Understanding the Tenure of Former University Administrators

Former university administrators with tenure can be difficult to remove from faculty positions, despite possible evidence of misconduct or underwhelming performances. Recent resignations from Harvard University President Claudine Gay and University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill amid controversy over their responses to antisemitism and accusations of plagiarism have raised questions regarding their continued employment as professors and researchers at their respective universities. Ray Gibney, a management scholar specializing in labor relations, explains that university presidents with tenure are protected by an indefinite appointment granted by the American Association of University Professors. This protection makes it challenging for universities to terminate tenured faculty members except under extreme circumstances, such as financial crises or departmental eliminations. However, tenure is university-specific, and moving to a new institution means losing these protections unless granted again. Regardless of their background, university administrators are often offered tenured faculty positions and typically serve at the pleasure of their institution's board of trustees. Revoking tenure requires a formal process and investigation, but it is rarely executed even in cases of incompetence. While administrative resignations do not affect tenured faculty positions, they may prompt investigations for potential dismissal. Grounds for tenure revocation vary by institution, commonly involving moral turpitude and excessive absenteeism. Former administrators are given a transition period to update teaching materials and are often compensated at their previous administrative salary during this time. Although the specific salaries of Gay and Magill are undisclosed, tenure is intended to support academic research and freedom, enabling faculty to pursue topics without political considerations and engage in open discussions with students. Dismissing a tenured faculty member is a lengthy process, often involving committee evaluations and extended timelines. The growing number of non-tenured faculty members creates a double incentive for universities, as they can provide more labor at a lower cost. However, this may result in less job security for academics. Despite controversies surrounding former administrators, their tenured status is likely to keep them on their universities' payrolls, with the possibility of dismissal being highly unlikely.