SMART Goals
Many academic institutions have implemented SMART Goals, a modality that goes beyond a simple list of topics and that typically considers an implementation strategy to state a reasonable action. Besides being a widely used framework for structured goal setting, SMART goals have the potential to provide a clear understanding between faculty members and their unit leaders, describing the anticipated level of performance with respect to their responsibilities. In other words, they provide a plan to help faculty clarify the areas in which they will spend their time, focus and attention.
These goals include five elements:
- Specific (S): A goal deeds to clearly communicate what you want to accomplish.
- Measurable (M): Identify what metrics you will use to determine if you met this goal, considering leading/lagging indicators, and a possible progression to indicate if you are on track.
- Achievable (A): Is the goal truly attainable for them and identify any support that they would need to accomplish the goal (such as tools or new skills).
- Relevant (R): Is the goal relevant to the faculty member’s academic unit? Is the goal relevant to the faculty member’s career trajectory, discipline? Are these goals aligned with our strategic plan (Clemson Elevate)?
- Time-Bound (T): Provide a target time-frame for when this goal will be worked on and when the deliverables will be completed.
Advantages of Using SMART Goals
As recently stated, the SMART method is widely used within management and well as program planning and evaluation. More recently, SMARTY goals were also applied to teaching settings, which are well-received by students. Advantages of the method includes clarity of expectations, alignment of resources, and a clear path to enhance evaluation and accountability. More importantly, these goals enable of path for growth that improves not only performance but also well-being. For these reasons, many academic institutions have adopted SMART goals as part of their career planning for faculty. Among those, it is worth mentioning University of California, Rutgers, Colorado State, Stanford, or Iowa. It is also worth mentioning that just like any other change, stakeholders should buy-in, so these goals do not become an empty requirement.
Let’s get started!
Although one can not reasonably use the same template to write every goal, this idea provides a framework to state what you want to accomplish, when do you want to reach that objective, define a clear indicator (balancing ambition with realism), and potentially identify the support needed (skills, tools, mentoring). In this regard, one of the simplest models to get started is the one provided by Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. In that blog post, they suggest the use of a simple template:
By _(time)_, the _(audience)_ will _(verb=performance)_ as measured by _(assessment/measure + standard/criteria)_.
In the document provided by University of California, they provide a simple example of goals to improve the performance of somebody whose hypothetical job is to create PowerPoint presentations. In this case, instead of writing “I want to improve my performance”, they suggest:
- Specific: I received low marks on my ability to use PowerPoint at my last performance review. Improving my skills requires that I learn how to use PowerPoint efficiently and practice using it by creating various presentations. I’d like to be more proficient using PowerPoint in time for my next review in six months.
- Measurable: By the time of my next review, I should be able to create presentations that incorporate graphs, images, and other media in a couple of hours. I should also be able to efficiently use and create templates in PowerPoint that my coworkers can also use.
- Achievable: Improving my PowerPoint skills is instrumental in moving forward in my career and receiving a better performance review. I can set time (1 hour?) aside every week to watch PowerPoint tutorials and even enroll in an online class that can teach me new skills. I can also ask coworkers and my manager for PowerPoint tips.
- Relevant: Working with PowerPoint is currently 25% of my job. As I move up in the company, I’ll need to spend 50% of my time creating PowerPoint presentations. I enjoy my career and want to continue to grow within this company.
- Time-Bound: In six months, I should be proficient in PowerPoint ensuring it only occupies 25% of my workload instead of the nearly 40% of the time it occupies now.
With a little help of AI
You may already know that the GPT (generative pre-trained transformer) is a type of large language model (LLM) that utilizes deep learning to produce human-like text, generating coherent and contextually relevant responses. That is the heart of ChatGPT, which was trained on massive amounts of text data, to learn the rules of human language, and to give us quick answers based on the training dataset. Many other platforms, including Microsoft Copilot or Google’s Gemini, are also available for these tasks could be used to kick start the thinking process of transforming goals into SMART goals.
As an example, ChatGPT was used to convert the following goals into SMART goals: “Publish 3 papers and teach 1 course”, returning these options:
Goal 1: Publish 3 papers
- Specific: I will publish three peer-reviewed research papers in reputable journals.
- Measurable: Three publications accepted.
- Achievable: I already have data and manuscripts in progress to support this goal.
- Relevant: Publishing advances my academic career and contributes to my field.
- Time-bound: I will submit all three manuscripts by December 2025 and aim for at least two to be accepted by that time.
✅ SMART Goal: Submit three research manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals and have at least two accepted by December 2025.
Goal 2: Teach 1 course
- Specific: I will design and teach one undergraduate course in my discipline.
- Measurable: Successfully deliver the course for one semester with at least 85% of students completing it.
- Achievable: I have prior teaching experience and institutional support.
- Relevant: Teaching is part of my professional responsibilities and contributes to my career development.
- Time-bound: I will teach the course during the Fall 2025 semester.
✅ SMART Goal: Design and teach one undergraduate course in Fall 2025, with at least 85% student completion and positive evaluations.
Taking advantage of ChatGPT’s ability to analyze text, one could also upload a PDF of Clemson Elevate and ask the algorithm to generate goals that align with the overall objectives of the institution. In this case, the goals were transformed into:
- Supporting the Discovery Drives Success pillar and the University’s objective to double research expenditures by 2035, I will publish three peer-reviewed research papers in journals with an IF > 3, within the next 12 months. This will advance my academic career and improve my research impact
- I will teach one undergraduate/graduate course this semester, delivering all planned lectures, assignments, and achieving positive course evaluations. This goal aims to Deliver the No. 1 Student Experience in the Nation pillar, emphasizing excellence in teaching and experiential learning
It is critically important to emphasize that the use of AI tools for this purpose aims only to provide a starting point, and faculty are strongly encouraged to develop their own goals and express them in their own narrative. Faculty at Clemson interested in exploring some of the opportunities that AI brings can consult resources assembled by CCIT, the Libraries and from the Office of Teaching Effectiveness and Innovation.
Additional Resources
- GEORGIA STATE: They specifically recommend the use of the app ClickUp (https://clickup.com/features/goals)
- IOWA: Recommendations on how to frame goals following job description, assigned projects, and career development plans
- MINNESOTA: Quick video
- MIT: Good examples for managers
- COLORADO STATE: They incorporate Department Citizenship, a section that provides an opportunity to comment on a faculty member’s contributions to the department’s mission, adherence to their Code of Ethical Behavior, and overall behavior/citizenship
- NIH: SMART Goals in scientific research
As always, if you have any additional questions regarding this post, feel free to stop by our office (Vickery 212) or contact us via email.
