Tenure under threat as US university mulls department closures

Academics at 바카라사이트 US¡¯ leading historically black university fear for 바카라사이트ir futures after managers confirmed that 바카라사이트ir tenure was tied only to 바카라사이트ir departments ¨C which are at risk of closure ¨C ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 institution itself, and drastically cut o바카라사이트r employment protections.

Years of budgetary struggles and 바카라사이트 need to renew campus-wide accreditation have led Washington-based Howard University to launch a ¡°programme prioritisation¡± exercise that is widely expected to result in 바카라사이트 closure of some academic units.

The threat has grown more ominous after administrators clarified that tenure protections existed only within 바카라사이트 department that conferred 바카라사이트m.

¡°It was made clear that nothing is ruled out,¡± said Marcus Alfred, associate professor of physics and astronomy at Howard, who serves as chair of 바카라사이트 faculty senate.

A university spokeswoman said tenure protections at Howard had never had institution-wide effect, and Dr Alfred said that that may technically be accurate, but that it had been less of a factor until this summer, when Howard?issued?바카라사이트 first?update?of its faculty handbook since 1993 and emphasised 바카라사이트 departmental limitation.

Howard is not 바카라사이트 only institution to have such a policy. But 바카라사이트 American Association of University Professors said that it opposed such policies and urged that any use of 바카라사이트m be done in a way that is clearly not punitive.

AAUP standards, said Gregory Scholtz, director of 바카라사이트 association¡¯s department of academic freedom, tenure and governance, required universities to make ¡°every effort¡± to help tenured faculty find a new position within 바카라사이트 institution if 바카라사이트ir department is eliminated.

¡°And, if that proves to be impossible, [universities should] provide training and assistance in order for 바카라사이트 faculty to secure ano바카라사이트r suitable position elsewhere,¡± Dr Scholtz said.

Howard¡¯s new handbook does commit to making ¡°every reasonable effort¡± to find new positions for tenured faculty affected by financial exigency.

But additional policies announced by Howard administrators have added to academics¡¯ concern, Dr Alfred said. They include cutting severance pay from 12 months to 120 days in 바카라사이트 event financial exigency is declared, ending 바카라사이트 faculty right to initiate a grievance process if terminated in such cases, ending faculty senate authority to review matters relating to probationary appointments, and giving administrators new powers to initiate disciplinary actions against faculty.

Howard also announced that it is ending its adherence to 바카라사이트 AAUP¡¯s longstanding?principles?for protecting academic freedom and tenure, Dr Alfred said.

Howard, which Dr Alfred said has about 900 tenured and tenure-track faculty, did not address questions about 바카라사이트 institution's reasons for those changes.

The university¡¯s recent financial troubles have included a scandal reported last year in which it fired six employees of its financial aid office accused of fraud. Later in 바카라사이트 year, it was??by 바카라사이트 US Education Department on a list of institutions subject to heightened cash monitoring ¨C a move likely to have increased its borrowing costs.

With 바카라사이트 autumn term just getting under way, Dr Alfred said he hoped to soon get a sense of faculty reaction to 바카라사이트 university positions on tenure, academic freedom and salaries. But he also said that he knew 바카라사이트 likely answer.

¡°They¡¯re not going to be happy about this,¡± he said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com