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Anthropology Scholarship & Professional Activity Statement Recommended for approval by Senate Approval Accepted by Dean, Fall 2014 Department of Anthropology I. Scholarship and Professional Activity. Introduction to Research and Scholarship in Anthropology Volume IV of the Ithaca College Policy Manual stresses the achievement of excellence in scholarship and professional activities and the many forms this can take from research, publications and applied work to musical performances and exhibits. For purposes of tenure and promotion, the Anthropology Department, along with the Ithaca College Policy Manual (Volume 4.12.7), follows the Boyer model of recognizing the many types scholarship can take. In this introductory section, further elaboration on the nature of scholarship across the many subdisciplines of anthropology is provided. Research is the foundation of scholarship and has a symbiotic relationship with it. Research is the investigative, integrative, applied or creative work that a faculty member conducts in her or his area of specialization. As such, research can be a part of any of the Boyer types of scholarship. It is the way we each generate new knowledge, whether it is an experiment, investigative field research or a new piece of music. Research is integrally related to teaching in that it is the way we connect our own personal knowledge base with that of others. The development of research into scholarship and pedagogy further enhances and informs the research. Scholarship involves the dissemination of research. Dissemination is the step by which others, especially peers and public audiences in both academic and non-academic venues, are presented with the research. The field of Anthropology encompasses the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities and as such embraces research and scholarship of many different forms, both quantitative and qualitative. There are numerous publications and journals in anthropology specifically addressing the key role of qualitative methods and anthropology’s leadership in the social sciences in furthering the development of this methodology. In addition to the articles and books that have traditionally comprised scholarship, many professionals now engage in “Applied Anthropology” – a sub-discipline that stresses the active applications of anthropological knowledge and methods to the solution of societal and cultural issues. The emphasis in applied anthropology is on demonstrable results and improvement of human lives, rather than on the production of traditional scholarship. Applied anthropologists engage in work with communities and organizations to address human needs. Applied anthropology is different from service in that it integrates engagement with community institutions or community members with research, advocacy, intervention work and pedagogy. The engagement is an integral part of the activity, which separates it from simple “service” to the community. This engagement is carried out primarily using anthropological perspectives and methods. Where the anthropologist is a part of an interdisciplinary team, however, their work may not be so easily distinguishable and their scholarship may not be as easy to recognize. In such cases their engagement may lead to co-authorship of reports and publications by the faculty member and community members or agency personnel with whom the scholar may be collaborating. 1 Anthropology Scholarship & Professional Activity Statement Recommended for approval by Senate Approval Accepted by Dean, Fall 2014 There is obviously overlap between the goals of applied anthropology and the Scholarship of Application, defined by Boyer. In light of this, the department of anthropology emphasizes that professional organizations such as the Consortium of Practicing and Applied Anthropology (COPAA), the National Association for the Practice of Anthropology (NAPA), the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA), the Society for Ethnomusicology (SEM) Applied Ethnomusicology Section and related organizations have recognized the unique nature of scholarship in this field. In response, these professional organizations have convened committees to specifically identify standardized bases for evaluating applied scholarship directly related to tenure and promotion. Following the informed deliberations of these professional organizations, we add the following considerations as forms of scholarship within our department. Professional and Technical Reports Many anthropologists in the academy also work for and consult with outside organizations on a wide range of projects from ethnobotanical analyses, forensic case studies and nutritional assessments to international development and health care recommendations. It is important to recognize that professional and technical reports written for contracting or funding agencies, as well as for community organizations or groups for whom the anthropologist may be working in the service of or in cooperation with, be considered scholarship when they are peer-reviewed at different levels within and/or outside of the agency, group or the academy. The outcome of such work may also be disseminated through publication in peer reviewed journals such as Human Organization or in professionally edited newsletters or bulletins such as Practicing Anthropology. Restricted Reports Traditional scholarship criteria that focus on publications in peer-reviewed journals or through recognized academic publishing houses can be problematic for applied anthropologists who work under contracts that prohibit using agency data or reports for purposes other than those that explicitly address agency concerns. Professionals within the agency who are qualified to acknowledge the expert contributions of the anthropologist evaluate such reports. Where applied work takes place under such restrictions, it is important for the anthropologist to provide documentation from the agency that highlights their specific contributions and ways that their work was disseminated and made an impact in relevant areas of the project and perhaps beyond. While such work may not reach wider audiences due to confidentiality issues, it is recognized as scholarship. It must be recognized that project outcome reports, such as the professional or restricted reports defined above, are often read more widely than articles published in journals. For the purposes of evaluation and promotion, it can be problematic that such reports commonly have multiple authors. The reality of applied and consultancy work is that practitioners commonly are a part of multi-disciplinary teams that include academics, community practitioners, technical experts and so on, and all substantial contributors are commonly included for authorship on reports. This should be considered strongly by readers of the file who might value single-authored works more highly. Anthropology Department recommends that readers of promotion files also recognize, when the candidate is working in the field of Applied Anthropology, that it is an emergent field that accepts and rewards alternative forms of publication, dissemination and impact of applied work. 2 Anthropology Scholarship & Professional Activity Statement Recommended for approval by Senate Approval Accepted by Dean, Fall 2014 The discipline of anthropology gives significant weight to research and scholarly endeavors that are publically relevant, have the goal of improving some condition of life for the targeted community, and are disseminated to a wider professional community within which