To successfully achieve the goal of tenure, a well thought out professional development plan is essential. For engineering technology (ET) faculty, the requirements of the ET tenure process may be well suited for utilizing consulting and industrial experiences as a portion of the professional development plan. Engineering technology programs are different from engineering programs in that they teach the use of current technology to solve engineering problems facing industry. Accreditation requirements for ET programs prescribe that faculty have a minimum amount of industrial experience prior to beginning their teaching career. In addition, ET faculty can maintain currency is through industrial experience and consulting. Industrial experience and consulting can provide opportunities for professional development, if the faculty member properly documents these experiences in the technical literature. Consulting and industrial experiences can present opportunities for professional publishing in the form of case histories presented in conference proceedings and journal articles of a practical nature. Documenting how consulting and industrial experiences were incorporated into the curriculum also presents opportunities for pedagogical publications. In addition, applied research opportunities may result from experience in industry. This paper explores how ET faculty can utilize consulting and industrial experiences as part of their professional development plan for promotion and tenure.
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