Chairs’ WorkshopChairs’ Workshop

JSM 2007 JSM 2007

Vijay NairVijay Nair

University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan

vnn@umich.eduvnn@umich.edu

July 28, 2007July 28, 2007

TopicsTopics

Teaching & Education (SP &VN)Teaching & Education (SP &VN)– Keeping graduate programs healthyKeeping graduate programs healthy– Undergraduate majorsUndergraduate majors– Service teachingService teaching– Interdisciplinary programs?Interdisciplinary programs?

Faculty Reviews (VN & SP)Faculty Reviews (VN & SP)– Mentoring junior facultyMentoring junior faculty– Conducting faculty reviewsConducting faculty reviews

UM BackgroundUM BackgroundUM ~ 38,000 students (28 + 10)UM ~ 38,000 students (28 + 10)– Full service universityFull service university– Stat, Biostat, ISR, B-school, Eng., …Stat, Biostat, ISR, B-school, Eng., …

LSA (18K + grad students)LSA (18K + grad students)– Stat part of Nat Sc (collaborations with Soc Sc)Stat part of Nat Sc (collaborations with Soc Sc)– One Dean, 3 area assoc deans, for budget + finance, & One Dean, 3 area assoc deans, for budget + finance, &

for ugrad + grad education (Rackham)for ugrad + grad education (Rackham)– ~ 30 chairs and directors~ 30 chairs and directors– Dean “controls” budget, etc.Dean “controls” budget, etc.– Governance –elected ExCo – hiring, promotions, policy, …Governance –elected ExCo – hiring, promotions, policy, …– Two meetings a semester – Deans + all C + D; Two meetings a semester – Deans + all C + D; – monthly meetings with Dean, Assoc Dean and monthly meetings with Dean, Assoc Dean and

NS chairs + directorsNS chairs + directors

Dept BackgroundDept Background

Started in 1969 Started in 1969 About 16 FTE + 5-6 lecturers/teaching facultyAbout 16 FTE + 5-6 lecturers/teaching faculty

3 grad programs (Ph D, Applied Master’s, Dual degree masters) 3 grad programs (Ph D, Applied Master’s, Dual degree masters) ~100 grad students ~ 40 TA positions~100 grad students ~ 40 TA positions

Ugrad major (~15 grad per year) + 2 minors Ugrad major (~15 grad per year) + 2 minors

Large service teaching (ugrad and grad)Large service teaching (ugrad and grad)

Joint courses with Biostat, Econ, IOE, MathJoint courses with Biostat, Econ, IOE, Math

New interdisciplinary ugrad concentration in InformaticsNew interdisciplinary ugrad concentration in Informatics

VN VN chair for 8+ years. chair for 8+ years.

Junior Faculty MentoringJunior Faculty MentoringCollege/University view and environmentCollege/University view and environment– Mentoring programs and documentation req’dMentoring programs and documentation req’d– Why do we need it? Large depts, failed tenure casesWhy do we need it? Large depts, failed tenure cases

Dept Dept mentoring document mentoring document process process

New junior faculty assigned mentor in first semester – review and New junior faculty assigned mentor in first semester – review and modify as appropriatemodify as appropriate

Mostly based on chemistry, not nece same areaMostly based on chemistry, not nece same area

Scope of mentoring activities Scope of mentoring activities

Annual discussion with mentor Annual discussion with mentor not part of evaluation not part of evaluation

Encourage discussion with others (get many views)Encourage discussion with others (get many views)

Mentoring by senior, junior facultyMentoring by senior, junior faculty

Scope of Mentoring ActivitiesScope of Mentoring ActivitiesFormat and approaches for mentoring defined by menor-menteerFormat and approaches for mentoring defined by menor-menteer

Should involve discussion of the expectations for research, Should involve discussion of the expectations for research, teaching, and service to Department, University, and academic teaching, and service to Department, University, and academic community. community.

Provide constructive feedback in timely and ongoing way. Provide constructive feedback in timely and ongoing way.

