Redefining Scholarship: A Case Study Centering Public Health and Community-Engaged Practice in Academic Promotion and Tenure

Public health and community-engaged practice in schools of public health are important to support student learning, foster collaborative research, promote the use of evidence-informed policies and practices, and contribute to improved community and population health outcomes. However, academic reward systems, such as promotion and tenure, often dissuade faculty from participating in practice-based work. As a newly established school of public health within an academic health center, we sought to intentionally embed public health and community-engaged practice into our promotion and tenure guidelines. This paper documents the development process, including key discussions and decisions; presents a case example of the first faculty member reviewed for promotion under the practice area of excellence; and highlights ongoing questions and challenges related to recognizing practice within academic advancement structures.