1 Information session regarding tenure at McGill, 2007: general considerations Prof. Anthony C. Masi Provost Leacock 232, Robert Vogel Council Room 24 January 2007 – 3:00 – 5:00 26 January :00 – 3:00

2 Tenure and evaluation meaning of tenure meaning of tenure questions about tenure questions about tenure tenure decisions tenure decisions

3 Meaning of tenure tenure is important tenure is important we work very hard to get it we work very hard to get it once we have it, tenure is something we spend a lot of time awarding or denying once we have it, tenure is something we spend a lot of time awarding or denying once someone “has” tenure: once someone “has” tenure: What does it mean? What does it mean? What entitlements and responsibilities does a tenured faculty member at McGill have? What entitlements and responsibilities does a tenured faculty member at McGill have?

4 AAUP 1940 Statement of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure grounds tenure in the need for academic freedom in both teaching and research grounds tenure in the need for academic freedom in both teaching and research need for “a sufficient degree of economic security to make the profession attractive to men and women of ability” need for “a sufficient degree of economic security to make the profession attractive to men and women of ability” once a faculty member has permanent or continuous tenure, his or her service should be terminated only for “good cause” after following fair and proper procedures, or in narrow circumstances for demonstrably bona fide financial exigency once a faculty member has permanent or continuous tenure, his or her service should be terminated only for “good cause” after following fair and proper procedures, or in narrow circumstances for demonstrably bona fide financial exigency

5 Privileges of Tenure – 1 academic freedom is not “license” to exploit teaching and research opportunities to expound political views rather than scholarship academic freedom is not “license” to exploit teaching and research opportunities to expound political views rather than scholarship academic freedom is essential to good teaching and research, the basic work of the University academic freedom is essential to good teaching and research, the basic work of the University such work deserves protection from intrusions of extramural authority and from unwarranted interference such work deserves protection from intrusions of extramural authority and from unwarranted interference academic freedom is endangered if faculty members risk losing this support because of the ideas about which they teach and write academic freedom is endangered if faculty members risk losing this support because of the ideas about which they teach and write but, it must be used in a manner consistent with the scholarly obligation to base research and teaching on an honest search for knowledge but, it must be used in a manner consistent with the scholarly obligation to base research and teaching on an honest search for knowledge

6 Privileges of Tenure – 2 continued employment until voluntary retirement, resignation, or termination with just cause through appropriate procedures continued employment until voluntary retirement, resignation, or termination with just cause through appropriate procedures

7 Privileges of Tenure – 3 economic security that economic security that cannot be compromised based on writings or teachings that fall within the sometimes controversial limits of academic freedom cannot be compromised based on writings or teachings that fall within the sometimes controversial limits of academic freedom an adequate salary that is not reduced during the term of employment except for adequate cause and after fair procedures an adequate salary that is not reduced during the term of employment except for adequate cause and after fair procedures adequate benefits the value of which is not reduced during the term of employment except for adequate cause and after fair procedures adequate benefits the value of which is not reduced during the term of employment except for adequate cause and after fair procedures

8 Privileges of Tenure – 4 continued institutional support for teaching and research continued institutional support for teaching and research

9 Privileges of Tenure – 5 continued involvement in the academic mission of the University and the unit in which the faculty member serves continued involvement in the academic mission of the University and the unit in which the faculty member serves participation in faculty decisions on hiring and some promotion and tenure decisions for others, curriculum, etc. participation in faculty decisions on hiring and some promotion and tenure decisions for others, curriculum, etc.

10 Responsibilities of Tenure – 1 teach classes carefully and competently teach classes carefully and competently prepare adequately for each class prepare adequately for each class strive consistently to improve performance in the classroom strive consistently to improve performance in the classroom keep abreast of new scholarly work and teaching materials keep abreast of new scholarly work and teaching materials where appropriate, update teaching to reflect developments where appropriate, update teaching to reflect developments

11 Responsibilities of Tenure – 2 be reasonably available to their students outside class for advice, counselling, and instruction on matters related to the student’s class-work and academic program be reasonably available to their students outside class for advice, counselling, and instruction on matters related to the student’s class-work and academic program

