By Jaci Schneider, Copy Editor
Eight professors received tenure and promotions this semester, and two others received promotions.
A tenured professor has job stability and knows the university has confidence in them, said Dr. Dwayne VanRheenen, provost of the university. Professors can begin applying for tenure five years after beginning to teach at the university, and they can receive it in their sixth year if they have their doctorates.
The applicants turn in an extensive portfolio to their department and then to a university tenure promotion committee, which is elected by the faculty. Following these steps, the professors are approved for tenure by VanRheenen and Dr. Royce Money, president of the university.
“We, in a sense, make the final call but usually go by the recommendations,” VanRheenen said.
He said the application process is also a learning process for the applicants, which they usually begin as soon as they start working at the university. The instructors must build a portfolio with a description of their teaching experience, research and service, VanRheenen said. Applicants must also reflect on their strengths and weaknesses as teachers and how they connect faith and subject matter in their courses.
“We want them to be experienced teachers,” Van Rheenen said. “We want them to be involved with students, make sions and be committed to the mission of the university and the religious heritage.”
VanRheenen said the university wants good teachers to stay at the university until they retire.
“We’re confident that they’re good people and effective teachers,” he said.
Dr. Mark Hamilton, associate professor in the Graduate School of Theology, received tenure in January and said he began working on his portfolio the day he arrived on campus.
“It’s a relief, I guess,” Hamilton said.
“You have a sense that all this work has gotten you to the stage you wanted to.”
Hamilton said he learned how to be more of an intentional teacher and identified his blind spots through building his portfolio.
“I think I learned to be as intentional as I could be in everything I do,” he said.
Although receiving tenure was a relief, Hamilton said he’s still has goals to achieve.
“There’s always another promotion level in a few years,” he said.
