Academic Tenure: Advantages and Disadvantages

For many researchers, getting academic tenure is often viewed as the cherished goal in a long and challenging academic journey. The academic tenure process grants professors and researchers job security after they demonstrate excellence in their field over a specified period of time, usually 4-6 years. Apart from guaranteed permanent employment, academic tenure also provides protection from being dismissed without cause.

While this may sound perfect, the concept of academic tenure has been the subject of debate for years now. This article explains what is academic tenure, the qualifications required to achieve this, and the advantages and disadvantages of academic tenure that all researchers should know about. 

What is academic tenure? 

The concept of academic tenure was officially established by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) in 1940, with the aim of protecting academic freedom and encouraging research and innovation. The AAUP issued a public statement, endorsed by numerous academic and professional associations and institutions, which declared that with regards to academic tenure “all dismissals, except in cases of financial exigency, must be for a cause and reviewed through a trial-type process.”¹ Universities and colleges that violated this regulation were to be placed on AAUP’s censure list, which would make it difficult for them to recruit new faculty members. 

How can you get an academic tenure? 

Getting on a tenure track is no easy task and the journey to getting an academic tenure is a long one. To qualify for academic tenure, a professor must demonstrate outstanding teaching and mentoring abilities, research productivity, and professional service to the academic community. Given the high competition to earn one of the limited tenured positions, many are left feeling disappointed and frustrated with the amount of time and effort required for an academic tenure. Over the years, the criteria for awarding tenure have grown more stringent leading to a decline in the proportion of faculty eligible for tenure².

Ongoing debate on the concept of academic tenure  

Over the years, the concept of academic tenure has come under scrutiny and has sparked heated debates between faculty, academic institutions, and unions. For aspirants, achieving academic tenure is still a much sought after goal as it allows them to research on, and teach, subjects and themes – even controversial ones – without fear of reprisal. However, universities and colleges faced with difficult budgetary realities are being forced to examine the financial cost and operational limitations of academic tenure.  

Supporters argue that academic tenure is essential to maintaining academic freedom and encouraging research and innovation, while critics argue that academic tenure creates complacency and discourages innovation. In this article, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of the academic tenure process. 

Advantages of academic tenure 

• Job security: Professors with academic tenure have job security until they retire or make a grievous error. This protection from being fired without just cause provides professors with long-term financial stability and allows them to plan for their future. 
• Freedom and flexibility: Academic tenure also allows professors to pursue, teach, and voice opinions on controversial or unpopular research topics without fear of influence or retribution. This kind of academic freedom is important to explore new research areas, develop new teaching methods, and advance knowledge in the field. 
• Higher salaries: Being awarded an academic tenure reflects a professor’s academic accomplishments and expertise. This recognition means tenured professors typically receive higher salaries than non-tenured professors.  
• More influence: Given their experience and depth of knowledge, tenured professors often get to assist with institutional decisions such as faculty recruitment, retention, and mentorship. They can influence important decisions, help shape the future of their department, and drive long-term changes in their institute’s governance.  

In spite of these apparent benefits of academic tenure, critics have been pointing out some obvious downsides and calling for changes in the academic tenure process.  

Disadvantages of academic tenure  

• Complacency: There are those who believe that academic tenure leads to a certain sense of complacency that negatively affects output. Having achieved what many consider as the ultimate goal in academia, tenured researchers sometimes find themselves lacking the drive to deliver and begin to lose interest, which impacts productivity.  
• Difficulty in dismissal: Professors with academic tenure are protected from arbitrary dismissal, which means that it can be difficult to remove underperforming or problematic professors from their positions. In the unfortunate case where institutions find themselves stuck with underperforming tenured faculty usually end up hoping for a graceful exit rather than look undertaking the costly exercise of looking for reasons to terminate.  
• Budgetary constraints: Typically, researchers with academic tenure receive salaries at the top end of the institutional salary range. And wage costs for tenured researchers tend to remain inflexible even during changing economic conditions. Critics say that having to pay high-end salaries to tenured staff is unfair as it restricts institutions from hiring younger, more talented people who may perhaps be lower on the pay scale.  
• Pressure to publish: Academic tenure is often tied to research productivity, which can create immense pressure for professors to publish as much research as possible and in reputed global journals. The constant pressure to prove themselves often pushes professors to join the race to “publish or perish;” this focus on quantity over quality can have a negative impact on the field of study. 
• Resistance to change: While an advantage for those with academic tenure is being able to influence and shape the direction of their departments, the flip side is also true. Some tenured professors may resist change and innovation, as they may be invested in the status quo. This can create unnecessary barriers to new research ideas and ways of thinking. 

In conclusion, academic tenure is a system that grants job security and protection to professors who have demonstrated excellence in their field. On the whole, academic tenure seems to be the holy grail for those in academia, but it’s important to be aware of its advantages and disadvantages. Today, as the debate over academic tenure continues, the call for change seems to be getting louder.  

References: 

1. Adams, M.L. The Quest for Tenure: Job Security and Academic Freedom. Catholic University Law Review, 2006. Available at https://scholarship.law.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1147&context=lawreview 
2. Reichman, H. What is tenure – and how to get it. Times Higher Education, 2022. Available at https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/what-tenure-and-how-get-it
   

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