Jili Leonard, Junior

The policy for applying for tenure at Berry College is anything but easy. Let me explain.

Starting next year, professors only in their sixth year of teaching (unless an exception is made) can apply. If they are denied, they may not re-apply.

In addition to having a one-shot opportunity, professors have to leap through several hoops of approval—from the Board of Trustees, their Department Chair, Dean of Students and Provost. There is an additional Merit Credit, which examines academic achievement, effective teaching, professional growth and involvement with the department, school and college.

What I’m writing about, however, is the election process by which teachers receive or are denied tenure.

Traditionally at Berry, there is a committee made up of nine members that reviews the dossiers prior to the meeting. The committee then takes a secret ballot vote, and based on this majority decision, a professor is, or is not, granted tenure.

I have two problems with this. One, there is no form of appeals in place if for whatever reason, a professor or other staff wants to redress the vote. And two, the first meeting for the committee takes place in September. That means any published works submitted by professors seeking tenure have to be published almost a year before they actually are tenured.

This is simply the policy that is in place now. That doesn’t mean that some form of appeals or requests for re-submission can’t be put in place.

According to the Faculty/Staff Handbook for 2013, “Granting tenure is among the most critical of faculty personnel decisions. It represents a major commitment of institutional resources and stewardship.”

Tenure is a big honor and duty, and by creating a system of checks and balances for that job, staff would further define Berry’s professional ethics and standards.