12 Responsibilities of Tenure – 3 consistently endeavour to produce scholarly research and writing of the quality and quantity for which tenure was granted consistently endeavour to produce scholarly research and writing of the quality and quantity for which tenure was granted “A staff member granted tenure shall maintain the high standards for it was granted.” [5.29 (old), Handbook of Regulations and Policies] “A staff member granted tenure shall maintain the high standards for it was granted.” [5.29 (old), Handbook of Regulations and Policies] “A member of the academic staff who is granted tenure shall maintain the high standards for which it was granted” [5.59 (new), Handbook of Regulations and Policies] “A member of the academic staff who is granted tenure shall maintain the high standards for which it was granted” [5.59 (new), Handbook of Regulations and Policies]

13 Responsibilities of Tenure – 4 serve their departments, institutes, centres, Faculties or Schools, the University, and the public through service activities, including faculty governance, administration, and participation in the life of the academic community, the University and the public serve their departments, institutes, centres, Faculties or Schools, the University, and the public through service activities, including faculty governance, administration, and participation in the life of the academic community, the University and the public

14 Responsibilities of Tenure – 5 adhere to ethical behaviour in all their professional dealings with students, colleagues, staff, and persons outside the University, and in their research adhere to ethical behaviour in all their professional dealings with students, colleagues, staff, and persons outside the University, and in their research

15 How the tenure system works – 1 solid hiring and re-appointment procedures as first-line quality assurance measures solid hiring and re-appointment procedures as first-line quality assurance measures criteria involving teaching, research, and service criteria involving teaching, research, and service written policy written policy a timetable a timetable several levels of internal review several levels of internal review

16 How the tenure system works – 2 candid evaluation, willingness to take hard decisions, personal investment in a sound institutional process candid evaluation, willingness to take hard decisions, personal investment in a sound institutional process sense of fairness and justice to both individual and institutional interests sense of fairness and justice to both individual and institutional interests denial of tenure as a last resort (but could reflect on inadequate quality assurance measures) denial of tenure as a last resort (but could reflect on inadequate quality assurance measures)

17 Questions for reflection Do this person’s teaching, scholarship, and service reflect the established criteria on the three dimensions of academic activities of the Department, the Faculty, and the University? Do this person’s teaching, scholarship, and service reflect the established criteria on the three dimensions of academic activities of the Department, the Faculty, and the University? Can this person and her or his work be taken as “representative” of the high standards of McGill University? Can this person and her or his work be taken as “representative” of the high standards of McGill University? Will this tenure decision be good for McGill and will it enhance the University’s reputation? Will this tenure decision be good for McGill and will it enhance the University’s reputation?

18 Faculty members as a whole define the curriculum define the curriculum set the research agenda set the research agenda decide on the service to the public decide on the service to the public select our colleagues who will help carry out the mission of the university select our colleagues who will help carry out the mission of the university have the responsibility to make changes in any of these areas should such changes become necessary have the responsibility to make changes in any of these areas should such changes become necessary

19 Conclusions – 1 the health of the tenure system rests on sound evaluations of tenure-track faculty the health of the tenure system rests on sound evaluations of tenure-track faculty sound evaluations also lead to the fairest and most defensible outcomes sound evaluations also lead to the fairest and most defensible outcomes engage in constructive dialogue about potential weaknesses in during faculty- evaluation sessions engage in constructive dialogue about potential weaknesses in during faculty- evaluation sessions

20 Conclusions – 2 be careful about the wording of policies AND their actual operations be careful about the wording of policies AND their actual operations there is always room for improvement (McGill’s new tenure regulations went through scores of iterations!) there is always room for improvement (McGill’s new tenure regulations went through scores of iterations!) strengthen evaluation procedures and the nature of deliberations at all stages strengthen evaluation procedures and the nature of deliberations at all stages work hard to avoid the likelihood of grievances and/or litigation work hard to avoid the likelihood of grievances and/or litigation

21 The bottom line granting tenure is the most important decision we make at McGill granting tenure is the most important decision we make at McGill tenure decisions define the faculty tenure decisions define the faculty the faculty define the University the faculty define the University Departmental tenure committees (DTC) must resist any tendency to defer hard judgments to the campus-wide committee University tenure committee (UTC) or administrative authority (the Provost and/or the Principal) or to governance procedures (Appeals Committee) Departmental tenure committees (DTC) must resist any tendency to defer hard judgments to the campus-wide committee University tenure committee (UTC) or administrative authority (the Provost and/or the Principal) or to governance procedures (Appeals Committee)

22 Sources McGill custom and traditions “in transition” McGill custom and traditions “in transition” CAUT CAUT AAUP AAUP various G10 and AAU university regulations via their web sites various G10 and AAU university regulations via their web sites web-based articles, blogs, presentations web-based articles, blogs, presentations conversations with colleagues conversations with colleagues