The Music Department cheerfully affirms Dean Craft’s statement that “college faculty are scholars who teach.” Scholarship is an affirmation of lifelong learning and a necessary requisite for vital teaching. We too hope that Luther will strive to become “a college that expects, encourages and supports scholarship.”

The following three levels of professional activity attempt to address questions one and four posed by the Dean (9 September 2000 memo on scholarship). Our list deliberately suggests broad categories of scholarly and creative endeavor. The various categories are not listed in order of priority, nor is the list exhaustive. As Luther College strives to describe scholarship and creative activity, we will clearly need to recognize a diversity of professional endeavors. Even within a single department like music, expectations and indeed opportunities, will vary considerably from discipline to discipline. Again, our purpose in embracing scholarship should be to affirm lifetime learning in the service of vital teaching.

In answer to the Dean’s second question, almost all of the scholarly and creative activities on our lists imply peer review. Invitations for most performance opportunities are earned, and many require auditions. Likewise, most grants, commissions, publications, broadcasts and invitations to conduct festivals are highly competitive and usually judged by peers.

As for question three, there is a direct relationship between professional activity and teaching in the performing arts. Artists teach by example and students learn, at least initially, through imitation. Moreover, most teaching in the arts is by its nature collaborative, particularly when public performance is involved.
A performing arts department is also uniquely situated to support the purposes of a liberal arts college of the church. Here, the line between professional and scholarly activity and “other contributions to the purposes of the college” may become blurred.
The field of music also lends itself to interdisciplinary work.

We truly hope that Luther College will find ways to promote a sustained life of professional and scholarly activity for its faculty. To begin, our annual budget should guarantee all full-time faculty timely sabbatical leaves. A sabbatical should be regarded as a right, not a privilege. In addition, the institution should set aside monies to allow faculty with legitimate research projects, publication contracts, and performance opportunities to have time off from teaching and committee assignments without financial penalty. Unlike sabbaticals, this kind of leave or partial leave could be competitive; a privilege, not a right.

Level I (Forms of scholarly and creative activity expected by third-year review.)

1. Evidence of lifelong learning habits and familiarity with current issues, publications and performances in one’s discipline. Attendance at professional meetings, workshops, lectures and performances.
2. The first professional duty of a new faculty member is to complete the terminal degree. (“Unless otherwise specified at initial appointment, faculty appointed in a tenure-line position must have completed the recognized terminal degree in the appropriate field prior to the beginning of their third year in that tenure-line position.” Luther College Faculty Handbook, September 2001, 403.2)
3. Presentation of on and off-campus performances, lectures, master classes, workshops, and festivals.
4. Performances of original compositions or transcriptions; publication of articles.
5. A plan for reaching Level II.

Level II (Forms of scholarly and creative activity expected by tenure and promotion reviews.)

1. Evidence of lifelong learning habits and familiarity with current issues, publications and performances in one’s discipline. Attendance at professional meetings, workshops, lectures and performances.
2. Presentation of on- and off-campus performances, lectures, master classes, workshops and festivals; performance in regional orchestras and opera companies.
3. Publication of articles, recordings and compositions; presentation at meetings regional music organizations; adjudication of regional contests; professional consultation.
4. Composition for college ceremonial occasions and for regional professional meetings.
5. A plan for reaching Level III.

Level III (A sustained history of scholarly and creative activity, both on- and off-campus, is expected for promotion to the rank of full professor.)

1. Evidence of lifelong learning habits and familiarity with current issues, publications and performances in one’s discipline. Attendance at professional meetings, workshops, lectures and performances.
2. Presentation of recitals, lectures, master classes, and workshops at other colleges, art centers, libraries, on concert series, at national/international conventions, or on public radio and television. On-campus presentations. Performance in regional orchestras and opera companies. Presentations of scholarly research at national/international conventions.
3. Publication of articles, recordings, compositions, music editions, and books by recognized journals, recording companies, musical organizations and publishing houses.
4. Composition of major works leading to off-campus, public performances.
5. Serving as an officer of a national organization or on the editorial/advisory board of a national journal.

(February 2001)