ABSTRACT
Tenure is one of the most misunderstood and highly controversial concepts in higher education. It emerged historically as a protection for employment and academic freedom during a time when major donors to elite universities often exerted undue influence over the selection and retention of faculty, as well as their research agendas. Tenure also protects colleges and universities, as the awarding of tenure is a considered a faculty benefit as well as a legally protected “property right.” Tenure is, in the public mind, often equated with permanent job security. Because it is difficult to revoke once it is awarded, most people believe that receiving tenure guarantees lifetime employment, and, for most faculty members granted tenure, it effectively does guarantee it. Although tenure has not been abolished in the United States, it has been reformed and it can be revoked. State-supported institutions, in particular, have had little choice.
