Word: research
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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Scientists have a better chance than non-scientists to obtain outside funds for their research, and so do not face the same financial or career difficulties of assistant professors in the humanities and social sciences. Within these fields, however, status differences persist. The department of Sociology invites junior faculty to all departmental meetings and asks them to serve on a number of departmental committees; the Committee on History and Literature has separate meetings for the Board of Tutors (including graduate students and junior faculty), and the meetings of the senior faculty affiliated with the concentration. Teaching assignments may also vary...
Finances vary as well, according to the funds available to departments from outside sources. Assistant professors of Government may receive up to about $1000 to aid research projects. No such discretionary funds exist in the departments of English and Romance Languages and Literatures, for example. Donald A. Stone, chairman of the department of Romance Languages and Literature, says, "The most I have been able to do for my junior faculty is to get them travel money when they present papers at national academic conferences." English junior faculty may apply to the National Endowment for the Humanities to get money...
Part of the explanation for Harvard's low promotion rate lies in the University's tenure philosophy. Harvard views itself as the greatest research university, and therefore grants tenured positions only to professors considered the outstanding scholars in their field. "It's a star system--the point is to scour the world for the best," one assistant professor says. David H. Donald, Warren Professor of American History, agrees and sketches a vision of Harvard as the undisputed leader of scholarship. "This is, or ought to be, the great university in the country--if we had the best people...
...would be foolish to come here," Dale says, adding, "Other universities of lesser stature can lure the best professors away, because they can say what no responsible person at Harvard can say--'we could hire you.'" Other professors disagree with Dale's prophesy, believing that Harvard's prestige and research facilities will continue to draw the finest talent, but all agree the dim tenure future will force candidates to make a much tougher evaluation of the risks and benefits of accepting an assistant professorship at Harvard...
Beyond criticism of the structure of the tenure process, some junior and senior faculty question the criteria for granting tenure. These faculty believe the "publish or perish" syndrome erodes the morale of assistant professors and may affect the quality of the research itself. Even if a junior faculty member has a shelf full of his own books, reputation may not follow immediately. "In recent years, it has become apparent to all junior faculty that it doesn't matter how much they publish, the choice lies outside of department hands--it's simply impossible to publish enough...