Tenure Process Draws Support and Criticism
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THETUFTS DAILY \Where You Read It First Wednesday, October 9, 1996 Volume XXXIII, Number 24 1 I I Tenure process draws support and criticism by LINDA BENTLEY “Freedom and economic security, hence, Daily Staff Writer tenure, are indispensable to the success of Following the recent denial oftenure to an institution in fulfilling its obligations to classics Professor Dennis Trout, the pro- its students and to society.” cess by which it is granted has come under In 1952, Gittleman said, the Tufts admin- intense scrutiny by students, faculty, and istration accepted “in principle” the 1940 alumni. Since its inception in 1940, the ten- “Statement ofPrincipleson Academic Free- ure process has evolved both at Tufts and dom and Tenure.” He added, however, that in rest of the academic world. Tufts never accepted it completely because Provost Sol Gittleman explained that the the University reserves the right to specify need for faculty protection became an issue actual policies, such as the various proba- during World War I and World War 11, when tionary periods for each of its schools. faculty members across the country were Sincethen, Gittleman said, tenureat Tufts Photo by Joayne Larson being fired by administrators for speaking has become much more complex, evolving Construction crews begin the process of rebuilding the College Ave. bridge. out against the wars. from an arbitrary process, where tenure In 1940, representatives ofthe American decisions were left to the discretion of the Association of University Professors and administration, to an involved process that the Association ofAmerican Colleges (now includes peer review and student evalua- College Avenue Bridge will the Association of American Colleges and tion. Universities) set The tenure pro- finish four months late forth the “Statement cess at Tufts begins ofPrincipleson Aca- with a committee of The reconstruction ofthe College Ave. Bridge, originally slated to be completed by demic Freedom and elected faculty mem- theend ofthis semester, willnot beopen to trafficuntil early April-afourmonth delay. Tenure.”This docu- bers called the Ten- The bridge construction is being completed under the auspices of the Massachu- ment outlines the ure and Promotion setts Highway Department. Julie Viteck, the department’s public relations spokesper- need for tenure to Committee. When a son, explained that the construction has been delayed because of an uneven ledge on assure “freedom of faculty member iseli- the western edge of the bridge. teaching and re- gible for tenure, the “The crews are currently working on new abutments at either end ofthe bridge,” she search and of extra- Tenure and Promo- said. mural activities”, tion Committee re- Special hydrauIicjackhammers had to be brought in to replace the abutments at both and to provide “a views the case and edges. The construction company working on the bridge also has had to take special sufficient degree of makes a recommen- precautions around the work area since falling debris could disrupt MBTA commuter economic security to dation to the deans. rail trains that travel on the tracks below. make the profession The deans and senior Viteck said the bridge is being reconstructed from top to bottom. New concrete beams attractivetomen and administration mem- are being installed, she said, as well as anew 48-inch water main. The bridge will also women of ability.” bers, including be resurfaced and fitted with new railings and fencing. The basic tenet of Gittleman and Presi- The railings will run underneath the bridgt to thr ugldcr!ying stlpp~.id ~txszfzty. the system of ten- dent John DiBiaggio, ure, according to the Photo by Rony Shram then have the final I -Jonathan Block statement, is that Dennis Trout say on a tenure case. Still, they must re- ceive the approval of the Trustees. Gittleman says the Trout case is not the Early admissions applications on the rise firsttimethecommitteevoted unanimously to recommend a professor for tenure and Dean Cuttino says it’s still too early to make predictions about next year was overturned by the administration. byAMYZIMMET percent increase over last year. forts of those involved in student outreach. “Faculty in departments often don’t Daily Editorial Board “We’reexcitedthatthe number ofpeople “The surging aspect [of the increase in want to tell their colleagues no,” Gittleman With over a month to go before the early visiting the campus is larger,” Cuttino said. applicants] is that students thinking about said. “They just as soon pass the buck (to decision deadline for prospective students, The total number of people visiting the Tufts have the opportunity to be here, the the administration).” applications have been pouring into the campus- including family and friends- opportunity to talk to students who are This “leads to a real confrontation be- Office of Admissions. While Dean of Ad- increased by 3 1 percent, Cuttino