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Earning Tenure: Ten

Recommendations

Sara (Sally) Tobin
Stanford University

T

enure is a pivotal evaluation in the career of an

academic scientist. The tenure process can be a

gratifying recognition of achievement that

emerges easily from one’s scientific successes, or it

can be energy-draining, stressful, and full of conflicts.

Many factors influence the process, some of which

can be anticipated in advance, while others may

emerge unexpectedly. On the basis of a broad sam-

pling of tenure histories, ten recommendations are

offered to smooth the path of a candidate through the

process. Ideally, preparation for tenure begins before

arrival on campus.

Find Out What the Tenure Requirements

Are and Plan to Meet Them

After the welcome phone call offering you the

position, you will eventually receive a letter of

appointment from the Dean or other officer. It will

summarize the terms of the appointment and will

specify the academic year in which you will be con-

sidered for tenure. For a typical initial academic

appointment, it is probably best to request as much

time as possible before the tenure decision; if your

work goes especially well, the timeline can be moved

forward. Write a formal response summarizing the

conditions under which the offer is accepted, such as

salary, teaching responsibilities, start-up funds, and

laboratory renovations with the target date for com-

CHAPTER 7 • TENURE 71

The tenure clock does not stop if the

maintenance crew is delayed by

emergency remodeling of the Provost’s

conference room.