they hold lessons for demonstrating or advancing applied anthropological scholarship. Other Considerations Anthropologists work in many regions of the world and there may be expectations by the institutions that support research in other countries that the results will be made public in their local publishing venues. In addition, this may be the only way that local scholars can access research information, as publication sources in the US may not be accessible to such scholars, despite the reach of the Internet. Therefore, the Anthropology Department places equal value on publishing results in international sources, such as national journals or international presses. Forms of Scholarship The department evaluates on a qualitative basis the scholarship of all faculty review candidates. The two most important criteria are quality of the individual works in question, and their overall significance. Because the department understands scholarship as encompassing a wide range of professional activities, it is the case that the assessment of quality and significance will vary in accordance with the type of material under consideration. The following are considered forms of scholarship that are relevant to the process of tenure and promotion, based on best practices in the field of anthropology and the considerations discussed above. In addition, the department places a high value on the dissemination of scholarship in all the forms listed below to the country and cultures where research is conducted. The candidate’s departmental tenure and/or promotion committee shall establish the quality and significance of the works in all the relevant forms of scholarship. “Quality” may be defined as scholarship that is well written or performed, articulates its main analytical and conceptual claims clearly, and demonstrates a thorough understanding of the state of the current scholarly conversation or expertise of performance on or of the subject. “Significance” is defined as recognition that the work has earned within the discipline, field, or profession more broadly. In the department’s view, the most reliable indications of significance are examples drawn from the first four categories below. For that reason, the department expects at least two examples from among the first four categories along with examples from the other categories as well. Significance can also be determined through evaluative judgments made by external sources. Professional prizes or awards are understood to be measures of significance. For professional performances, significance can be demonstrated by a request by a professional agency, department, or organization for the performance. For tenure and promotion, the department expects at least two examples from among the first four categories along with examples from other categories. 1. Books, original or edited, single or multi-authored, or co-edited. In the latter two situations, the contribution of the candidate should be clearly defined. The department shows no qualitative preference for books published by university, non-university or international presses so long as they have a delineated peer-review procedure. 2. Articles in peer-reviewed journals. If co-authored, the contribution of the candidate should be clearly defined. The department encourages its faculty to publish in both 3 Anthropology Scholarship & Professional Activity Statement Recommended for approval by Senate Approval Accepted by Dean, Fall 2014 national and international journals, especially since the latter are often the only means by which international scholars have access to the work of U.S. investigators. 3. Articles in professional publications. These sources are respected publication sources in the field, but may not have a policy of peer-review of articles. In such cases, the review process may be an editorial board or even an editor. All such publications have earned their respect through the quality of articles that have appeared in their pages, and so warrant acceptance. 4. Works of creative or artistic expression. These are individual or collaborative applications of academic, artistic, technical and/or creative knowledge at the local, regional and international levels presented at professional venues. Musical and visual performances and productions, exhibitions, works of music, art, or literature, reviews and writings pertaining to such artistic endeavors are examples of such works. The significance of such activities shall be determined through evaluative judgments made by external reviewers, other information from professionals in the creative fields including colleagues, and the public dissemination of the creative work(s). Professional reviews of the candidate’s activities are another means to judge significance. 5. Presentations at international, national and regional conferences and colloquia and symposia. Presentations are based on scholarly research and may include, but are not limited to, paper presentations, posters, and invited keynote addresses. Presentations are usually peer-reviewed by panels and so must pass an external level of quality control. As many anthropologists work in foreign countries, international presentations are a significant means to share one’s scholarship with the populations and scholars that reside there. 6. Professional reports, evaluations or consultancies conducted for outside agencies. Produced reports, which may not be published in publicly-accessible sources, nonetheless reflect significant contributions to our knowledge and so constitute scholarly work. 7. Restricted reports of research conducted for an agency that retains rights to the results of the investigation. Where applied work takes place under such restrictions, it is important for the anthropologist to provide documentation from the agency that highlights their specific contributions and ways that their work was disseminated and made an impact in relevant areas of the project and perhaps beyond. 8. Grant writing for individual research or for major agencies. The department acknowledges that writing a grant proposal for funding from a national or international funding agency or philanthropic organization involves significant scholarly expertise and fulfills the definition of scholarship listed at the beginning of this section. Even where funding is not achieved, the act of producing a proposal is a rigorous application of scholarship that should be recognized. Where funding is not achieved, the grant application and reviewer comments may be included in the candidate’s tenure and promotion file. 4 Anthropology Scholarship & Professional Activity Statement Recommended for approval by Senate Approval Accepted by Dean, Fall 2014 9. Scholars also may engage in editing articles, books and reports. Even when the scholar does not have a written contribution to such work, we recognize the significant expertise that editorships entail. 10. Review work and editorships for publications and granting agencies. Scholars are frequently called upon to review articles and books for publication and proposals for research from major granting agencies. Such work recognizes the candidate’s solid expertise within a particular field or area of application. 11. Local presentations of candidate’s expertise. On occasion, a person may be asked to present information based on her or his expertise to a local group, in an interview, a public presentation, on a panel discussion or as an expert witness at a court hearing. Such work is recognition of a person’s scholarly knowledge and application. The Anthropology Department highly values this arena of scholarship. 5