The TICKING of the Biological and Tenure Clocks

Princeton University institutes new policy, placing the school at the forefront of family-friendly workplaces
         
By Patricia Valdata

Colleges and universities are arguably among the most enlightened and progressive institutions in America. So when it comes to maternity and career policies, one would expect that they’d be at the forefront of similarly progressive accommodation practices.

Not necessarily.

Princeton University, however, is taking steps to ease the burden for assistant professors who are new parents. The university recognized that junior faculty must cope with the added stress of ticking clocks — not just the biological clock, but the tenure clock as well. It’s hard enough to edit one’s dissertation into a book, while also teaching, advising and working on committees. Add in twice-daily runs to the daycare center and trips to the pediatrician, and what was already stressful quickly becomes a time-management nightmare.

Many colleges and universities, very aware of the problem, have adopted policies allowing faculty to request an extension of the tenure clock, but it’s usually not automatic.

“The anecdotal evidence is that women are reluctant to ask for an extension of the tenure clock for fear it may have negative consequences,” says Dr. Jane Buck, president of the American Association of University Professors.

Princeton University officials came to the same conclusion after a task force conducted a study in 2003 on the status of female faculty in the natural sciences and engineering, says Dr. Joan Girgus, professor of psychology and special assistant to the dean of faculty.

According to Girgus, the task force’s findings showed fewer faculty requested the extension than expected. A report this year on the status of women in the humanities and social sciences showed similar results. Both task force reports focused strictly on gender equity issues without the added factor of race.