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School Statement on Faculty Scholarship (Effective 2019-2020)

The NJCU School of Business recognizes and values the diversity of academic expertise within our School. This diversity is a natural consequence of the variety of academic programs for students in disciplines such as but not limited to accounting, economics, finance, management, and marketing. As a result, expectations for our colleagues’ scholarship must be broad enough to suit the diverse nature of our academic pursuits yet clear enough so as to provide sense and structure to those who will evaluate our scholarly work.

At NJCU, “tenure shall be awarded after presentation of positive evidence of excellence in teaching, scholarly achievement, contribution to university and community, and fulfillment of professional responsibilities” (NJCU Faculty Handbook, 2009, p. 79). Thus, to earn tenure, a faculty member must show clear evidence of sustained scholarly, peer-reviewed achievements.

To establish scholarship benchmarks within the School of Business, the following tiers are to be considered as heuristics in making evaluative judgements about our peers’ scholarly accomplishments, effective after the conclusion of the 2018-2019 academic calendar:

Tier 1 Scholarship

• Peer-reviewed authorship (including co-authorship) of a journal article (print or online):
  • Empirical studies (aka “original research articles”)
  • Literature reviews
  • Theoretical articles
  • Methodological articles
  • Case studies
  • “Best Practices” articles
• Authorship (including co-authorship) of a scholarly book, chapter, or editorship of same
• Successfully funded peer-reviewed external grant proposal as a Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator

Tier 2 Scholarship

• Presentation of original, peer-reviewed work at a conference:
  • Invited presentations (aka “keynotes,” “master lectures,” etc.)
  • Paper (aka “oral” or “podium”) presentations
  • Poster presentations
  • Membership on a panel or symposium
• Authorship of a book (or other media) review published in a scholarly journal
• Creation of instructional materials that are published in conjunction with textbooks:
  • Instructors’ manuals, study guides, or text banks
  • PowerPoint presentations or similar ancillary materials, online or otherwise, accepted by publishers as supplements to textbooks used at NJCU

Tier 3 Scholarship

• Attendance at a national, regional, or international scholarly conference for the purposes of professional enrichment
• Creation and development of a new course that is approved and offered at NJCU
• Significant contribution to the development of a new academic program approved and offered to NJCU students
• Service as a peer reviewer for a scholarly journal, conference, book, media outlet, or continuing education program
• Presentation of scholarly work at a non-peer-reviewed conference
• Membership on a doctoral dissertation committee
• Authorship or presentation of original work that advances public knowledge of scholarly findings; can include publication in popular-press outlets, professional/trade publications, or electronic media
• Presentation of scholarly work at a Gothic Research Forum or similar School- or University-organized research function
• Successfully funded internal grant (e.g., SBR award) or non-peer-reviewed external grant proposal, expressly excluding sabbaticals

A Note on Predatory Journals and Conferences

“Predatory” journals and conferences are increasingly common in academia. Such outlets frequently offer the promise of rapid and/or easy acceptance (i.e., without the adequate rigor critical to the peer-review process), often in exchange for substantial payment. These outlets are to be avoided and should not be counted as evidence of one’s scholarly achievements. Likewise, so-called “vanity presses” and self-publication are not acceptable forms of Tier 1 scholarship.

Some excellent peer-reviewed journals charge publication fees, most academic conferences require registration payment in order to present one’s work, and many reputable journals offer fast, online publication. Confusion can therefore result when it comes to selecting appropriate venues for disseminating one’s work. Faculty with questions about the suitability of a journal or conference and whether a venue might be deemed “predatory” or otherwise unacceptable should consult with their Department Chairperson and/or Dean’s Office for guidance.

Expectations for Faculty Scholarship

The expectations outlined below are designed as “expectations” insofar as they provide structure and guidance for the scholars in our School and those evaluating our scholarship:

Retention for Year 2: There is no specific expectation for immediate scholarly accomplishment in a colleague’s first semester as a tenure-track faculty member at NJCU. However, applicants for retention are encouraged to submit any evidence of recent accomplishments in their dossiers.

Retention and continuance along the tenure track: The pace of research productivity can vary among scholars according to their areas of inquiry, the peer-review process itself, or a host of other factors. Keeping this in mind, progression along the tenure-track should be accompanied by a growing body of scholarly accomplishment that will position the applicant to meet or exceed the expectations for tenure.

Tenure application: For the purposes of awarding tenure, this document serves as a guideline rather than a requirement and is subject to interpretation based on each applicant’s record taken as a whole. By the time faculty members submit their tenure dossiers, they generally should have evidence of at least three instances of Tier 1 scholarship and four or more instances of Tier 2 scholarship, in addition to any number of Tier 3 activities. Dossiers should indicate a line of scholarly accomplishments that will continue to grow and evolve post-tenure, showing “clear evidence of the ability and willingness to make a significant and continuing contribution to the institution’s growth and development” (NJCU Faculty Handbook, 2009, p. 79).