Harvard professor is just the worst

He's not in Arts and Sciences, though, he's in the business school. I don't know how they do their tenure process, but their standards re: scholarship are likely going to be very different.

Interesting read re: A&S's approach. From start to tenure it's a year longer than is usually the case. In most research-oriented institutions, what's called the 3rd-year review actually occurs in your 4th year, and your progress to date is assessed. Clear that hurdle and then after your 5th year you start the tenure-and-promotion process, but you're still an assistant professor. You start your first year as a tenured associate in your seventh year after joining the faculty. If you don't make tenure, you spend your seventh year looking for a new job and avoiding the people who turned you down.

Essentially at Harvard, they do a 3rd year review, then you get promoted to associate. At that point they're saying you have a reasonable chance, so they see whether you can keep it going. Otherwise, it's out the door with you.

But, let's be honest, you gotta be hell on wheels to get tenured there. I daresay most people go knowing they won't be tenured but they'll have their pick of not-quite-Harvard (with almost certain tenure) for their next gig.

I'll repeat, though, that this guy is at the HBS, and their standards/approach likely will be very different. Just as an example of how they're likely different, economists in A&S are going to be judged on their scholarly output. At the HBS, someone like this guy's going to be judged on connections he make/maintain with top, top companies.

HBS is of a very small subset of business schools that aren't really "normal science" driven. The Darden School at UVA is like that, too. I met a guy from Darden at a conference once and he was really floundering around, because he wasn't schooled in the "normal science" paradigm. He knew he wouldn't be tenured at Darden because they want at least a smidgen of that type of research. Well, turns out he was right, and he wasn't tenured. So Darden made him some "senior lecturer" of some sort or another, then, a few years later when he snared one (ONE!) "normal science" paper, they put him right back on the tenure track and tenured/promoted him.

That would NEVER happen elsewhere.

 

Good gig if you can get it, even if you don't get tenure. Just don't flounder in academic exile like David Graeber did.

 

He can always try to become a cheerleader.

 

The guy is clearly a dick and it makes for an amusing story. But isn't the level of backlash -- T-shirts? Seriously? -- a bit over the top? The guy made an ass out of himself apologized. Move on.

 

We live in an era in which you're always one dick move away from becoming an Internet meme.

 

Boston.com deputy editor suspended for her T-shirt tomfoolery.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news_op...2014/12/harvard_prof_reacts_to_bostoncom_flap