A careful distinction between quality and quantity is key to promoting the future growth of the computing and information field.

Toward that end, Batya Friedman, Professor in the Information School at the University of Washington, and Fred B. Schneider, Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Cornell University, put together a Best Practices Memo that advocates adjustments to hiring, promotion, and tenure practices as well as to the publication culture. Contributions in a small number of high quality publications or artifacts are what should be emphasized; success as a researcher is then not primarily a matter of numbers.

These Best Practices recommendations were developed over an 18-month period by the Computing Research Association (CRA) Committee on Best Practices for Hiring, Promotion, and Scholarship. As part of this work, the committee conducted interviews with more than 75 academic and industry computing and information unit heads to understand the issues and gain insights from practice. Preliminary recommendations were vetted with department chairs and CRA Deans at the Snowbird Conference in July 2014 (see the Snowbird Presentation here).

Read the full Memo here!