said. here, and sit in on classes and have aclearer cause the faculty doesn’t want to be the bad missions David Cuttino says it is still too But, Cuttino said he is cautiously opti- understanding of the opportunities avail- guys,” and ends up hurting the University, early to identify a trend at this point, the mistic about this year’s numbers, pointing able to them.” he said. number of applications thus far “is roughly out that it’s very difficult to predict human “If this works, the quality of your expe- The administration adheres to a policy at the same level” as this time last year. behavior. rience exceeds your expectations,” he said. of not releasing the reasons for denying And that was a very high level. There “Last year was remarkable. To expect Cuttino listed Tufts’ unique strengths tenure, even if the faculty and the Tenure was a 72 percent increase in early decision that you can consistently expect a 40 per- as the opportunity for students to work and Promotion Committee makes favorable applicants during the first ofthetwo rounds, cent increase in the number of students closely with faculty, the large number of recommendations. This policy has come and a 40 percent increase overall, according who apply would not be wise,” he said. international students, and the strong op- under attack as dangerous because it could to Cuttino. In the second round, Cuttino Tufts, however, has been consistent in portunities available to students after they mask political motivations. said, there was a slight increase. attracting very qualified candidates. graduate. Gittleman disagrees, however, claiming “In the last five years, the number of “One of the things we’ve seen over the Subsequently, he mentioned that what that the policy was designed to protect the students applying to Tufts [for regular de- years from looking at the number of stu- is unique about the students at Tufts is their faculty member. cision] has increased by63 percent,”Cuttino dentsapplying is that the talent and achieve- willingness totravel far from home to attend In light ofthe Trout case, the issue arises noted. There was a 40 percent increase in ment of students has steadily increased,” college. as to how much weight is given to scholar- applications last year, “which is exciting,” the dean said. “What we’re seeing are “Most students do not leave their states ship and teaching in the decision making Cuttino said. people, most of whom can demonstrate a to go to school, and certainly don’t leave process. Critics say that if the idea of “pub- This summer proved to be equally as clear ability to be successful.’’ their regions. We know that we’re dealing lish or perish” does exist at Tufts, then this promising. There wasa28 percent increase Cuttino attributes Tufts’ rising popular- with a thin population.” could compromise Tufts’ claim of being a in students visiting the campus compared ity to several factors, visibility being a key Our students are doing “something most University dedicated to teaching. Univer- to the prior summer. Over 10,000 people one. Regarding publications such as US. of their [high school] classmates are not sity officials claim that there is no conflict visited the school this summer; 8,000 came Newsand WorldReport,which ranked Tufts doing,” he said. between teaching and research; however, the previous year, Cuttino said. During the 22nd in the nation, he said they confirm Students applying to Tufts these days some students hold different opinions on month of September alone, there was a 20 what we already know. are looking at the most selective schools in the issue. “Students that seem interested in the the country, Cuttino said. The typical appli- “Yes, 1 do see the merits oftenure, but at University would expect to see usthere,” he cant will apply to six schools and be admit- the same time, I think that tenure is based said. ted to four. predominately on a professor’s scholar- He further discussed the efforts of his “They are doing a careful job of looking ship. Yes, that is important, but the quality officeto maketheapplicationprocesseasier. at institutions. In the end, one of the en- of a professors teaching is not weighed as Most notably, he mentionedthe availability couraging things is the caliber of students heavily as it should be,” said junior Anne ofthe application on disk, the acceptance of who decide to apply [to Tufts].” Im. the Common Application, the efforts of In the last few years, Cuttino said, the “There is a misconception on the part of student outreach, conversations with vis- entire applicant pool has been from the top students that research detracts from teach- -Men’s x-country runs away iting students, conversations at home, and 13 percent of their high school classes; ing at Tufts,” said political science Profes- with Babson Invitational the alumni network. more recently, Tufts has been accepting sor Jeff Berry, a member ofthe Tenure and “All of these things working together students from the top 8 to 9 percent of their Promotion Committee.