"Tolling, or “stopping the tenure clock,” is a debated policy among many academics, especially mothers. Some argue that tolling delays tenure and promotion and/or has detrimental effects on a career. Others contend that tolling policies are a beneficial and helpful option. In this roundtable we discuss tolling and its potential benefits and drawbacks. We also discuss stories of tolling and barriers to this policy. Last, we will discuss the implications of tolling/similar policies for other careers.

This roundtable was presented at the 2025 International Association of Maternal Action + Scholarship (IAMAS) conference, Boston, MA. (Hybrid format)