University of Mount Union
ER-19: Interdisciplinary Research in Tenure and Promotion

The University Faculty Personnel Committee unanimously approved the following statement in December 2010. The statement was also approved by Dr.Patricia Draves, Vice President for Academic Affairs Recommendations for continuation, tenure and promotion are based on four criteria that are stated in our Faculty Handbook. Research comes under the second criteria, professional development, covered in Part A. section 2.c.(2)(b) which states “Scholarly activity is participation in one's field as a professional. This includes activities involving the production of original work, research leading to scholarly papers or books, creative work, presentations at professional meetings, participation in faculty development workshops and seminars, enhanced expertise in clinical work, etc.” Neither the statement in the handbook nor the longstanding practice of the Faculty Personnel Committee indicates that interdisciplinary research is valued differently than is disciplinary research. To the contrary our institution values and promotes interdisciplinary work and explicitly requires it of our students through the general education requirements.