Building the Base: Contextualizing Faculty Achievement for Decision-Making

Session Abstract: Many faculty evaluation and advancement decisions rely on peer review, disciplinary norms, and shared governance. Yet institutions are increasingly asked to provide clearer insight into faculty achievement, hiring outcomes, and leadership appointments. How can universities introduce evidence and benchmarking data without reducing complex contributions to metrics?

This session examines how faculty lifecycle data (hiring, promotion, tenure) can be combined with contextual research benchmarking to better understand candidate trajectories, disciplinary expectations, and peer comparisons. Drawing on collaboration between faculty affairs and research functions, we will explore real-world applications.

Attendees will gain practical approaches to responsibly incorporating contextual data into decision-making, understand governance and cultural considerations, and identify opportunities to strengthen institutional insight while preserving peer judgment and shared governance.

Keywords: Faculty Evaluation, Institutional Research, Promotion and Tenure, Research Analytics