The relative importance of supportive data for promotion and tenure reviews.

Tenured and tenure-track faculty in 21 schools of allied health in the Midwest were surveyed by a questionnaire to identify (1) the relative importance of the variety of documents allied health faculty may submit for promotion and tenure reviews and (2) the congruence between the real and ideal value of the major areas of faculty responsibility. The responses indicated that of 48 examples of documents faculty may submit, only ten were considered to be essential or to have a desirable effect on pursuits, but none to teaching, public service, or patient care. The most important activity contributing toward advancement was reported to be research/publication, even though faculty believed it should be teaching. The results of the study will be valuable to candidates preparing dossiers for promotion and tenure and to administrators and other educators involved in advising faculty.