Ask a Tenured Professor

Thanks to Mona Danner, Joanne Belknap, Eleanor Miller, and Susan Marcus-Mendoza:

QUESTION #1

When you leave grad school and take that first "job"....how do you choose which committees are the best for you to get involved with?

ANSWER #1

Committee work is important for several reasons.  It acquaints you with the department/college/university, allows you to get to know people and others to get to know you, demonstrates your good citizenship and capabilities, and allows you to further improve various skills.  However, few places award tenure for service and too much service can impede your career and bring resentment.  When someone asks you or appoints you to serve on a committee, ask some questions.  What's the committee's purpose?  How often does it meet?  What is the workload?  Ask the person who's inviting you on the committee and ask others.  During your first year or two, you should only serve on 1-2 committees each year and you should not chair any committee.  Beginning your third year, consider chairing one committee each year and serving on 1-3 other committees.  The number of committees depends on the local norms, your teaching and research workload, and the workload of the various committees.  If you feel you're being overburdened, speak with your departmental chair.

You asked about which committees are best for you.  You have responsibilities first to your department, then to your college, and then the university.  You also have responsibilities to your profession, but these cannot be substituted for those on campus.  Identify your own interests and goals and pursue those committee assignments, but always with an eye on realistic time commitments (your own and the committee's).   No single committee is the "best" everywhere; this is locale- and individual-specific.  However, committees that allow you to review others' vitae, whether promotion and tenure (in places where untenured people can serve on those committees) or recruitment, are most helpful to your career because they allow you to see what others have done, are doing, and where that's gotten them.

I remember reading the following in a Division newsletter many years ago and it has served me well (when I remember it!):   "When someone asks you to do something, first check your goals, not your calendar."  Thus, you need to know your own goals, desires, and needs, both professionally and personally, in order to realistically allocate your time.  You also need to not be afraid to say "no" when it's very reasonable to do so.  During the beginning of my second year, the university provost sent a letter appointing me to a committee that I suspected would be very divisive, time consuming, and unproductive; others confirmed those suspicions.  I called the committee chair and introduced myself emphasizing that I was very new and on the tenure track with new course responsibilities and significant research commitments and ending with my feelings that the committee would not be well served by my presence.  The chair agreed and that was it; no letter or call to the provost was made and I doubt the provost was ever aware that I declined to serve.  Saying "no" can be its own reward.

ANSWER #2

That's a very important question.  First, I would refer to the tenure criteria to see what the service requirements are for your department.Many departments discourage tenure-track faculty from doing service.Next, I would talk to your department chair about which type of service would be most helpful for you to get involved in as an assistant professor.  Your chair might suggest professional service, such as reviewing journal articles or serving on committees in professional organizations to help you build a professional network in your field.They might also suggest certain committees at your university that would help you form a network there.  After tenure, when hopefully you have a little more freedom about how to spend your time, you can get more heavily involved in committee work. I would stay away from very time-consuming committees like human subjects review boards or curriculum review unless your department puts a strong emphasis on service at tenure time.  Finally, if possible, pick committees that you would enjoy being involved with so that whatever time you do spend working on a committee will not be pure drudgery.  

QUESTION #2

I am in my first year of a tenure track position and have had some odd exchanges with one of the eldest members of my new department. The first week of school he came into my office and basically told me that he was not in favor of my coming to the university. He said while he thought I was a nice person, he didn't think I answered his questions appropriately during the interview (6 months ago!) and insinuated that he didn't think I knew much about the scholarship in my area of specialization. He said he just wanted me to know this. He has since made some off-the-wall comments to me - one was that he didn't want to compliment me on an outfit in fear of committing sexual harassment. I've talked to a senior, feminist woman in the department and she has assured me that this guy may say things that seem strange but that he in no way is trying to make me feel uncomfortable. Others I've spoken to outside the university disagree.  Any suggestions on how to handle this situation?

ANSWER #1

Here's the experience upon which I base by advice: currently Assoc Dean for the Social Sciences and Special Counsel to the Dean, former Assoc. Chancellor for Affirmative Action, Prof of Sociology 25+ yrs:

First, I would trust the insight of the feminist colleague who knows the guy.  He seems either threatened, socially uncomfortable, angry – or perhaps all three.  However, I would carefully document (and date) in writing all such inappropriate comments and begin to create a papertrail.  At some point in the future, you may want to argue that this fellow should recuse himself from decisions about your future and you will need this sort of evidence to support your argument; also make notes of your discussion with your feminist colleague.  You could also express your concerns to your chair in confidence, but make it clear that you are not asking for any action at this point -  and again make notes of this meeting as well.  Day to day, I would treat this person civilly and respectfully and simply work to create a record that will make him look silly should he try to discredit you or your work at a later date.

ANSWER #2  

Dear Harassed:

It is enraging and sad to find such sexual and gender harassment (not to mention: bad behavior!) alive and well in 2002.  We had a discussion about similar behavior at one of the DWC sessions in Atlanta last year, and most people believed it is very important to get this behavior documented and reported. 

I wonder what your relationship with your chair is like?  Unless you believe your chair would not be supportive, I would suggest starting by making an appointment with him/her and explaining this behavior and your concerns about (1) if this person is biased against you already (what are the long term ramifications?), and (2) this person creating a hostile working environment.  If your chair is not trustworthy, I would contact the ombuds office or a women faculty organization for advice. 

I would also be sure to keep written documentation that you keep dated, in case this would "blow up" down the line, no one could say that you're just saying this now.  There a number of ways to do this.  One is to keep it typed up and get a notary public to stamp and sign it every so often.  This is usually a free service in your bank, the student book store, etc. and they don't read it, they just do their little stamp.  Another way is to type it and then mail it to yourself and don't open the envelope until the grievance, etc.

This sounds to me like someone who is going to continue to give you a hard time, so I fear that ignoring it will keep it the same or make it worse.  Not to mention, you shouldn't have to put up with this!

Incidentally, concerning the sexual harassment, I had a somewhat similar experience with a faculty member who kept whistling at me whenever I wore a skirt or dress my first semester at my first professor job.  I kept asking him to stop and once when I got really upset, I told him to ask his wife to explain why it was wrong.  While that wouldn't work for everyone, it certainly put the fear of god(dess) in him.

I hope this is helpful.  This is ridiculous that you have to put up with such sexism!

Column Editor’s Comments:

It seems unbelievable that sexism is alive and well on American campuses, but it is.Your experience, unfortunately, is not that unique.Unfortunately, those who are victims frequently become blamed for the problem in the department if we speak up. Thus, a word of caution.Make sure that you have strong support from female faculty on the campus and that they know what has transpired, before you do anything else.I guess I am saying that you have the right to tell him that you want him to quit making the “non-sexist” comments that are very sexist.But, don’t try to go it alone.Just in case anything backfires, be sure that you have alerted others to the problem first.And, definitely document each occurrence.

The slurs on your scholastic ability are reminiscent of the “don’t bother your pretty head, little lady” approach to life.Obviously, this person could be problematic.Definitely discuss your concerns with your chair now.At the time you go up for tenure, you want documentation.