Supporting faculty success through subversive advocacy

Abstract

Our library has encountered a variety of challenges when supporting faculty through the tenure and promotion process. The Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) campus standards and processes, like that of many others, preferentially reward outcomes and impact over the process of inquiry. Additionally, a narrow range of peer-reviewed products is preferred—journal articles, books, conference proceedings, etc. Given the emphasis on reputation and impact in our campus standards, candidates are expected to demonstrate that their research has had an effect on the world beyond campus. Thus, the range of evidence used in dossiers often centers on funding and citation-based metrics, with other metrics considered as secondary. Over the past decade, the research metrics services provided by our library to faculty candidates has evolved significantly. We began by retrieving traditional bibliometrics and teaching others how to do so. As we repeatedly encountered gaps in the data at the level of individual faculty members, we adopted a more proactive stance in our support. We continually advocate for broader consideration of the types of products that are valued, the range of evidence used in dossiers, and the types of impact discussed in statements. In many cases, we use evidence from the publishing and informetric literature to corroborate individual experiences and advocate for change. As our campus implements a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) pathway for promotion and tenure, we are challenged to adapt so that we can effectively support faculty who choose this pathway. In this commentary, we will discuss the points of intervention to proactively engage with scholars.