Tenure-track: How much guidance can you ask for from the Dean?

[futureapppsy2]

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Hi all,

First-year TT at a public R1 with a six-year clock. We submit via digital measures for yearly feedback in late September with our "up or out"/"mini-tenure" review being in year four. We get yearly letters from the P&T committee, department head, and dean in years 1, 2, 3, and 5 and a full meeting in year 4. I just got my Dean's letter for first year (based on work from July-September, so about ~2 months on the job. How appropriate or not appropriate is it to ask for a meeting for guidance to make sure I'm headed in the right direction, so to speak? Is that wise, or an annoying waste of the Dean's time?

 

[DynamicDidactic]

I have been at two TT positions but not research-intensive. My feeling from both is the Dean doesn't really care all that much. This is just another administrative task for them. The Dept. Chair seems like the better advisor/guide.

 

[Justanothergrad]

I wouldn't spend time on it for a few reasons. First off, you're year one. There isn't much they can say right now based on your performance while there. Everything they've seen in 2019 has likely been a function of previous work elsewhere or has involved figuring out where to park, where your office is, and basic life prep for a new lab, new job, etc. Second off, their feedback is going to always revolve around more of whatever metric is the current hot button (grants, student credit hours, publications, impact, whatever). It sounds like there is a fairly robust evaluation and feedback process, so put your nose to the grindstone and do the job and set yourself up for the metrics that matter during your TNP evaluations (namely, grants and publications). Agreed with DD, if I were to get feedback it would be from the chair since they can give perspective for successful TNP within your program. I wouldn't think they'll have a lot of meaningful info to give you right this second though. Maybe about your plan for 2020 in terms of how many grants, how many pubs, etc... but its better to get a little ground under you first before you worry about it imho.

 

[futureapppsy2]

I have been at two TT positions but not research-intensive. My feeling from both is the Dean doesn't really care all that much. This is just another administrative task for them. The Dept. Chair seems like the better advisor/guide.

In our college, the Dean is ultra-involved in the P&T process. He’s also ultra-personable/approachable, to the point where he’s approached me to chat every time I’ve seen him. Our department head is currently transitioning out, so that’s a bit in flux for us.

 

[MCParent]

I've had multiple conversation with multiple admin folks about going up that were one on one. But, Y1 does seem early; what would the advice be? It's just going to be "publish and try to hit a grant." I don't think the dean would be the best source of advice on specifics about how to hit a grant in your area, typically.

There are tenure-track meetings within a college for folks, too, at the places I've been. Though I had to endure someone asking about correct font size for materials in one of those.

 

[PhDPlz2011]

I agree with others that it's too early for a feedback meeting with the dean to be productive. If you need specific advice and going to your chair isn't an option, I would look to other senior faculty in your department. The incoming chair would be a good person to talk to, if you know who that is going to be. In addition to probably not being very useful, going straight to the dean as a very new faculty member could rub folks in your department the wrong way...it makes them look bad if you are seeking mentorship from administration that you should be getting in your department.