Assessing the Value of Public Health Practice in Faculty Tenure and Promotion in Academic Public Health

Over the past 50 years, professional public health organizations and associations and the accrediting body for schools/programs of public health, Council on Education for Public Health, have advocated for increased public health practice involvement from academic public health. Despite this, little is known about how public health practice is valued and used to advance faculty in academic public health. To address this gap, a survey was developed and distributed to 225 individuals who are responsible for academic affairs/educational programming or public health practice at schools and program of public health. A total of 55 individuals responded to the survey. Survey results indicate that the most valued activities include obtaining practice-related funding and publishing in academic journals, reflecting alignment with traditional academic norms. Nearly all respondents (95%) reported that their institution has incorporated practice into their faculty promotion and tenure guidelines, although 38% reported the guidance provided is vague. These findings can inform efforts by school and program leadership to strengthen their promotion and tenure guidelines in ways that more fully recognize public health practice.