Faulty Towers: Tenure and the Structure of Higher Education - Softcover

Meiners, Roger E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0945999895 ISBN 13: 9780945999898

Publisher: Independent Institute, 2004

Synopsis

"Setting the record straight about the institution of academic tenure, this book elucidates its history, legal status, and common misunderstandings. Meiners argues that the original aim of tenure—to ensure academic freedom and integrity—can still be achieved and that the belief by many professors that tenure is a guarantee of lifelong entitlement, whereby only the commission of a crime can lead to dismissal, is wrong. He contends that as long as college administrators follow the rules of their own institution, there is little to prevent universities from dismissing tenured faculty who have become incompetent."

About this title

About the Author:

Ryan C. Amacher is professor of economics and public affairs and former president at the University of Texas at Arlington. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Virginia, and he has served as Dean of the College of Commerce and Industry at Clemson University, chairman of the department of economics at Arizona State University, Senior International Economist at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, associate professor of economics at the University of Oklahoma, economist at the General Electric TEMPO Center for Advanced Studies, and consultant to the Federal Trade Commission.

Roger E. Meiners is professor of economics and law at the University of Texas at Arlington, research fellow at The Independent Institute, and senior associate at PERC. Having received his Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech and J.D. from the University of Miami, he has served as director of the Center for Policy Studies at Clemson University, a faculty member at Texas A & M University and Emory University, director of the Atlanta Regional Office of the Federal Trade Commission, associate director of the Law and Economics Center at Emory University, and a member of the South Carolina Insurance Commission.

Review:

"A comprehensive and telling analysis of tenure issues . . . The well-argued and sound recommendations would result in better research and teaching." -- Herbert J. Walberg, emeritus research professor of education and psychology, University of Illinois at Chicago

"A very sensible, balanced and informed book on the complex problems of governing colleges and universities." -- Nathan Glazer, professor of education and sociology, emeritus, Harvard University

"Uncloaks the mystery of tenure. A must read for anyone interested in the very real problems of higher education." -- John W. Sommer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of North Carolina, Charlotte; former dean, School of Social Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas

"We must seriously reassess the rules that govern higher education. Amacher and Meiners are clear-headed guides for this endeavor." -- Donald J. Boudreaux, professor of economics, George Mason University

About this edition

• Publisher: Independent Institute
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 0945999895
• ISBN 13: 9780945999898
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 96