The Role of Scholarship for Industrial Technology Faculty

Many faculty members with Masters and Doctoral degrees have chosen Industrial Technology (IT) for their higher education career due to its multidisciplinary nature and flexibility in teaching, scholarly activities, and service not afforded by other academic disciplines. These faculty members are attracted to Industrial Technology discipline because of its emphasis on teaching, student success, and applied technical research. However, the advancement of core knowledge in the Industrial Technology discipline and qualifying responsibilities for a career in higher education demand faculty to develop a research agenda and pursue scholarly activities such as conducting applied technical research. Additionally, IT faculty must be able to develop their teaching and research skills in order to meet the needs of Industrial Technology students. Industrial Technology scholars and leaders should provide mentoring systems and opportunities that enhance the achievement and retention of successful Industrial Technology faculty. This paper will provide effective strategies for Industrial Technology faculty who wish to successfully gain tenure and promotion in the higher education environment