It's not easy getting tenure at a university. And once that happens, it's not easy getting fired. Tenure normally offers near-full security for professors.
But Wayne State University is trying to shatter that tradition.
In a rare move, only tried twice before in WSU's 149 years, the school is trying to fire five tenured professors for doing as little work as possible, reports Kim Kozlowski of The Detroit News. Hearings for the first of five starts Wednesday, and another five may face dismissal proceedings.
Profs prevailed in both past cases.
The targeted professors are “grossly underperforming” and “not doing anything,” says President M. Roy WIlson
They "are blatant examples of taking advantage of a tenure system, which is a privilege,” says Wilson. “I value tenure. It’s important for universities. I have always protected tenure. . . . But when it’s abused so blatantly, it makes it very difficult for other people who are doing what they are supposed to do to come to work and do their jobs, because they see another person getting the same amount of money or more and not coming into work and not being accountable at all.
"You just can’t build a first-class university that way.”
