As we get closer to the beginning of a new academic year (the summer is flying by!), I thought it would be appropriate to re-visit a question regarding starting your academic career. The following question was first published in Spring 2002, Issue #8. Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!
Got questions??? Please submit them to Lisa Growette Bostaph at lisabostaph@boisestate.edu.
QUESTION
When you leave grad school and take that first “job”….how do you choose which committees are the best for you to get involved with?
ANSWER 1
The advice I received was very simple – don’t get too involved in committee work right at first. Instead, find a committee that will not require too much time commitment. My chair directed me to that type of committee. My ego wanted me to get very involved so that everyone would know me, but looking back, I can see that would not have been in my best interest. I needed to concentrate on publishing so that I could get tenure.
ANSWER 2
The first thing you need to do before deciding on what committees to participate in is to ensure that they are worthwhile of your time. Ask your P&T Committee (or department) which committees count toward Community Service for promotion and tenure. Every university rates the different committees slightly different. Be sure that you are involved in at least one important committee. Also, try to participate in committees that you will enjoy. Many require sub-committee work and you want to have an opportunity to work with interesting people on interesting tasks. If you can participate on committees that are at least somewhat related to your research/teaching agenda it would be a valuable networking experience. Balance your committee work with your obligations so that it is split in the appropriate “expected” segments for P&T. Most importantly, don’t get too bogged down with too many committee commitments! That is deadly to an untenured professor! The most difficult task for all of us is to find the balance.