The Alfred P. Sloan Projects for Faculty Career Flexibility
Among the 56 master's large universities and colleges that applied for the Alfred P. Sloan Awards for Faculty Career Flexibility in 2007, the following encouraging trends were available to faculty. For all of the policies and practices listed below, at least half of the applicant institutions indicated having them in place:
Tenure clock adjustment
Active Service-Modified Duties (ASMD) or Partial Relief from Duties, with no reduction in pay
Paid leaves for biological or adoptive mothers
Disability policy for serious illness or injury
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) stating faculty member's expectations during leaves
Committee that identifies problems and recommends actions regarding the recruitment, retention, and/or career satisfaction of faculty from underrepresented groups
Tracking tenure outcomes for faculty who stop the tenure clock
Course offerings that examine the intersection of work, personal, and family life
A more detailed description of the common policies and practices at master's large institutions is available. The web page describes policy frequency at master's large institutions for the following topics: Adjusting the tenure clock, modified duties, maternity and paternity leaves for biological and adoptive parents, phased retirement, and part-time appointments. Each section includes information about institutional structures and climate that support faculty, such as funding, eligibility for these programs, and maximum usage of policy options.
Front row: David Ward, President of ACE; Gloria
Thomas, Associate Project Director, ACE; Kathleen Christensen, Program
Officer, The Alfred P. Sloan Foundation; Claire Van Ummersen, Vice
President, ACE
Middle row: Don Dodson, Senior Vice Provost, Santa
Clara University; Linda Randall, Associate Provost, University of
Baltimore; Sandra Gill, Dean of the College of Business, Benedictine
University; Julie Bernier, Provost, Plymouth State University; Carmen
Sigler, Provost, San José State University
Back row: Wim Wiewel, Provost, University of
Baltimore; Jerry Neuner, Associate Vice President, Canisius College;
Shelton Woods, Associate Dean of the College of Social Sciences &
Public Affairs, Boise State University; Joan Merdinger, Associate Vice
President, San José State University