When Does the Tenure Clock Start?

[Blueberry]

Just curious...

I am beginning an assistant prof position in August and wonder when my publications will likely begin to count for tenure. In other words, will publications after August count? Or, will things I publish between now and then count as well? How do most schools do this?

Many thanks!

[varies]

Varies from institution to institution. With regards to publication, some will only consider those papers that have been developed mostly while at the new place, while others will accept anything as long as the affiliation org listed is the current one.

[drbearjew]

You should talk to your chair to get the departmental policy on this. And for others, you should consider including this as part of your negotiating strategy. Especially if the manuscripts won't be in print until after your contract starts, or if the publication year is the same year as when your contract begins. This is not an uncommon request, and many departments and colleges are willing to bend a little.

[WillTheFarter]

Mar 26, 2014 9:03:44 GMT -5 varies said:

Varies from institution to institution. With regards to publication, some will only consider those papers that have been developed mostly while at the new place, while others will accept anything as long as the affiliation org listed is the current one.

I think it is often intentionally left somewhat vague, so that the "rules" for counting pubs can be turned to enhance or undermine your tenure case. It's a version of Lipsky's Street-level bureaucracy.

[styles]

All points/advice above are good:

1. It varies by institution
2. Talk to your chair (though I’m not sure this is negotiable in most places and see my additional insight/advice below)
3. It is intentionally vague…just as that “magical” publication number is

My insight/advice

A more general guideline is that you only consider a publication that has your to-be-tenured institution’s name on it. And you should get that name on anything that you possibly can…forget about the fact that something may have largely been completed before you got there…if you can get the affiliation name on the paper/book do it!

My advice is to approach this process by only considering those papers/books that you have published within the academic years you are “on the clock” at your to-be-tenured institution. Even if you publish between your PhD and sign-on date for a tenure track position (often occurs with postdocs), approach tenure with the mindset that only pieces coming out after you started your job (pubs with your institution name on it) will count…even if your chair/dept says that all items published post PhD will count. By doing so you will underestimate your pubs (be conservative and push yourself) and hopefully surpass any expectations. And don’t overlook the fact that you never know how an external reviewer will look at this even if your dept considers “in-between” pubs as counting towards tenure.

Best wishes

[Blueberry]

Thank you for all this advice, it is very helpful!