Tenure at a Crossroads, Again?

Reviews / Votes

The invalidating and marginalizing experiences of faculty of color, the political minefields of the K-12 experience, and the many microaggressions experienced by untenured university faculty are each deeply disturbing and multifaceted issues yet this book manages to bring them together and finds the disturbing truths underlying them all. Chapter 7 brought me to my knees because of the graphic reminders of the constant microaggressions, sexism, racism and disdain for family life and responsibilities have been pervasive throughout my academic career. This book will not make you comfortable, but I advise that any aspiring faculty member read it, particularly those who differ from the fully tenured professorial norm by gender, race, religion, class background, beliefs, etc. As someone told me early in my doctoral studies, 'Most of this is hazing and the less you look like the typical members of the club, the more hazing you get.' This book illustrates that truth. I would love to share it with administrators, tenure committees and others in positions of power but I sadly doubt they would recognize themselves between it covers. -- Elizabeth Kelley Rhoades, Southern Connecticut State University Dr. Harris and Dr. Vick have delivered a comprehensive must-read for those interested in the challenges facing higher education today. Each chapter gives voice to the often known, but unsaid, challenges impacting institutions today. This publication evokes contemplation on each of our contributions to the overall learning environment, which not only includes teaching, research and service, but the type of community we build as collective bodies of learners, educators and practitioners. As a current member of ASPA's Executive Council, I'm touched that this publication started as a panel at the annual conference in 2012. A lot has happened since then: COVID-19, the expansion of online education, institutional closures, the plateau of 18-24 years old within the United States and the diversification of this nation's student body. Each one of these issues places tremendous pressure upon institutions, but combined, they play out in a myriad of ways on campuses across this nation. To understand the intricacies of how these institutions work from the perspective of those who've dedicated their careers to the field of education, you should be compelled to read Tenure at a Crossroads, Again?. -- Malcolm K. Oliver, John S. Watson School of Public Service, Thomas Edison State University