Richard and Tipsters- That's all tenure means anywhere. I know that recently the accrediting agencies have begun requiring post tenure assessment/review at least every five years (we are one of those schools who had no real post tenure review and that is one of the big results of our recent accreditation visit). But, so far as I know, tenure has never protected activities that breeched community standards of right and wrong.
I am also aware that it is believed by some that colleges and universities are full of old folks who do nothing (because we have tenure). Some even believe we are protected as if we have some sort of immunity from prosecution. I think the general case is that people hear about tenure in academia and haven't a clue what it is or protects etc. I also know that tenure protects academic freedom and does provide some small sense of security here in that it gives principles for removal of faculty during various changes, crises (for example financial), or curricular adjustments. I'm also the chair of our promotions and tenure committee this year and have served on it for 4 consecutive years. We spend far more time admonishing our faculty to stretch themselves less, take some time off, do less, essentially, than we do with the crisis cases where we ask people to do more or admonish people for ineffectiveness. A lot of people think we have a really easy job (we don't) and that we make a lot of money (I won't even comment on that). It has been my experience that there are notable and obvious exceptions (partially because of confirmatory bias and sensationalism) but that most of us use tenure for exactly what it is intend- to defend our principles, stand up for those who haven't attained it yet, and as freedom to get outside our main areas of training and try new and exciting things (which is, btw, WAY harder than doing the same old thing every term). Just my two cents. Tim _________________________________________________ Timothy O. Shearon, PhD Albertson College of Idaho 2112 Cleveland Blvd. Caldwell, ID 83605 [EMAIL PROTECTED] teaching: History and systems; Intro to Neuropsychology; Child Development; Physiological Psychology; Psychology and Cinema -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 5:22 PM To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences Subject: Re: tenure, McCarthy, and today All tenure means here is that you don't have to go through annual review by the dept. If you just coast after you get tenure, you won't get promotions. We also have a 3 year tenure review process. Tenure means nothing if you committ serious crimes, e.g., sell drugs to students, commit a felony, etc. -- Richard Pisacreta, Ph.D. Professor, Psychology Ferris State University Big Rapids, MI 49307 --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
