V. Alternative Models to the Tenure System

Features of alternative models to tenure include:

  1. Contracts for a fixed period (perhaps 5-10 years), renewable after evaluation in specified increments of time with no lifetime guarantee of employment.
  2. Mixed models - where at time of hire, a faculty member may select either tenure track or contract with sabbatical and/or higher salary.

Alternatives to tenure are usually found in smaller universities and colleges rather than in major research institutions.

Contracts or term tenure

There are numerous models that include term appointments, rolling contracts, continuing contracts exclusively or in combination with tenure. Some contracts are tied to rank that range from five year contracts with review for senior faculty and two year contracts with review for junior faculty and one-year renewable contracts for entry-level faculty. Another model begins with a three/four year renewable contract and after a second three/four year contract and an extensive review process, faculty can receive a ten year renewable contract. It is claimed that contract systems have the following features:

  1. Academic freedom is still protected.
  2. Contracts do not adversely affect recruiting efforts.
  3. Contract systems do not lead to greater turn-over and turn-over does not lead to greater innovation.

It has been found that:

  1. Review of short-term contracts requires a tremendous investment of time by peers and administrators.
  2. There seems to be a tendency towards contract renewal rather than turn-over.
  3. With short term contracts, faculty are overly focused on evaluations, more political, and less inclined to speak openly.

Sabbatical vs. Tenure

In 1970, the faculty at Webster University in St. Louis "initiated a program aimed at improving teaching by providing more time for faculty to pursue their scholarly interests and keep up in their field." The faculty development leave program (FDL) is not automatic. Faculty must submit proposals and are subject to rigorous review likened to tenure review. Webster University has a teaching mission, 150 full-time faculty, and an enrollment of 5000:

  1. After 4 years, a faculty member can apply for a semester-long sabbatical at full salary.
  2. After 5 years, FDL's increase to a semester and summer at full salary.
  3. 84% of the faculty have FDL status, 16% tenure status.

NEXT - Modifications to the Tenure System