ABSTRACT
Tenure is a term that represents security and academic freedom. There is a general process for tenure. For most faculty, tenure is granted after exhibiting consistent excellence in the areas of their job. The amount of time it takes one to secure tenure is dependent on the individual institution. Once tenure is secured a faculty member may feel more comfortable pursuing a research line without fear of losing their job. A tenured position is an indefinite appointment that can only be terminated under extraordinary circumstances, such as a financial crisis at an institution. Tenure has some strengths and critiques. Many argue that tenure allows institutions to recruit talented individuals. Tenure provides talented individuals security in their position as well as the ability to pursue individual interests others may not find valuable. One critique of tenure is the lack of reviewing faculty.
