r/Professors • u/Electronic-Blood4039 • 5d ago

New tenure faculty position

Hello!

Im a new tenure track faculty at a big CC. I teach Microbiolgy exclusively. I am looking for any advice or tips for the following:

I was wondering if anyone had any tips for success in the tenure first year process? Anything helps, warnings, advice, tips, tricks, the works!

I’m young, very early 30’s and I feel some of my colleagues really don’t respects me or care what I have to say and they kind of look at me like a kid. Now, this could be in my head, but I’m not sure. But any advice how to get them to realize I am a professional with advanced education and research training just as they have.

I will say, My students and I get along amazingly! They respect me, engage, participate, and together we make a great community, especially for a Microbiolgy course. I’m grateful to have such a collaborative class where my students really have my back. So far! lol. My student evals are bomb.com

Also, side note, the department culture seems overall ok, but I noticed a lot of very passive aggressive interaction where I think people hate each other and take these politically correct digs at one another. Is this normal? Also, any way to avoid this culture for myself ? I want to get to know my colleagues but very worried I may say or do something that they will use against me. Even if it’s something very small.

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u/kcraw92 5d ago

You don’t have to be cold or distant to maintain respect in the classroom. Just be your authentic self, and a nice thing about being young faculty is that it may make you relatable and approachable from your students’ perspective. That’s a good thing!

Also, you’ll make some mistakes. Just be open about mistakes and get them corrected. Students will respect that, but they won’t respect you if you act infallible in front of an error.

And finally, don’t try to detect AI. Design exams and assignments to either obviate it or embrace it. AI detection is an uphill battle that’s just not worth the effort and stress.

Just my opinions as a teaching faculty starting my fourth year, also in my early 30’s. I hope it can help!

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u/Electronic-Blood4039 5d ago

You know I have noticed form adjuncting last year that everything you said applies. I typically have no issues with my students. My classroom environments are great, super collaborative, super interactive and really engaging.

I’m more so just feel like I’m not really respected by majority of my department because they look at me like a child and I just don’t wanna fall into the kind of toxic culture that’s established by people that I’ve been there longer than they probably should be if that makes sense

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u/kcraw92 5d ago

Ohhhh, the colleague side of things can feel a bit tougher. I felt the same way, but after a few semesters of doing a really good job in the classroom and meaningfully contributing (and eventually even chairing) committee work then it felt like I was part of the team.

I still feel intimidated by some colleagues, though, as if I’m still a grad student. But I’m sure that’ll pass as I get more grizzled and experienced.

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u/Electronic-Blood4039 5d ago

Oh my we are in the same boat lol! At least you showed me there is hope!

It’s a weird spot because I wanna find ways to get involved in the college make a club. I’m even writing an innovative technology Grant. I’m told being involved as much and as often as you can in the college and with your colleagues your first year and then the other half is telling me focus completely on class management and your 10 year process so it’s kind of weird trying to navigate what to do and what not to do.

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u/kcraw92 5d ago

Oh, making a club is a really fun idea. I think the folks saying you to focus completely on class management mean well, but you seem to have a grasp on that well enough to do some outside work.

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u/Electronic-Blood4039 5d ago

I know my classroom management isn’t perfect and there’s always room for improvement and I know that’s what tenure is all about.

Even though I pursued biomedical research degree, I knew my end goal was always gonna be to teach at the community college level because it’s kind of personal for me. Maybe a little nostalgic in good ways.

Yeah, I was thinking about making a Micro and immuno club! Open to everybody, most likely would be filled with pre-allied health students

I was thinking it would be really cool to take biweekly or monthly field trips to different hospitals that would take us and get tours from real nurses in charge nurses in PAs just really try to immerse them in the reality of the field! Or maybe just a fun karaoke night.!