Sustaining Faculty Careers: A Retrospective Review

Faculty often manage their careers by focusing on the next level to be obtained. For some that will be tenure or promotion through the ranks, for others it might be the relative security of a longer contract. To progress, individuals align their work and goals according to the criteria sanctioned by their departments and universities, seeking to meet or exceed the requirements for research, teaching, and service necessary for continued employment or advancement. This article addresses how the sustainable career perspective can be applied to faculty seeking long, productive, and fulfilling careers. It introduces the three intersecting dimensions of sustainable careers (person, context, time). Five key concepts of sustainable career development (fit between person and career, continuous learning, renewal, employability, and integration of home, work, and community) are highlighted through a retrospective analysis of the experiences of the authors, providing examples of each along with pitfalls to avoid. Implications and conclusions include recommendations for applying sustainability to faculty career paths and suggestions for further research.