The pathway to promotion and tenure in academic institutions is intentionally challenging, pushing candidates to be productive contributors to academia with a common emphasis on research and teaching achievements. This pathway, however, can be problematic for those at U.S. Land and/or Sea Grant institutions with a substantial Extension (or equivalent ‘advisory’) appointment, particularly when reviewed by peers who have limited to no experience with Extension – despite the often high value that academic institutions put upon the engagement and impact achieved by Extension specialists.
Common issues include 1) weak recognition of non-traditional scholarly products, such as digital outreach, training modules, or other deliverables, relative to more typical peer-reviewed publications, 2) focus on applied research which often does not garner the same intellectual consideration as basic research, 3) changes in research as a result of reaction to stakeholder concerns and requests, whereas many academics without Extension appointments build a focused research program over years, 4) geographic constraints on professional recognition due to focus on serving local stakeholders, and 5) challenges in documenting impact in a way that faculty colleagues will recognize and value.
In this session, the authors, which all possess substantial Extension (or equivalent) duties, will share their perspectives on the challenges in the promotion & tenure process – as well as recommend tactics to successfully navigate these challenges. The session will conclude with an open dialogue with attendees to obtain additional perspectives, voice concerns and answer questions.