Tenure
Tenure is a topic that has produced much heated discussion in recent years. Some argue that tenure is an outmoded concept, and, if institutions are going to remain competitive, they need to be able to have more flexibility to hire and fire faculty as student needs change. Others argue that tenure is vital to the protection of academic freedom and that without tenure we will return to the days when faculty were dismissed for teaching unpopular opinions. In addition, to the arguments about tenure, institutions have not been filling tenure-track positions as faculty retire or resign to take another position. Instead we are seeing an increase in the numbers of faculty hired on limited term contracts of five years or less and an increase in the numbers of part-time temporary faculty hired.
The NEA Higher Education web site has pulled together resources on this important topic. NEA has a strong policy in favor of tenure, and constantly argues for the protection of tenure. Thought and Action, NEA's referred journal for higher education, and the Almanac have several articles on subjects related to tenure.
- NEA's Tenure Policy
- Lessons From a Five-Year Diet of Tenure Lite (PDF
, 133 KB, 9 pgs.) Thought & Action, Fall 2002 - Tenure (PDF , 351 KB, 8 pgs.)
Research Center Update, June 2001 - Tenure: Why Faculty and the Nation Need It (PDF , 68 KB, 16 pgs.) Thought & Action, Fall 2000
- The Truth About Tenure in Higher Education This NEA-AFT online brochure deals with some of the myths about tenure and responds with the facts.
- Critics of College Teaching (PDF , 89 KB, 15 pgs.) The 1996 Almanac chapter by Walter Metzger, gives an historical account about attacks against higher education faculty.
