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The Best Way to Not Get Tenure

blue.cse.buffalo.edu

1–10 of 215 posts

Re: The Best Way to Not Get Tenure

#2
This article has a powerful and important point to make. But much of the strength of an argument rests on the author's evaluation of his own contributions which is almost unfailingly positive.

The article would be even more effective if accompanied by statement from one or more of the eight department members who voted against granting tenure.

Re: The Best Way to Not Get Tenure

#6
post #5

Most people, when passed over for promotion, don't write about it publicly. One has to wonder what sort of spirit possessed this author.

...And if said spirit was apparent to the people voting, and if they factored that into their decision.

Re: The Best Way to Not Get Tenure

#7
Why is Tenure still a thing? It's basically a lifetime employment contract.

It seems the only argument for tenure is academic freedom.. a tenured professor can pursue an avenue of research without fear of reprisal for it being controversial or not yielding results (though really, even experiments that 'fail' actually serve to prove that it's not the way to go).

It seems to be me like this is a problem that can be solved in many better ways. For example, employees in most (every?) jurisdiction are protected by laws that mean they can't be fired without just cause. Even if the employer tries to find ways around this (making up reasons), the fired employee can generally lodge a complaint/lawsuit to prove otherwise. Can some type of protection of this sort not be written into academic contracts as well?

Re: The Best Way to Not Get Tenure

#8
post #5

Most people, when passed over for promotion, don't write about it publicly. One has to wonder what sort of spirit possessed this author.

That's not how tenure works. Up or out -- you get tenure or you hit the road. So this is actually fairly common in academia. Sort of a parting shot, if you will.

Re: The Best Way to Not Get Tenure

#10
post #5

Most people, when passed over for promotion, don't write about it publicly. One has to wonder what sort of spirit possessed this author.

Speaking cynically, the motivation of the essay (and in particular stuff like his thin-gruel attempt to wrap himself in the flag of social justice) seems to be recruiting an internet brigade to harass his colleagues into reversing their decision, or simply as retaliation.
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