Explores the crucial role that tenure and post-tenure review may play in the future of American higher education, looking at recent debates about tenure and experiences of post-tenure review. Contends that tenure can be preserved, with post-tenure review the means of invigorating and renewing the profession. (EV)

Discusses the tenure evaluation guidelines developed by the United States Institute for Theatre Technology (USITT). Expresses concern over the widening split between theater technologists and the actors, directors, and designers they support. (MM)

If "scholarly activity" is considered broadly to include more than traditional, knowledge-producing research, then forensics qualifies as scholarly activity. This point of view is reflected in the tenure, promotion, and evaluation criteria at Morehead State University (Kentucky), where the work of faculty members is divided into three…

This study explored the association between tenure and college faculty productivity by comparing the efficacy of traditional and alternative definitions of faculty productivity and different productivity measurement systems. Specifically, the study addressed how college faculty use their time, how time spent on "scholarly" activities…

Results of a conference reviewing recommendations favoring post-tenure evaluation were that: current procedures for evaluating faculty are satisfactory; additional formal periodic evaluation would incur unacceptable costs and scant benefit; and results of any evaluation should not be used as grounds for dismissal. (MSE)

Questionnaires concerning the importance of publication in professional journals were sent to 193 university economics department heads. There was a 60 percent response rate. Questions were asked about: (1) the necessity of publications for appointment and promotion, (2) how department heads rate the various journals in terms of prestige accrued…

Information obtained from department heads as well as from staff highlight the difficulties of heads who have to make evaluative statements on departmental staff that may further or slow down their career. Heads may have positional authority, but academic conventions often prevent heads from exercising it. (Author/MLW)

This study investigated procedures used by certified teacher training institutions to evaluate supervisors of student teaching programs. Three basic questions researched in the project were: (1) How are university supervisors evaluated and by what criteria; (2) Who evaluates university supervisors and how much weight does such evaluation have on…

The role of the speech communication department chairperson in faculty evaluation has become increasingly crucial. Since many schools are at or near their prescribed tenure limits, the chairperson must become more and more definitive in evaluating faculty candidates for tenure and promotion. One solution would be to provide annual faculty reviews.…

With a focus on law schools and their faculties, this panel discussion addresses the following question: Is tenure a progressive device, preserving academic freedom and encouraging scholarly initiative, or is it a harmful, anachronistic force, protecting entrenched ideas and fostering incompetency? (Author/JMD)

A project to develop criteria for evaluating the quality of faculty outreach activities in continuing education and public service is described. The project, which was conducted at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, was also designed to achieve the utilization of these criteria by faculty members engaged in outreach and by staff who…

Two divergent views are contrasted: the multidimensional and the unidimensional views of faculty evaluation. The views of H. W. Marsh, the most outspoken advocate of the multidimensional view of evaluation based on factor scores, is summarized and a response to his concerns is presented. (Author/MLW)

This study examined how the awarding of tenure affects senior professors' interests in teaching and research and whether effects are uniformly negative, positive or different depending on the task. A conceptual model was used that involved intrinsic interest and extrinsic rewards, work context, and individual background variables. Data were taken…

The issue of qualifications for tenure is examined with attention to judicial tests for qualification in lawsuits in which faculty alleged that negative tenure decisions were infected with illegal discrimination. The focus is the degree to which a faculty plaintiff must demonstrate at the first stage of the lawsuit that he or she was qualified for…

Post-tenure faculty evaluation policies in all public four-year colleges and universities in Alabama were studied. A total of 420 tenured and nontenured full-time faculty and tenured and nontenured administrators were administered questionnaires. A total of 68.8 percent of administrator respondents revealed that they had written policies to…