Effects of post-tenure review on higher education institutions

¶ … negative aspects and perceptions of the tenure system have led to the implementation of many so-called "post-tenure review" processes in the vast majority of states' public college and university systems and many private institutions of higher education, as well (Wood & Jarlais, 2006). This research will attempt to ascertain and define the effects of these post-tenure review processes and policies, specifically attempting to locate evidence regarding the effects on teaching, research, academic freedom, and institutional culture that such practices and policies have. Research will take place at several large public and private higher-education institutions, using samples sizes of no less than fifty tenured and non-tenured instructors, students, and administrators in separated research samples, on both a quantitative and qualitative basis in an attempt to arrive at a well-informed and balanced opinion on the improvements and/or drawbacks of post-tenure review (Cresswell & Plano-Clark, 2007).

Proposal

The proposed research will determine the manner and degree in which post tenure review impacts teaching, research, and overall service on the part of tenured faculty. Anecdotal evidence relating instances of abuse of tenure abound, and are used to explain away any perceived ills in the post tenure review process as somehow "less bad" than the ills of a tenure system without post-tenure review (Wood & Jarlais, 2006). This research will investigate the truth of such claims while at the same time ascertaining the overall effects of post-tenure review on teaching faculty and institutional culture, adding to the body of knowledge concerning how higher education can operate most effectively and efficiently.

Data Analysis

The latest edition of the commonly used SPSS software will be used to perform regression analysis on qualitative findings to determine the likelihood of a relationship between specific attitudes and perception post-tenure review processes and changes to institutional culture as well as the impact on teaching and overall service. Chi-square analysis of the quantified survey results will also demonstrate the likelihood of relationships amongst the various items on these instruments. This will provide clear analyses of both quantitative and qualitative data, which can then be rationally compared to each other in writing.