spaghetti method of tenure

From today's Chronicle of Higher Education:

http://chronicle.com/jobs/news/2006/09/2006092001c/careers.html
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

We Really Like You
By Gary A. Olson

Heads Up

Some decades ago when I was a new assistant professor at a major state university, a distinguished senior colleague explained to me how the tenure system worked.
"It's the old spaghetti method," he said. "You toss a few strands at the wall, and you see what sticks and what doesn't."

"He went on to suggest that from the beginning the university only intended to give tenure to a fraction (he claimed a third) of the faculty members it had hired. Those who distinguished themselves would earn a place in the permanent professoriate; those who did not would move to lesser institutions -- if they were lucky."...

scholarship of teaching and learning

"So what is meant by the scholarship of teaching and learning? Simply put, it is, just as any research is, inquiry into issues that are significant to teaching and learning in your field and the dissemination of your findings to your colleagues. As I prepared for the SCSU discussion, I read a great article by Eileen Bender and Donald Gray, in the April 1999 Volume of Research & Creative Activity. They write “the scholarship of teaching means that we invest in our teaching the intellectual powers we practice in our research.”
Bender, Eileen & Gray, Donald. "The Scholarship of Teaching." Research & Creative Activity. 22.1 (April, 1999)

http://www.ctl.mnscu.edu/programs/leaders/newsletter/newsletter9-8-06.htm

CFM: College and Undergraduate Libraries

Share your knowledge and expertise with your colleagues by writing a research article, case study, or opinion piece for College & Undergraduate Libraries.

CALL FOR MANUSCRIPTS

College & Undergraduate Libraries, a peer-reviewed journal published by The Haworth Press, Inc., welcomes the submission of manuscripts.

Aiming to provide practical, informative articles addressing undergraduate services, operations, and concerns or issues of interest to busy college and undergraduate library staff, the journal welcomes manuscripts from all staff members as well as faculty and students. Current topics of particular interest include assessment/standards, organizational configuration, information literacy, the library as place, electronic reference, digitization of resources, intellectual property issues, plagiarism, and the roles of the library within the college or university.

Manuscript submission information is available at: http://www.haworthpress.com/journals/SIresults.asp?sku=j106. All manuscripts or proposals should be sent directly to the editor, Christopher Millson-Martula of Lynchburg College at millsonmartula@lynchburg.edu. Telephone contact is at 434/544-8399. In addition, the journal regularly publishes columns dealing with humor in the library, instructional issues, and the roles of the Internet and Web-based resources in college and undergraduate libraries. Opinion pieces addressing issues of current interest are also welcome. For additional information, please contact the editor.


Christopher Millson-Martula
Director of the Library
Editor, College & Undergraduate Libraries
Lynchburg College
1501 Lakeside Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24501
434/544-8399 FAX: 434/544-8499
millsonmartula@lynchburg.edu

Call for proposal: ALA Annual 2007: ACRL/IS Current Issue Discussion Groups

*ACRL/Instruction Section (IS)*
Current Issue Discussion Groups
Call for proposals for ALA Annual Conference, June 2007 http://www.ala.org/ala/acrlbucket/
is/iscommittees/webpages/discussiongroup/cfp2007.pdf

*Description*
Current Issue Discussion Groups provide a way for IS members to introduce instruction-related topics of current importance, to promote discussion and encourage further research.

*Expectations for Current Issue Discussion Group Conveners* For the selected proposals, the proposal author(s) will serve as
convener(s) and commit to:

• researching the issue;

• identifying key readings, related organizations and/or programs;

• drafting an initial two-page to three-page "Current Issue Digest"
summarizing findings about the issue to be posted to ILI-L at least one week before the conference and handed out at the discussion;

• facilitating one of two “Current Issue Discussions” at the ALA Annual Conference (in Washington, DC: June 21–27, 2007);

• revising and submitting a final "Current Issue Digest" to be posted on the IS web site within one month of the discussion; and

• distributing the final Current Issue Digest to the ILI Listserv after the ALA Conference.

• maintaining communication with the Discussion Group Steering Committee Chair throughout.

*Who May Apply*
Applications are welcome from any IS members.

*How to Apply*
Complete and submit the proposal form to the IS Current Issue Discussion Group Steering Committee co-chair by October 15, 2006. The proposal form is attached and can be found at:
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrlbucket/
is/iscommittees/webpages/discussiongroup/cfp2007.pdf.
Please send your submission to Rebecca Jackson (rjackson@iastate.edu).

Contact committee co-chairs Rebecca Jackson (rjackson@iastate.edu) or Anna Van Scoyoc (avansco@emory.edu) with questions.

*What to Include in the Proposal*
• A clear description of the issue
• Rationale for convening a discussion on the issue • Importance of the issue for academic instruction librarians • Sample questions that may be used to facilitate group discussion • Proposed strategies and structure that will maintain group discussion

The potential scope of issues includes, but is not limited to: Teaching methods; Instruction and information technology; Assessment; Management of instruction programs; Outreach and collaboration; Research in academic information literacy. The topic should be focused enough to be covered reasonably well within the allotted time. (For example “Everything about WIKIs” would be too broad, while “Using WIKIs in Library Instruction at Academic Institutions” might be just the right scope).

*Process*
Selection will be based on the perceived importance and impact of the proposed topic. Additional selection criteria used in the selection process includes evaluating proposed topics for: timeliness, relevancy, currency, practicality, innovation, evidence of applicant’s knowledge, and clear focus. Proposals must be submitted by October 15, 2006 for ALA Annual in Washington, DC. By November 30, 2006, proposal writers will be notified as to whether or not their proposal was accepted and will be assigned one of the two discussion time slots. Conveners are responsible for their own conference registration and travel expenses.