Possibly My Last View on the Trouble With Tenure
James C. Wetherbe, a professor with over 50 years of experience, criticizes the tenure system in US universities, arguing it makes institutions less competitive and professors less innovative. He has personally declined or resigned from tenure at four universities and has been vocal about his opposition in various publications.
James C. Wetherbe, a professor with over 50 years of experience, has long been a critic of the tenure system in US universities. He has declined or resigned from tenure at four universities: the University of Houston, the University of Minnesota, the University of Memphis, and Texas Tech University. Wetherbe argues that tenure renders US colleges less competitive globally by making it difficult to remove underperforming faculty and reallocate labor to in-demand disciplines. The tenure system, he claims, also makes professors less innovative, as they are protected from poor job performance. Wetherbe identifies five problems caused by tenure: complacency, rigidity, and others, which he believes worsen the quality of education and make students less equipped for the job market. He has been vocal about his opposition in various publications, including The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Business Review. Wetherbe recently settled an 11-year-old lawsuit against a former Texas Tech dean who allegedly retaliated against him for his anti-tenure views.
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