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July 9, 2007

Do the Criteria for Tenure Need to Change?

The Scientist is currently running an open-comment survey on whether folks think that the criteria on which tenure is awarded in scientific disciplines needs to change.

Among the questions to consider:

• Do you believe reviewers of a scientist's achievements currently focus too heavily on citations?
  
• What metrics should we use to evaluate researchers in fields that tend to rack up fewer citations?
  
• Do you believe reviewers focus too heavily on grant funding when evaluating scientists?
  
• Is tenure a good idea to begin with? Does it support a lot of tenured scientists who don't contribute as much as those still working for tenure?
  
• Are tenure decisions getting off track? Are we evaluating scientists fairly?
  
• And once scientists become tenured, is there enough structure to ensure they continue to contribute significant science?
  

Source: The Scientist : Does tenure need to change?
Address : <http://www.the-scientist.com/news/home/53370/>

Posted by Katie Newman at July 9, 2007 12:37 PM