Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, October 20, 1995 TAG: 9510200051
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ALLISON BLAKE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Post-tenure reviews are being developed at Virginia campuses as part of ongoing state-mandated restructuring. In addition, pay raises for 1996-98 may be tied to acceptable review plans, state officials say.
But some peoplesay that faculties are taking on the reviews simply to ensure the integrity of the tenure system, which guarantees job security and academic freedom after professors undergo a rigorous, multiyear peer review.
"The purpose of tenure is not, and never has been, to provide people an income without doing any work," said Tom Sherman, the Faculty Senate president at Virginia Tech.
But professors say they detect a perception that some believe the system protects professors who may not be pulling their weight, or guarantees jobs without any accountability.
"In fact, all of my colleagues whom I have ever talked to about this issue resent, bitterly, people who are not doing the work they should be doing," Sherman said. "The notion that the faculty somehow want to protect people who are doing nothing is as far from reality as could possibly be."
Margaret Miller, the official with the state Council for Higher Education of Virginia who is coordinating the colleges' review process, said provisions to dismiss tenured faculty for cause have "generally been invoked only when very, very serious problems have been manifested."
Faculties tend to police themselves, and "it isn't as if there are a lot of deadbeats out there," Miller said.
But because "many faculty are so concerned with the issue of academic freedom, they have in the past been willing to tolerate a certain amount of baggage," she said.
Faculty also seem to fear the "slippery slope": One day they're accountable for performance, the next it's "performance to somebody's liking."
That is a concern that has crossed the mind of Tech education Professor Don Creamer, who says he has mixed feelings about tenure. But he does believe the process works to combat the "historical roots of discrimination" against professors who uncover controversial things.
"I particularly think [tenure] has a place in any institution that expects more than just the transmittal of information to students," he said.
The Tech post-tenure review likely will be built on the existing merit pay reviews that faculty undergo each year. However, provisions will be made if faculty are found to be underperforming in the areas of teaching, research, or service, said Sherman. Faculty found lacking may well receive training and opportunities to improve before drastic steps like dismissal are taken.
Radford University's reviews will likely remain with the faculty, said Charlie Owens, vice president for academic affairs.
"I think what's going to happen is, the evaluation procedures will be more consistent among departments," said Jill Alcorn, president of Radford's Faculty Senate.
State higher education officials see faculty involvement as an opportunity for professors themselves to put to rest any public perception that they are not accountable once they receive tenure.
Secretary of Education Beverly Sgro said she supports post-tenure review and the accountability it brings. But she also praised the state's faculties.
"We wouldn't have the educational system we have that's recognized for its incredible stature if in fact we had lazy faculty," she said. "That's just not the case."
The reviews by the area's universities are expected to be completed by the end of the school year.
Sherman said, "I think it's important for us to get out in front, and I think it's important for us to stay out in front."
by CNB