Accountability, Affordability, Excellence, Higher Ed, Higher Ed Controversy, Solutions

Why Do I Think This Is Just Window-Dressing?

By Jane S. Shaw

For a while, Texas was the hotbed of academic reform. A few regents, at least, were serious about improving faculty productivity, and the Texas Public Policy Foundation pushed for better data. But the bold move of publishing faculty salaries and workloads elicited angry feedback.

Now the University of Texas system (Texas has several public higher-ed systems, but this is the leading one) seems to be settling back into the normal torpor.

On Thursday, the UT Board of Regents passed a requirement for annual post-tenure review. Previously, a review was required only every six years (and according to the Austin American-Statesman not much happened as a result).

But I don’t see any teeth in the document that the regents adopted. Evaluations will be the following: “exceeds expectations, meets expectations, does not meet expectations, and unsatisfactory.” The criteria for dismissal are “incompetence, neglect of duty, or other good cause,” but that is not anything new — and dismissal must follow “remediation,” anyway.

The document goes on to say: “Individuals whose performance is unsatisfactory for two consecutive annual reviews may be subject to a comprehensive review.” On the other hand, as far as I can see, they may not be.

Hasn’t the federal government been evaluating staff this way for years? Hardly anyone fails to meet expectations there, and I don’t see any reason why this will be different. Oh, one more reason not to think much of this: The Faculty Advisory Council approved the measure.

Read more: http://www.nationalreview.com/phi-beta-cons/290765/why-do-i-think-just-window-dressing-jane-s-shaw

Discussion

4 Responses to “Why Do I Think This Is Just Window-Dressing?”

  1. University of California Chancellor denies access to instate and qualified Californians. UC Berkeley (UCB) pulls back access to instate Californians. Chancellor Robert J Birgeneau displaces Californians qualified for public Cal. with a $50,600 payment from foreign students. And, foreign student tuition is subsidized in the guise of diversity while instate student tuition/fees are doubled.

    Affordability: Birgeneau doubles instate tuition

    UCB is not increasing enrollment. Birgeneau accepts $50,600 foreign students and displaces qualified instate Californians (When depreciation of assets funded by Californians are in foreign and out of state tuition calculations, out of state and foreign tuition is more than $100,000 + and does NOT subsidize instate tuition). Like Coaches, Chancellors Who Do Not Measure-Up Must Go.

    More recently, Chancellor Birgeneau’s campus police deployed violent baton jabs on students protesting Birgeneau’s tuition increases. The sky will not fall when Birgeneau and his $450,000 salary are ousted. Opinions make a difference; email UC Board of Regents marsha.kelman@ucop.edu

    Posted by milan moravec | February 10, 2012, 6:55 pm
  2. UC Berkeley (UCB) pulls back access to instate Californians. Chancellor Robert J Birgeneau displaces Californians qualified for public Cal. with a $50,600 payment from foreign students. And, foreign student tuition is subsidized in the guise of diversity while instate student tuition/fees are doubled.

    Affordability: Birgeneau doubles instate tuition

    UCB is not increasing enrollment. Birgeneau accepts $50,600 foreign students and displaces qualified instate Californians (When depreciation of assets funded by Californians are in foreign and out of state tuition calculations, out of state and foreign tuition is more than $100,000 + and does NOT subsidize instate tuition). Like Coaches, Chancellors Who Do Not Measure-Up Must Go.

    More recently, Chancellor Birgeneau’s campus police deployed violent baton jabs on students protesting Birgeneau’s tuition increases. The sky will not fall when Birgeneau and his $450,000 salary are ousted. Opinions make a difference; email UC Board of Regents marsha.kelman@ucop.edu

    Posted by milan moravec | February 10, 2012, 7:17 pm

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Pingback: Odds and ends from UT regents’ meeting – By Ralph K.M. Haurwitz « - February 13, 2012

  2. Pingback: UT tenure review policy receives mixed reaction from faculty « - February 23, 2012

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