Report suggests tenure evaluation principles

Misunderstandings and disputes over tenure decisions can cause extreme stress for tenure candidates, ill will in departments, and costly lawsuits for in. stitutions. In conjunction with the AAUP and the American Council on Education, the United Educators Insurance Risk Retention Group will issue a report shortly that provides guidance on conducting tenure evaluations. The report, Good Practice in Tenure Evaluation: Advice for Tenured Faculty, Department Chairs, and Academic Administrators, recommends that tenure decisions be guided by four principles:

Clarity in standards and procedures. Institutions should ensure that both the criteria and the process for tenure decisions are clearly delineated in writing, that they are communicated to candidates, and that they are followed in practice.

Consistency in decisions. Tenure criteria should be applied consistently to all candidates regardless of personal characteristics-such as race, gender, disability, or national origin-that are protected by law or by university policy. It is also important that individual candidates be given consistent information and feedback during the probationary period. Negative tenure decisions that are preceded by positive evaluations and optimistic departmental assurances are particularly troublesome.

Candor in evaluations. Senior faculty should not shrink from offering constructive criticism and a realistic assessment of how well a junior faculty member is meeting tenure requirements. Such candor may help tenure candidates improve and can provide a paper trail in the event of a negative tenure decision.

Caring for unsuccessful candidates. Faculty and administrators should treat unsuccessful tenure candidates professionally and decently, making sure that they do not become isolated during the terminal year and providing whatever assistance possible in finding a new position.

In addition to following these principles, faculty and administrators at individual institutions should take a look at their past tenure evaluations. Have candidates who have been denied tenure been surprised by the decisions? Have lawsuits or disputes over tenure arisen? If so, why? The report stresses that faculty and administrators must collaborate to strengthen, clarify, and adhere to tenure processes.

"Such commonsense principles benefit both institutions and faculty members," notes Martin Snyder, the AAUP's program director for academic freedom and governance.

Copyright American Association of University Professors Nov/Dec 2000
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