Tufts University
ER-19: Interdisciplinary Research in Tenure and Promotion

Although it is admittedly more difficult to evaluate interdisciplinary research, Tufts highly values (and encourages) interdisciplinary research, and strives to include it in its tenure review process. When preparing a tenure case, the candidate's home department contacts letter writers who can speak to the individual's contributions in his or her field. As Tufts requires a minimum in 10 letters in a tenure case (plus an outside expert who delivers an on-campus presentation) and a minimum of 6 letters in a promotion case, the contents of those letters speak to contributions both inside and outside the stated discipline of the tenure candidate. Statement 11 of the Tenure Guidelines states that the committee may request additional letters, which can also be used to evaluate interdisciplinary research. For a copy of statement 11, see http://ase.tufts.edu/faculty-handbook/statement-11.pdf.

Although the Tenure and Promotion Guidelines do not specifically state that interdisciplinary research is given the same weight as single-disciplinary research, Tufts as an institution prides itself on its commitment to interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary research and scholarship (see white paper here: http://provost.tufts.edu/docs/White Paper on Collaboration at Tufts May 2011.pdf). Specific research grants are also awarded for professors who conduct interdisciplinary research (more information at http://ase.tufts.edu/research/bernsteinFacFellows.htm, http://provost.tufts.edu/1174240949780/Provost-Page-prov2w_1292421344856.html, and http://engineering.tufts.edu/research/interdisciplinaryinitiatives.htm)