Help to become a strong contributing member quicklyHelp to become a strong contributing member quickly

Teaching:Teaching:Offer advice on course outlines, HW assignments, mid-term and Offer advice on course outlines, HW assignments, mid-term and final exams, how to handle difficult situations, etc. final exams, how to handle difficult situations, etc. Observe classes occasionally (not evaluative), esp first few courses, Observe classes occasionally (not evaluative), esp first few courses, provide informal suggestions on classroom teaching, help to provide informal suggestions on classroom teaching, help to develop teaching skills; how to engage in other educational activies, develop teaching skills; how to engage in other educational activies, how to balance teaching and research …how to balance teaching and research …Suggest other available resources as appropriate (e.g. visits to the Suggest other available resources as appropriate (e.g. visits to the classrooms of established teachers or interactions with the Center classrooms of established teachers or interactions with the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching).for Research on Learning and Teaching).

Scope of Mentoring ActivitiesScope of Mentoring ActivitiesResearch and ServiceResearch and Service

Mentors need not be a match in research interests. Mentors need not be a match in research interests. Advise and help with Advise and help with – connections for collaborations and networking inside & outsideconnections for collaborations and networking inside & outside– writing grants, making research presentations, which journals to writing grants, making research presentations, which journals to

submit papers, how to prepare papers for submission and submit papers, how to prepare papers for submission and revisionrevision

– other ways to further development of a research career. other ways to further development of a research career.

Orientation and introduction to university and profession, Orientation and introduction to university and profession, Advise on service and administrative duties. Advise on service and administrative duties. General resource personGeneral resource person

Junior Faculty MentoringJunior Faculty MentoringChallengesChallenges– How to formalize an informal process? How to ensure How to formalize an informal process? How to ensure

that “good” mentoring happens?that “good” mentoring happens?– Inherent variability in mentees’ needs and mentors’ Inherent variability in mentees’ needs and mentors’

skillsskills– Need to get multiple opinions Need to get multiple opinions – Inherent conflicts in mentoring vs evaluationInherent conflicts in mentoring vs evaluation– Depts with large number of junior faculty and few Depts with large number of junior faculty and few

senior facultysenior faculty– Special needs: women and under-represented groupsSpecial needs: women and under-represented groups– Rely on faculty outside the dept and advisors.Rely on faculty outside the dept and advisors.– Role of dept chair in mentoringRole of dept chair in mentoring– Mentee’s responsibilitiesMentee’s responsibilities

Faculty Review Process at UM StatisticsFaculty Review Process at UM Statistics

Annual reviews and discussion with chair and mentorAnnual reviews and discussion with chair and mentor3-year review and feedback3-year review and feedbackEnd of 5End of 5thth year, P&T committee set up – chair and committee works year, P&T committee set up – chair and committee works with candidate to develop a casebook – includes CV, research with candidate to develop a casebook – includes CV, research teaching and service documentation -- names of external letter teaching and service documentation -- names of external letter writers (number)?writers (number)?Dept selects from candidates list and own list – some in your area, Dept selects from candidates list and own list – some in your area, others a bit more general, usually full prof’s – college committees others a bit more general, usually full prof’s – college committees looks for big names from top universities; Some internal letterslooks for big names from top universities; Some internal lettersP&T committee writes up evaluation. Candidate has opportunity to P&T committee writes up evaluation. Candidate has opportunity to respond. respond. Department level discussions and recommendation. Variation in Department level discussions and recommendation. Variation in exact process. exact process. To college-level review -- divisional review committee looks at To college-level review -- divisional review committee looks at research case -- college ExCo makes decision based on this research case -- college ExCo makes decision based on this review and overall case – Dean vs College ExCoreview and overall case – Dean vs College ExCoProvost (usually pro forma)Provost (usually pro forma)Negative decisions – dept vs college level; appeal?Negative decisions – dept vs college level; appeal?

ResearchResearch

Quality of research is key – how to measure? this is the Quality of research is key – how to measure? this is the problem!problem!Journals, funding, external letters, invited seminars, …Journals, funding, external letters, invited seminars, …Quantity?Quantity?Moving beyond thesis research and establishing your Moving beyond thesis research and establishing your own niche and name recognitionown niche and name recognitionNeed not be a completely new area; but need to put Need not be a completely new area; but need to put some distance between yourself and your advisor’s work some distance between yourself and your advisor’s work – cut the umbilical cord– cut the umbilical cordSingle vs multi-authored; order of authorship, … Single vs multi-authored; order of authorship, … Interdisciplinary research – how much does it counts – Interdisciplinary research – how much does it counts – how does your dept assess the quality of the work?how does your dept assess the quality of the work?Ph. D. student supervision? Mixed bag. Joint supervisionPh. D. student supervision? Mixed bag. Joint supervision

