Saturday, March 3, 2007

The End of Tenure in Missouri Higher Education?

How many faculty members at Missouri public colleges and universities are aware that the Missouri legislature is considering a bill that would virtually end tenure as we know it? Here is the official summary:
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HB 813 -- Tenure at State Higher Education Institutions

Sponsor: Baker (123)

Beginning January 1, 2008, this bill allows the president orchancellor, as appropriate, of each state higher education institution to revoke the tenure and discharge a faculty member who receives two negative peer reviews.

"Negative" and "peer review" are not defined. Such a vague system would make faculty members fireable almost at the whim of their campus administration. If they think there is a lack of "intellectual diversity" now, wait until something like this goes through.

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