Based on the discussions within the department, we have come to a consensus on these following points about our own expectations for our scholarship:

  • We fully support the statement on scholarship of the Natural Sciences Division, including the expectation that our faculty publish peer-reviewed work.
  • We acknowledge that it takes a substantial investment of time for scientists beginning their careers at Kenyon to develop a research program.
  • In light of the above point, the Department emphasizes the value of writing grant proposals to procure research funds, as we recognize that this activity lays the foundation for a long-term, productive research program as well as its continuation.
  • The Department emphasizes that publications resulting from research as a Kenyon faculty member will carry more weight than publications resulting from post-doctoral or other work.
  • We value work done in collaboration with investigators both within and outside Kenyon.
  • We also believe that research programs that incorporate students should be especially valued. At the same time, we acknowledge that some research approaches are more accessible to undergraduate students than others.
  • Last, the Department recognizes the value of scholarly activities that span both the teaching and research arenas (such as the construction of research-based web tutorials, and participation in the Kenyon Summer Science Scholars program) and those activities that link scholarship to the wider community (such as the Brown Family Environmental Center). This acknowledges the artificial division between teaching and research.

September 2000 (Siobhan Fennessy and Harry Itagaki), amended February 2015

Based on the discussions within the department, we have come to a consensus on these following points about our own expectations for our scholarship. We fully support the statement on scholarship of the Natural Sciences Division, including the expectation that our faculty publish peer-reviewed work. We also acknowledge that it takes a substantial investment of time for scientists beginning their careers at Kenyon to develop a research program. In light of this, the Department emphasizes the value of writing grant proposals to procure research funds, as we recognize that this activity lays the foundation for a long-term, productive research program, as well as its continuation. In addition, the Department endorses a substantial junior leave program as an aid to scholarly productivity of our younger colleagues. This large block of time would be invaluable in furthering research in the department, and in the development of the research programs of our junior faculty.

In our self-evaluation, the Department emphasizes that publications resulting from research as a Kenyon faculty member will carry more weight than publications resulting from post-doctoral or other work. We also believe that research programs that incorporate students should be especially valued. Last, the Department recognizes the value of scholarly activities that span both the teaching and research arenas (such as the construction of research-based web tutorials, and participation in the Kenyon Summer Science Scholars program) and those activities that link scholarship to the wider community (such as the Brown Family Environmental Center). This acknowledges the artificial division between teaching and research.

March 2000 (Siobhan Fennessy and Harry Itagaki)

rev 1/11/18 jp