Tenure programs at some colleges across the country are being reexamined after Harvard President Lawrence Summers suggested that Harvard should tenure more young professors rather than the older, more established faculty already famous in their fields it usually hires.
Dartmouth already has a firmly rooted policy of hiring younger professors, however, and there are no plans to reconsider the College's emphasis on long-term faculty development.
According to Dean of the Faculty Jamshed Bharucha, while some new faculty do begin work as tenured professors, Dartmouth hires most often at the assistant professor level.
"When we hire an assistant professor, we hope that the person will succeed in the tenure review and we seek to provide support and mentoring," he said.
Earning tenure means that a professor's position is permanent and does not require periodic contract renewals. Tenured professors are also granted a higher salary, greater resources and independence to pursue their own research.
According to Kevin Dunbar, a psychology professor, faculty without tenure must produce results quickly, limiting their possibilities for research.
"Preparing for tenure sets up short term goals, but gaining tenure allows you to tackle big questions that may take many years to answer," said Dunbar.
The process to gain tenure is rigorous. Bharucha explained that assistant professors are given three-year contracts. After a review, an assistant professor may be granted another three-year contract.
At the end of the sixth year, the assistant professor is reviewed for tenure. The assistant professor's research and teaching is examined, and a report is sent to an advisory committee to the College president.
Bharucha said that President Wright could overrule the committee's decision, but that would be very unusual.
According to Assistant Dean of the Faculty Jane Carroll, the final word rests with the Dartmouth Trustees, and after they give their approval, the professor is granted tenure and associate professor status.
After gaining associate status, a professor can apply for full professor as his or her career develops. Graduation to full professor involves the same process as tenure, according to Bharucha.
Dartmouth tenures young professors because they are a good investment, according to Professor Howard Hughes, chair of the psychology department.
Hughes said that professors require "start-up packages" -- laboratory space, resources for research and, most importantly, time to develop.
Hiring professors when they are young allows them to use the full potential of their resources. Older professors often have children to raise, mortgages to pay and are slowing down in their research, Hughes suggested.
According to Dartmouth officials, Harvard hires older professors because of their fame and accomplishments in the academic world. Famous professors bring prestige wherever they are hired.
Economics department Chair William Fischel said that Dartmouth sometimes seeks older faculty when a department needs a jumpstart. He explained that older professors bring experience to their department and attract talented young faculty.
However, young faculty, with fresh research and new ideas, can also improve departments, according to Carroll. "Gaining a new member can be a shot in the arm for the department," she said.
Because of the advantages of hiring young, circumstances must be unique for Dartmouth to seek older professors. Fischel said, "Eighty percent of those tenured should be younger professors you promote."
Fischel noted that Dartmouth usually promotes professors from within the College faculty, while Harvard is notorious for hiring young scholars and then dumping them in favor of established professors with reputations.
Hughes remarked that Harvard's mistreatment of younger faculty has caused talented young professors to shy away from Harvard.
Professors seem to agree that Dartmouth's tenure process is fair.
David Becker, associate professor of government said, "I think it's stressful, but fair. And stress is an inevitable part of the tenure process."
However, the process at Dartmouth isn't perfect. Becker said that there is "room for improvement" in Dartmouth's mentoring of assistant and associate professors.
While Dartmouth's tenure policies remain, Harvard's could be changing while Summers holds office. Two older professors were recently turned down for tenure in a decision that surprised the Harvard community and prompted questions as to whether Summers has already put his ideas into effect.
