All articles tagged with #tenure
Harvard University has revoked the tenure of Professor Francesca Gino at Harvard Business School following allegations of research misconduct and an investigation that concluded she was responsible for data fabrication, marking the first time Harvard has stripped a tenured faculty member of tenure since the 1940s. Gino denies the allegations, and her case is ongoing with a lawsuit against Harvard.
Indiana lawmakers are pushing a bill to limit tenure at public colleges and universities, aiming to influence campus operations they view as unfriendly to conservative students and professors. The bill would establish a post-tenure review process, prevent faculty from gaining tenure if they are unlikely to foster a culture of free inquiry, and broaden diversity efforts to include differences in political opinions. Critics argue that the proposal would effectively do away with tenure and stifle academic discussion, while supporters argue it aims to make campuses more welcoming for conservative viewpoints.
Claudine Gay, despite resigning as Harvard University's president amid controversies, remains employed as a professor due to her tenured status, which provides significant job security and requires a formal process for revocation. Tenure is designed to protect academic freedom and job stability, making it difficult to fire tenured faculty without cause. The future of tenure is uncertain as the proportion of non-tenured faculty grows, prompting debates over its relevance and sustainability in modern academia.
Liberal-leaning professors in Florida are leaving their tenured positions at highly regarded public universities, citing Governor Ron DeSantis's conservative policies as the reason. Many academics have expressed concerns that the governor's efforts to reshape the higher education system align more with his conservative principles, making it increasingly difficult for scholars and students to thrive.
West Virginia University's plan to cut programs and faculty in the face of a projected $75 million budget shortfall has been met with pushback from faculty members who feel excluded from the process and anxious about its potential scale. The university's provost hopes to offer more information and a better sense of the impact of the cuts in the coming weeks. Faculty members are also concerned about recent changes to tenure protections and the university's enrollment decline, which has fallen 10% since 2015.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has signed a bill that aims to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and programs in higher education, starting in January 2024. The bill was challenged by Democrats, but Republican Senator Brandon Creighton said it would ensure Texas colleges and universities return to focusing on the strength of diversity and promoting a merit-based approach. Abbott also signed a bill that codifies tenure into state law, making it easier for universities to revoke the designation from faculty.
The fate of tenure for Texas public university professors is poised to be decided through last-minute negotiations after the House and Senate have each thrown their support behind dramatically different proposals. The Senate voted to eliminate tenure altogether, while the House gave preliminary approval to an overhauled version of the bill that instead enshrines tenure policies in state law. Faculty and other opponents have criticized both versions of the bill, arguing that while the House option is better than the Senate proposal, it would still make it difficult to recruit and retain top faculty who help the state’s universities rise in prestige and national rankings.
The New College of Florida board, now dominated by conservatives appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, voted to deny tenure to five professors, despite concerns by faculty and students that the decision poses a threat to academic freedom. The school's interim president, DeSantis ally and former state House Speaker Richard Corcoran, said he wanted the professors' tenure denied or delayed in part because of administrative changes and a renewed focus on ensuring the college is moving towards a more traditional liberal arts institution. The conservative takeover has gained national attention, prompting a visit in April by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California in which he sharply criticized DeSantis and the changes underway at New College.
The New College of Florida board, now dominated by conservatives appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, voted to deny tenure to five professors, despite concerns by faculty and students that the decision poses a threat to academic freedom. The school's interim president, DeSantis ally and former state House Speaker Richard Corcoran, said he wanted the professors' tenure denied or delayed in part because of the administrative changes and because of “a renewed focus on ensuring the college is moving towards a more traditional liberal arts institution.” The conservative takeover has gained national attention, prompting a visit in April by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California in which he sharply criticized DeSantis and the changes underway at New College.
According to a new report from BambooHR, 65% of HR professionals typically approach layoffs by eliminating newly hired workers first. The report also found that employees believe that in a wave of job cuts, the likelihood of getting laid off is 62% for recent hires and 20% for longstanding employees. Sandra Sucher, a professor at Harvard Business School who studies layoffs, advises that laid-off new hires should frame their narrative positively and shift the burden of their layoff onto external economic factors to tell a more accurate and valuable story to future employers.
Several Republican-led efforts across the US seek to weaken or eliminate tenure protections for college and university faculty members, including bills in Texas and Louisiana and a law in Florida requiring post-tenure reviews. Proponents argue that tenure reforms will improve the student experience and allow for more freedom of expression, but academics say they will do the reverse, dampening state colleges’ competitive edge and chilling speech in classrooms at a time when tenure is already becoming less common.