Are we supporting the research we demand for tenure?

A colleague forwarded me part of an e-mail from a tenure-track faculty member who chose to leave the college to teach at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.  The following is shared with permission:

I just thought I would let you know that I just got 4x as much money to start up a section of a research class at a high school than Guilford gave me to start up my tenure-track laboratory.

The dean (at NCSSM) gave me ~$3000 to start up biochemistry last year.  She gave me $4000 in start up for my section of the research class with an expected ongoing $1000 budget yearly.  Adrienne gave me $1000.

Do we provide enough support as an institution for the research work and scholarly growth we expect for tenure and promotion?  What would it take to bring support and expectations into balance?

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