Understanding Higher Education Hierarchy Part II.
This article contains information to help you understand the inner hierarchy of academia.
By Norrell Edwards — April 19, 2023
In Part I., we covered non-tenure line professors. In this article, we'll talk about tenure line/tenured professors. Often tenure-line professors endure stereotypes of disinterest in students because they are too focused on their own research. Every professor is different, however, and your experience different professors will vary. Professors, dependent upon their different commitments at any given moment, can impact their ability to support students. Here's some helpful information I've garnered about different tenure-line professors.
Assistant Professor
An Assistant Professor is a tenure line professor who is in their early career years at their school. They are often fresh out of a Ph.D. program and still acclimating to the college and its expectations. These professors probably have the best advice about navigating graduate school and understanding that experience. To receive tenure in 6-7 years—assistant professors are often expected to publish an academic book or several articles. They are advised to "protect their time." Since they do not yet have tenure, they spend much of their working hours trying to build their tenure case. Every school's emphasis on what is tenurable ranges. Expect that a new assistant professor might say no to taking on responsibilities as your advisor for a thesis, club, or even writing a recommendation if they are too stretched.
Associate Professor
This professor has achieved that magical designation called tenure. A recently minted associate professor is the ideal professor to ask for a recommendation for graduate school. Since they have achieved tenure, they likely have a recognizable name in their field which could boost your application. Associate professors usually still have strong connections to their field and graduate school. As always, use your best judgement when it comes to asking anyone for a recommendation. You can refer to my article "Tips for Requesting Recommendation Letters" for more specific suggestions.
Full Professor
This is the highest ranking achievable as a professor, and some never reach this level because it makes marginal difference. At the full level tenure doesn't change but a full professor had to write another book or do a bunch of work to get slightly more pay and this more prestigious title. The most important thing for you to know as a student—full professors are often very removed from the field or the experience of being a student. They can be out-of-touch. This is not to say other professors aren't also out of touch, but a full professor is likely 10+ years from starting as a professor and they really do not have to keep up with their field if they don't want to. Full professors have usually been in their field 20+ years, so they might be quite famous but well-known scholars can be the most difficult to work with. Their status allows them a privilege that can sometimes be difficult to navigate.
Full Professor Emeritus/ Endowed Title
Usually, a professor with this set of credentials is winding down in their career. These professors can be an impressive person to know or connect with. Still, temper your expectations on whether they want to do any heavy lifting, like chairing your thesis or taking on new graduate students. There is a very good chance this professor is out of touch with what it's like to be a student. An Emeritus or Endowed professor is solidly 20 if not 30-40 years into their career as a scholar and an academic. Professors like these are incredibly influential and well respected by their institution—as much as possible you want to avoid getting into trouble with this person.
Nothing is one-size fit all, but this is good information to understand the inner hierarchy of academia. Please do not ask your professor about their status or treat them differently because of it. You can find out a professor's status on your school website, listed in their bio. Understanding the University Professorial ranking system helps you to better understand the inner workings of your department or school better.
Norrell Edwards
Norrell Edwards is a scholar, educator, and communications consultant for non-profit organizations. Her employment experience and research interests place her work at the nexus of global Black identity, cultural memory, and social justice. Norrell graduated with a BA in English Literature from Hunter’s College followed by a PhD from the University of Maryland, College Park in 20th and 21st Century Black Diaspora Literature.
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