Junior Faculty Responsibilities:Junior Faculty Responsibilities:Understand your own processUnderstand your own process

Process: Within department, college, and higher …Process: Within department, college, and higher …Multiunit appointments; wet vs dry appointmentMultiunit appointments; wet vs dry appointmentUnderstand key steps of the process – documents, players, … and Understand key steps of the process – documents, players, … and plan aheadplan aheadComponents of the P&T casebook – how many external letters, Components of the P&T casebook – how many external letters, internal letters, emphasis on funding, teaching vs research, service internal letters, emphasis on funding, teaching vs research, service ……

Annual and 3-year reviews – make sure to get feedback; talk to Annual and 3-year reviews – make sure to get feedback; talk to senior faculty informally; listen to what they say but use your best senior faculty informally; listen to what they say but use your best judgmentjudgment

Personal issues – talk to chair, senior mentor, associate deans; Personal issues – talk to chair, senior mentor, associate deans; don’t be hesitant to raise important issues early on.don’t be hesitant to raise important issues early on.

Ultimately, your research has to do the talking …Ultimately, your research has to do the talking …But how can you help yourself?But how can you help yourself?

External letters are KEYExternal letters are KEY

Plan aheadPlan ahead

Exposure in the profession – invited seminars (get senior faculty and advisor to help)Exposure in the profession – invited seminars (get senior faculty and advisor to help)

Networking – very important – nurture relationships with potential letter writes – invite Networking – very important – nurture relationships with potential letter writes – invite people to seminars; try to get invited, write to them, send copies of your preprints and people to seminars; try to get invited, write to them, send copies of your preprints and ask for advice/input – don’t be shy; be selective; not everyone will respond, don’t get ask for advice/input – don’t be shy; be selective; not everyone will respond, don’t get discouraged by non-response; talk to people at conferences – smaller conferences are discouraged by non-response; talk to people at conferences – smaller conferences are better – send e-mail before and introduce yourself. better – send e-mail before and introduce yourself.

Be assertive but not pushyBe assertive but not pushy

Importance of grants?Importance of grants?

Choice of journals Choice of journals major issue major issue

Teaching and ServiceTeaching and Service

Good teaching is necessary but outstanding teaching alone in not Good teaching is necessary but outstanding teaching alone in not sufficientsufficientQuality of teaching – classroom teaching (student evaluations) key Quality of teaching – classroom teaching (student evaluations) key component; But mentoring, curriculum development and other component; But mentoring, curriculum development and other initiatives also helpinitiatives also helpKeep a teaching portfolio – all teaching, mentoring, and curriculum Keep a teaching portfolio – all teaching, mentoring, and curriculum related activities, current e-mails of students who can write lettersrelated activities, current e-mails of students who can write lettersConsult with colleagues and use university resources on improving Consult with colleagues and use university resources on improving your teaching and organizational skillsyour teaching and organizational skillsDo not over-spend time on teaching; Do not over-spend time on teaching; Service – usually not key -- keep service within the department to Service – usually not key -- keep service within the department to minimum; outside service (editorial; giving talks; organizing minimum; outside service (editorial; giving talks; organizing sessions) carries more weight – but be wary of committee work that sessions) carries more weight – but be wary of committee work that does not help case for research and visibilitydoes not help case for research and visibility

Mentoring and “Politicking” …Mentoring and “Politicking” …

Quality and extent varies; experience at UM …Quality and extent varies; experience at UM …

Outside the dept and outside university mentoringOutside the dept and outside university mentoring

Advice: Feedback on research areas, writing papers, choice of Advice: Feedback on research areas, writing papers, choice of journals, grant writing, getting invitations to conferences and journals, grant writing, getting invitations to conferences and colloquia, editorial boards, …colloquia, editorial boards, …

Senior vs peer mentorsSenior vs peer mentors

Get to know all senior faculty -- Make sure people know of your Get to know all senior faculty -- Make sure people know of your work and you are good, but do it in a subtle way – use appropriate work and you are good, but do it in a subtle way – use appropriate occasions – like seminars to ask questions; be active in the occasions – like seminars to ask questions; be active in the department, keep a high-profile, find out how things work; make department, keep a high-profile, find out how things work; make useful, constructive suggestions with new ideas, things like informal useful, constructive suggestions with new ideas, things like informal seminars, brown bag discussions, etc.seminars, brown bag discussions, etc.