Issue
The rigidity of the tenure clock, when combined with the 50+ hour workweek typical of academics, disproportionately bars mothers from succeeding in academia—and dissuades many women from pursuing an academic career in the first place.[1] The rigid, one-size-fits-all career track is one reason that married women, both with and without children, are leaving academia at disproportionately high rates at every stage of the academic career.[2] In addition, when the University of California surveyed their faculty, they found significant interest in a part-time tenure track not only from women, but also from men.[3] 91% of women and 84% of men indicated that they are “very supportive” or “somewhat supportive” of a flexible part-time option with pro-rated career timelines and parity.[4]

Faculty who opt for a part-time tenure track should be able to decide when the time is right to return to a full-time tenure track. It is also important that the administrative decision making on part-time tenure track be centralized (at the level of the provost or dean) to ensure an equitable approval process.

Temporary and Permanent Part-Time Tenure Track
The University of Washington has two policy options for tenure-track faculty who want to work part time: 1) a permanent part-time tenure track, and 2) a temporary part-time option, using partial leave and tenure-clock extensions.[5]
 
Part-Time Tenure Track
The University of California, Berkeley, also has instituted a part-time tenure track. It found in a survey of UC faculty that a majority of men, as well as women, supported this option, especially if it could be taken at any time during a career.[6]