TheSkiffView
Junior faculty have enough on their plate

The American Heritage Dictionary defines tenure as the status of holding one’s position on a permanent basis without periodic contract renewals.

Tenure is something many professors hope to achieve during their careers.

At TCU, faculty members have to devote 75 percent of their time to teaching and research to gain tenure, according to university policy.

Recently, some faculty members have complained that the aspect of service, such as advising student organizations or participating in the Faculty Senate, needs to be a stronger requirement in the tenure process. Currently it is third on the list of six criteria.

Provost William Koehler said although service by faculty members is important to the campus, the primary purpose of the university is an academic education.

Koehler’s emphasis is right. Junior faculty already carry a heavy enough load with lecturing classes and researching for publication. Laying a greater weight on the service criterion might detract from their ability to offer students the latest, most well-informed perspectives in their fields.

And most students come to TCU to earn a degree and receive a good education. Extracurricular activities such as student government, cultural and religious organizations and the Greek system are all an added bonus to the educational experience. But they don’t figure in our grades.

A better option might be for tenured professors take a more active role in service within the university. They don’t have to worry about losing their jobs, and the university would benefit from their greater familiarity with the campus.