Last week, Virginia State Del. David B. Albo, R-Springfield, proposed that the General Assembly consider abolishing tenure for all public colleges and universities in the Commonwealth -- but tabled the bill after receiving criticism from state universities and Assembly members.
The measure would have effected schools after July 1.
Albo said he wanted to advocate this measure after hearing complaints from his constituents about mediocre tenured faculty.
Albo related a story about a friend who was a graduate student at Virginia Tech's Northern Virginia campus. His professor "approved his thesis topic, then never looked at it again for two years, and then rejected the topic," Albo said. "Can you imagine investing two years of your life and then have it get rejected? If professors with those kinds of attitudes keep their job, and if they are not ranked on merit, but on term of service, that's a problem."
Albo also alluded to an untenured sculpture professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, whom the administration dismissed during its budget cutbacks last fall.
The university's art history department was not available for comment.
Albo changed his mind about his proposal when several professors called his office to voice their objections. "If Virginia eliminated tenure, and no other state did, colleges would have to pay professors a whole lot more to teach," Albo said. "It would put universities at a competitive disadvantage."
Albo said he plans to redraft the measure, adding a stipulation that universities institute a tenure review every five years.
"A school has to have objective criteria for teachers and research," Albo said. "If at a five-year review they don't meet standards, then they are dismissed. This is a compromise."
Albo said he is open to each university creating its own objective tenure review plan.
"Let the universities set their own standards," he said. "I'm not so conceited as to think I know everything there is to know about higher education."
Albo said he sent the University and others a draft of his new measure, but has not yet received feedback.
He expects to discuss it with other members of the General Assembly this week, he said.
Karen Ryan, associate dean for the arts, humanities, and social sciences, said she has not heard about Albo's new proposal.
Under current University policy, tenured University professors are disciplined if they violate rules outlined by the Provost's office, Ryan said.
Violations considered serious by the Provost's office include illegal activities or a conflict of interest, such as a professors' relationship with a student.
Del. Mitch Van Yahres, D-Charlottesville, was one opponent of Albo's bill.
"I was never in favor of it," he said.
Van Yahres said he didn't see why professors should be liable for dismissal once their tenure has been granted.
"It would put a complete damper on U.Va. or on other schools," he said. "Why would anyone come to a place where you could be fired at any moment? With tenure, you can teach what you believe, and not what politicians or others would want you to believe. This bill could be very dangerous."
Van Yahres said Albo tabled the measure because "the handwriting was on the wall."
Read More
Dean Rucker honored with Z Society’s highest honor, Pale Z Award
By Brendon Bordwine | 12 hours agoThe Society has a storied history of honoring University leaders with the Pale Z.
Students receive free STI testing through U.Va. Health and Wellness
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayThrough funding from Student Council, students are now able to receive free STI testing with SHW which includes tests for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C.
President Ryan signs collective statement condemning Trump administration
By Cecilia Mould | YesterdayWhile the statement claims that signees are willing to enact reforms and cooperate with government supervision, it disagrees with the current administration’s decision to withdraw funding from institutions.
