Centers of Tenure?
I read your article on Centers of Excellence at the University of Tennessee [cover story, Jan. 11] with interest. I share your concern over whether or not the university can actually achieve the excellence it seeks, but perhaps for different reasons. We have read about Linda Bensel-Meyers' frustrating attempts to bring accountability to the tutorial support of the athletics program as an example of the university's unwillingness to bite the bullet and create an "atmosphere of accountability".
What is seldom if ever publicized, however, is the lack of accountability among tenured faculty. As a veteran of that battle, I can tell you that the cost to the university, the taxpayers, and most unfortunately to the students is high. The cost of cover-up by the university regarding poorly (and in some cases non-) performing tenured faculty in just one small academic unit alone has been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. In addition to the direct dollar cost, there is the lower reputation of an institution with an atmosphere of no academic accountability.
If you were to get complete candor from a dean you would be appalled at the lengths deans must go to in order to accommodate faculty who have gained tenure but can not (or do not) perform at even a minimally acceptable standard. The administration may offer sympathy to deans or directors (in private and behind closed doors) but will not support their efforts to clean house—or even withhold raises.
I understand that tenure is valued as a protection for academic freedom. My impression, however, is that academic freedom should be of greater concern for junior faculty, who are not protected by tenure. They are the individuals who have not yet "proven" themselves to the established faculty, and must constantly be concerned about how they will be judged by these senior faculty. It is dangerous for them to speak out on any issue involving the tenured faculty—especially incompetent tenured faculty who are threatened by these younger professionals. That is why a noted educator (Rudolph Weingartner) wrote that "Over time, good departments get better while bad departments get worse." (See book titled Fitting Form to Function, p. 72)
Until senior administration takes a stand on non-performing tenured faculty, the University of Tennessee will never be first-rate. Best wishes to you and all who would like to see UT become a truly great university.
W. David Penniman
Oak Ridge
Who You Callin' Erudite?
There must be some mistake. In the Jan. 11 issue, Paige M. Travis reviewed Theatre Central's Mouse-trap, and actually spent the whole review talking about the play. What gives? I've been reading Metro Pulse for years and I'm pretty sure that no theater reviewer has ever talked about the play before the half-way point, and usually not until the last paragraph.
This person obviously knows nothing about being a critic. Everyone knows that these reviews are mainly to show the Neanderthal readers of Metro Pulse how erudite one is about "the Theatre," not talking about some local play performed in a living room.
I suggest you have a good talk with P.M.T. and see what the problem is. Then, please, for the love of god, let this person do more reviews.
Jim Mongold
Knoxville
P.S. Way to go, Mark!
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