By Jackie Todd, University Relations
“This is a really big deal. You earned this.”
That’s part of the message that President Jim Clements delivered to a packed room this month at a reception for recently tenured and promoted faculty. Now in its fourth year, the academic tradition brings newly tenured and promoted faculty, their deans, department heads and guests together to celebrate a major milestone in their academic careers.
Clements knows about the importance of this milestone. As he addressed faculty, Clements, who is in his 30th year as an educator, recalled the day he received his own tenure letter. It was the day his twin daughters were born. After ensuring that his wife and babies were resting comfortably, he drove 32 miles to his office to retrieve the notification.
“I still have that letter,” he said. “And I still have the letter when I was promoted to full professor.”
Provost Bob Jones also knows about the importance of the achievement.
“Your colleagues at Clemson have affirmed that you are a highly productive and valued scholar, teacher and public servant,” he said. “This was not easy to achieve. In all cases, it’s a long and arduous path with heavy scrutiny all the way.”
Jones talked about the long road to tenure and promotion. Faculty have to document all of their activity, products and outcomes for the past five or more years, and these document are reviewed by supervisors and peers. He acknowledged the emotional highs and lows that can happen along the way.
“For those who are not part of higher education, it’s difficult to understand or appreciate just how much academic scrutiny is involved,” he explained.
Corrine Sackett knows that all too well. Now in her sixth year at Clemson, Sackett, who is a faculty member in the College of Education, worked toward her goal for what seemed like forever. And she found something in the process.
“I found myself as a teacher, which was a huge learning curve for me,” she explained. “I feel proud that I have collaborated with master’s students in our program on research and scholarly work. I’m also proud of my research. I believe in what I’ve done.”
Her efforts earned her tenure and a promotion to associate professor, and she sees her experience as valuable time spent.
“I think tenure is important because it encourages you to be intentional about your process and trajectory as an academic,” she said.
Anjali Joseph has always been intentional about her trajectory. Before coming to Clemson, she spent nearly a decade leading research activities for a center that creates innovative health care facilities that promote healthier environments and improved patient outcomes.
Joseph is the Spartanburg Regional Health System Endowed Chair in Architecture + Health Design and director of the Center for Health Facilities Design and Testing at Clemson. She was part of a multidisciplinary team that designed a smarter, safer, ergonomic hospital operating room and was recognized nationally for her research contributions to the health care field.
Like Sackett, Joseph values tenure and what it means to the university.
“I think tenure is important because it provides a strong and stable base of faculty that will continue to build the university’s mission in education, research and service,” she said. “Tenure helps to attract and retain the best faculty and consequently, excellent students.”
As both Clements and Jones closed their remarks, they challenged faculty to help each other, and they outlined what distinguishes Clemson from other institutions.
“Faculty members are the heart and soul of an institution,” said Clements. “You drive the academic enterprise, the learning experience that takes place here, the shaping of lives…that’s you.”
Click here to view event photos and download a list of tenured and promoted faculty.
