TT faculty research

[jonathantheseagul]

Hello everyone,
As the summer is here, my college (and state university-connected research foundation) has started offering a series of introduction seminars on research programs of this foundation and external collaboration of them. I am a junior TT faculty in a undergraduate institution oriented in teaching, although research is an important part to me. A program coordinator encourages attendees to send CV, contact information to initiate the research engagement. In this chain of building the research relationship between me and this foundation(and its partner research organization), how can I incorporate it in my career goal setting in terms of copying my administration, etc? It is a little tricky for me to know when and how to get my chair/dean engaged. Is it just me or has anybody else experienced this before? if so, can anyone give any advice?

Seagul

[polly_mer]

Call up your chair and float the idea of participating.

If the chair is in favor, then ask specific questions related to formal goal setting at your institution.

If the chair pooh-pools the whole idea, then you have additional information to help you plan for your job search for the coming year to have a job that includes the research that is important to you.  Teaching places vary greatly in their culture and support for research.

[Ruralguy]

I don't see why you have to involve your chair at all. If this seminar is at  your college and has no costs to you (you didn't mention any) or does not otherwise need Chair approval, then I wouldn't bring it up with the Chair. Just attend, see if the information would be of help to you, and use the info to benefit your research if it does seem helpful. If your college does annual reports or annual reviews, you can bring it up there, otherwise, formally, I see no need to bring it up before your next review, though for sure you can speak with other faculty about it, including your Chair, if that's something that's important for you to do (or you just want to).

[eigen]

I don't see why you have to involve your chair at all. If this seminar is at  your college and has no costs to you (you didn't mention any) or does not otherwise need Chair approval, then I wouldn't bring it up with the Chair. Just attend, see if the information would be of help to you, and use the info to benefit your research if it does seem helpful. If your college does annual reports or annual reviews, you can bring it up there, otherwise, formally, I see no need to bring it up before your next review, though for sure you can speak with other faculty about it, including your Chair, if that's something that's important for you to do (or you just want to).

This is what I was going to post. I can't really see the benefit of involving your chair or anyone else at this point, unless you need releases/support from them for some reason.

The other useful thing might be to involve a mentor (if you don't have one or more trusted senior colleagues, develop them!) who might be able to advise on whether this opportunity seems worth it/things you might not anticipate in terms of challenges.

OP, can you elaborate in what you hope to gain by getting your chair/administration involved?

[polly_mer]

If one's contract is 70% teaching, 20% service, and 10% professional development, then one may need permission to be on a research contract.

Depending on how the agreements with an outside foundation are written, a faculty member may be unable to independently agree because the legal contract is between the two institutions.

Thus, one may need permission to get the funding although attending the seminar is open to all.

[eigen]

If one's contract is 70% teaching, 20% service, and 10% professional development, then one may need permission to be on a research contract.

Depending on how the agreements with an outside foundation are written, a faculty member may be unable to independently agree because the legal contract is between the two institutions.

Thus, one may need permission to get the funding although attending the seminar is open to all.

Nothing in the OP suggests a contract.

[jonathantheseagul]

I don't see why you have to involve your chair at all. If this seminar is at  your college and has no costs to you (you didn't mention any) or does not otherwise need Chair approval, then I wouldn't bring it up with the Chair. Just attend, see if the information would be of help to you, and use the info to benefit your research if it does seem helpful. If your college does annual reports or annual reviews, you can bring it up there, otherwise, formally, I see no need to bring it up before your next review, though for sure you can speak with other faculty about it, including your Chair, if that's something that's important for you to do (or you just want to).

This is what I was going to post. I can't really see the benefit of involving your chair or anyone else at this point, unless you need releases/support from them for some reason.

The other useful thing might be to involve a mentor (if you don't have one or more trusted senior colleagues, develop them!) who might be able to advise on whether this opportunity seems worth it/things you might not anticipate in terms of challenges.

OP, can you elaborate in what you hope to gain by getting your chair/administration involved?

eigen, the gain is to keep them aware of my activity since they often forgot and reflected it as my fault instead in the important review process; I am not capable of absorbing the guidance from them;that is a unfair statement.

[Ruralguy]

Sure, something might eventually require Chair or Dean approval, but until then, just go for it.

[Ruralguy]

Upon reading Jonathans second post, I'd still say just sign up and do it. If it seems like something you wish to do after you've attende.d the seminar, the speak with your Chair. But I'm not sure why your Chair is complaining. does he think you are performing poorly, and thus you should him in the loop because he could help? It's a nice thought, but aside from general advice, it's hard to mentor people outside of your sub field.

[Volhiker78]

I agree with Ruralguy.  Just sign up and go at this stage.  If the seminars are useful and you see a way that you can link your research goals to foundation grants, then you go talk to your departmental head about your ideas.   If the seminars are not useful,  no need to mention them to your head unless he asks whether you attended. 

[jonathantheseagul]

If one's contract is 70% teaching, 20% service, and 10% professional development, then one may need permission to be on a research contract.

Depending on how the agreements with an outside foundation are written, a faculty member may be unable to independently agree because the legal contract is between the two institutions.

Thus, one may need permission to get the funding although attending the seminar is open to all.

I got a clarification from the administrative staff of a foundation. She said that there would be an official approval needed if I officially apply to their fellowship program and get accepted. Until then, it is not necessary to keep chair/dean aware of it unless it is beneficial.

Seagul

[Ruralguy]

Yes, if it seems interesting, bring your chair into the loop.