Tenure

Tenure. It’s not what most people think. People often say, “Oh…tenure. Yeah. That’s when you have a job for life. You can’t be fired.”

No.

You can get fired once you have tenure. It happens (see this whole fiasco for an example).

All tenure means is that you (supposedly) have academic freedom. That is, you are protected from repercussions should your research or personal views come into play in the classroom or your research. For example, a tenured professor can research odd things (like my colleagues who discovered that Kansas is indeed flatter than a pancake) and is likely to not get in trouble or fired for them. Similarly, should they speak out against colleagues or the PTB or not agree with them, even if the tenured person is very vocal about their position, that's okay. They're protected (unless what they're doing is "heinous"). A person without tenure is usually fired for doing those things outright. Quick and with no questions asked.


So, this year, I am going up for tenure. If the PTB believe I have earned tenure—after reviewing my Dossier (also, see what my six external reviewers get to use when they evaluate me)—I don’t necessarily have a job for life. I just have a little more academic freedom to explore areas of research I couldn't have pursued previously, or maybe speak out on an issue if I don't agree with it.

Oh. And a pay raise. That’s always nice.

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