Question

Most college professors are granted tenure after six years of employment. Tenure implies a lifetime appointment. What problem does this situation create, and how can colleges minimize the problem?

Answer 1

Tenure came from a German Research Model to American colleges and universities in 19th century.Around that time, the german university evovled into one design for disinterested research and learning, which would be intellectually independent of state control. Tenures prdominant function is to safeguard the public welfare by protecting academic freedom while assuring academic accountability.Tenure serves as protection of academic freedom and represents a shared commitment amongs members of the university community. Tenure is a means by which professors who can protect themselves at least partially from the uncertainities.

The problems that this situation creats is it may result in job security for professors who are poor teachers. Some fear that once a professor gains a tennure he or she will go into neutral and stop producing. another problem of tenure is that it makes termination of professors literally imposible. The tenure rule through its rigidity, is also seen as a limitation to the development of a college or university younger faculty and the institution own specialities at its own proper level.

Colleges can minimize the problem of tenure in this way that resonabvle compromise is possible in the matter of tenure. Meaningful annual review can be mandated for all faculty. we already require such reviews for probationary faculty. Indeed many universities should follow such apolicy or something reasonable close to it. Possible outcome of uch review include recognition of successses, contributions, possible redistribution of workload and provision of development assistance.