University of South Carolina Libraries
?AMECOCK Thursday, April 21, 1977 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. Vol. LXVIH, No. 46 I For pro! _1 tnepres The security of By CYNTHIA CONNOLLY Gamecock Staff Writer mi _ *i " ? i ne security oi tenure is much desired for many professors. Tenure means that a professor cannot be dismissed without a trial and valid explanation. It also determines salary increases, whether the professor receives research grants or is chosen to represent the university at national meetings, said William Wesson, vice president of instructions. rp II I? m.T /\ vt m 1-1 %? - . ? 1 nr> m U rs - IH. I\ U It U associate, assistant or full professor on probation "may be discharged at any time without statement as to the cause," Wesson said. Depending on the professor's status, the probation for nontenured period ranges from four to six years. The professor may initiate tenure procedures each probation year, but if denied in the final year, dismissal is automatic with one year's notice. One professor who was granted tenure after repeated attempts, ?j- V h withoi sure sta^ tenure can be I said he believes that tenure evaluation is based more on personal opinions than objective guidelines. "Supposedly, each department has goals that are 1 4lT- _ J - su|^ui icu uy uie aaminisiration, but these goals aren't always clearly defined. There's a lot of politics involved." He said a person otherwise eligible for tenure may not get it because of personality conflicts with the department chairman or other key faculty members. He said he was criticized for not coming out of his office and socializing more. "They play politics with the records (the file prepared by the Dl*OfeSSOr fftr See TENURE page 3 it tenure, re on lard to get TODEMT &/ALUHTIOAJZ (>tfVCKA<mssLC t*a&wri I 4