2023 Collaborative Network for Computing and Engineering Diversity (CoNECD)

External review letters for promotion and tenure decisions at research-intensive institutions: An analysis of the content of template letters for bias and recommendations for inclusive language

Presented at Session 4 - Track 1: External review letters for promotion and tenure decisions at research-intensive institutions: An analysis of the content of template letters for bias and recommendations for inclusive language

This presentation summarizes the preliminary results of the analysis of 75 publicly available templates for external promotion and tenure review letters. The study aims to identify potential sources of bias and share recommendations for best practices 1) for institutions creating templates for external review letters, 2) for letter writers who use such templates, and 3) for reviewers who consider external letters in their promotion and tenure evaluations.
The initial database includes templates from U.S. private and public research-intensive institutions, namely, R1 or Very High Research Activity institutions and R2 or High Research Activity institutions, randomly spread across the country. The focus on research institutions is based on the assumption that promotion and tenure requirements are more or less consistent across research-intensive institutions, allowing for a comparison of the language and requirements included in the external reviewer letter template. A study of more than 1,400 external letters for nearly 300 promotion and tenure candidates analyzed the presence of epistemic exclusion language and showed that language used in the letters might influence how the scholarship of women faculty and faculty of color is devalued (Edema-Sillo et al., 2022).
Templates in the database were coded based on the presence or absence of specific reference to aspects of the candidate’s performance that might bias reviews of women and faculty of color, such as the presence of a COVID-19 pandemic impact statement; explicit promotion and tenure criteria and expectations; extension of the probationary period for COVID-19, the arrival of a child, disability, etc.; request to only evaluate research or also teaching and service contributions; and state if the candidate would earn tenure at the external reviewer’s institution.
This presentation will share the summative results of the analysis and recommendations on avoiding language in the external promotion and tenure review letters that might lead to biased promotion and tenure reviews of women and faculty of color.

Reference
Edema-Sillo, Ebenezer; Torres, Francisco; Gu, Helen; Belle, Carolla; and Spitzmueller, Christiane (2022). "Epistemic Exclusion in Promotion and Tenure Processes: Implications for Diversity and Inclusion in Academia," Dismantling Bias Conference Series: Vol. 3: Iss. 3, Article 3. Abstract of a paper presented at the Dismantling Bias event, organized by E. E. Kossek & T. J. Merriweather. Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN. Available at: https://docs.lib.purdue.edu/cgg/vol3/iss3/3

Authors
  1. Dr. Canan Bilen-Green North Dakota State University [biography]
  2. Dr. Carla Koretsky Western ichigan University [biography]
  3. Malia Cockrell ADVANCE Midwest Partnership - Joining Forces [biography]
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