On December 4, 2025, the Research Careers Campus hosted an expert talk for researchers who are en route to a permanent position. Irene Strasser, Department Chair at SUNY Cortland (USA), shared strategies for thriving within qualification and development agreements, and "how to turn expectations into growth".
Irene received her PhD from the University of Vienna and, after serving as an assistant professor with a qualification agreement at the University of Klagenfurt, pursued an international academic career with positions in France, Egypt, and the United States. As department chair, she mentors faculty on the tenure track.
Here is a short report on topics discussed and insights shared!
About the tenure journey
- The tenure journey, once completed, may sound straightforward, but it often includes meandering paths, forks, and quirks (for example, completing a mandatory stay abroad and never returning).
- On the tenure track, you are working both to fulfill your agreement with the institution and to build your personal academic portfolio.
- What does not appear on CVs also matters for how we manage our time.
- Depending on your particular passions, certain elements of academic work may expand in scope, such as teaching or service to the institution.
- A “good enough” mindset can be helpful, since it is unrealistic to be equally committed to all tasks. In the long run, researchers need to protect their time and energy, set realistic goals, and work sustainably (“set ceilings, not just goals”: how much are you willing to invest in a goal).
About managing your time well
- Set up FAQs for courses and for advising students, as well as for committee work.
- Prepare rubrics or templates that allow you to check boxes (for example, for feedback or assessment).
- Set aside weekly blocks for writing and put them on your calendar; protect research time and do not underestimate how long writing projects take.
- Create consistent routines. Do not wait until summer to have time for reserach/scholarship; instead, carve out time every Wednesday and Friday, or a similar regular schedule.
How to protect your time
- Evaluate tasks using a matrix:
- high visibility / high workload (be strategic),
- high visibility / low workload (these are “quick wins”),
- low visibility / low workload (can serve as fillers),
- low visibility / high workload (evaluate carefully and consider saying no).
- Practice a collegial “no”: “appreciate the invitation, I'd be happy to revisit this once I have completed my current committments”, sharing a resource instead, agreeing to a lighter task, taking on a member role rather than a lead role;
- Use teaching to inform your research, and bring your research into the classroom.
How to tell your story for tenure committees and evaluators
- Presenting your work effectively means highlighting not only tasks, but also the impact of your work in a coherent narrative that shows both past achievements and future potential.
- Keep a running accomplishments file as a foundation.
- Do not be overly humble in your portfolio. Rather than just listing experiences and skills, show what you achieved: what you contributed in committees, how you mentored students, and what outcomes resulted from projects and networks
- “Committees only see what you make visible.”
- While all agreed-upon goals matter, meeting the agreed-upon expectations for publication is usually central to a successful tenure evaluation.
How to balance demands
- Written agreements are a major advantage. Knowing explicitly what the institution expects allows you to use any flexibility in those agreements to set your own priorities.
- If tensions arise—for example, between the dean’s office, departmental strategy, and your own portfolio—seeking advice from senior leaders can be helpful, especially when framed as: “This is my situation; do you have advice?”
- Stay connected to how the academic world beyond your current institution factors into your career development. Consider where you want to be recognized and by whom, and position yourself in ways that may lead to visibility and fortunate opportunities.
- Once the qualification agreement is completed, contracts often include a higher teaching load (and a higher salary), so it is important to be mindful of the timeline you want to follow.
Recommended readings
- How to Write a Lot, Second Edition
- Karen Kelsky: The Professor is In (available to copy in the RCC office)
Reach out to the RCC team if you want to learn more about our offers for tenure-track staff, such as coachings, funding (up to 2000 euro), expert talks, our newsletter and more.
Report: Johanna Stadlbauer, 5.12.2025