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68 CAREER ADVICE FOR LIFE SCIENTISTS

The Tenure Process Viewed

from the Top

Martha D. Berliner

Retired

T

he department chairperson is instrumental in

shaping the outcome of tenure applications.

Following are some considerations for those who

aspire to tenure, before they join a department and

after they’ve arrived, from the Chair’s point of view:

Department Composition

Does the department recruiting you consist of one

or two professors, a few associate professors, and many

untenured assistant professors and instructors? If so,

ask if the university and/or the department has a

tenure cap. This is a way for university budget officials

to limit promotions, while legitimately advertising

tenure-track positions. It is also important to remember

that there is no mandatory retirement age for faculty.

Unless attractive early retirement packages are offered

to older, tenured faculty, slots for promotion may open

up only rarely. The combination of a relatively young

tenured faculty and tenure caps may create a situation

where obtaining tenure is unrealistic.

Tenure History and Competition

Learn when the last time was that tenure was grant-

ed, how many tenure requests have been denied and

how many tenure-track positions are being filled cur-

rently. Many schools hire scientists on the tenure-track

in order to keep the money-making basic and service

courses staffed, with only occasional teaching responsi-

bilities in specialty courses. However, there usually are

The combination of a relatively young

tenured faculty and tenure caps may

create a situation where obtaining

tenure is unrealistic.