I think that the answer to this question depends on the type of program that you are looking at. Generally speaking, applied work can be seen as a favorable asset for programs that have more of an emphasis on teaching and service to students, such as state universities or some private liberal-arts colleges. At my place of employment, experience in the classroom and published research are considered higher priorities when evaluating potential candidates, though having experience in the criminal justice field is seen as an enhancement to an application. My impression is that this sort of background would not be as important to schools that are more heavily focused on research. In terms of tenure and promotion, I don’t think that most schools would count this as service credit (though there are always exceptions to the rule here). However, continued involvement in the applied field could be used to support one’s involvement in service related activities, if your school allows for non-university related service to count towards this area. Ultimately, I think most schools will look at your teaching and research achievements over your contributions in the field in your quest for tenure.