Rethinking Tenure in Dental Education

Abstract

In the midst of changes in the environment of academic dentistry over the past two decades, reform of traditional tenure is one way for dental schools to respond to these changes while maintaining scholarly, evidence-based learning environments. Challenges facing academic dentistry today and in the future include a crisis in workforce capacity, dificulty attracting recent graduates into academic positions, overburdened faculty members with limited time for scholarly activity, loss of tenured faculty members due to retirement, and a potentially diminished voice for dental schools within the parent university. The purpose of this opinion article is to suggest ways to reform the current tenure system in dental education as a means of improving recruitment and retention of new faculty members while maintaining or increasing scholarly activity within dental schools.

Professional leadership training programs for dental faculty: Perspectives of the US dental school deans

“…The cost-effectiveness of faculty development and program offerings could also be a significant consideration as measured by the outcomes of an institution. 25,26 In the same vein, the second most reported barrier was a conflict with faculty schedules. Due to ongoing dental faculty shortages, full-time faculty may have difficulty finding time away from didactic, clinical, and administrative responsibilities.…”

“…The survey did not ask whether the limitation came from institutional or personal budget constraints; however, institutions may likely reduce leadership training or faculty development expenses before cutting operational expenses in order to allocate budgets with limited resources. The cost‐effectiveness of faculty development and program offerings could also be a significant consideration as measured by the outcomes of an institution 25,26 . In the same vein, the second most reported barrier was a conflict with faculty schedules.…”

Creating a Supportive Educational Research Culture at a Dental School by Identifying Obstacles and Solutions

“…Even dental faculty members in non‐tenured positions may be required to engage in scholarship activities for promotion opportunities. Developing and testing innovative teaching and assessment methods in the classroom or clinic constitute an obvious solution for meeting this requirement, although “scholarship” may need to be redefined at institutions to facilitate this 10 …”