Purdue locks in tenure policy after controversial SB202’s higher-ed reform

Purdue creates distance between law’s required tenure reviews and university’s trustees. Mung Chiang: Purdue remains committed to academic freedom. Plus, welcome home, Purdue astronaut Lorel O'Hara

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First off … are you ready?

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PURDUE TRUSTEES LOCK IN TENURE POLICY AFTER SENATE BILL 202 BECOMES LAW

After the Indiana House approved Senate Bill 202 in February, one step shy of the governor’s signature into law for a controversial higher ed reform measure that had faculty and other statewide up in arms, Purdue officials broke a relative silence, saying in a letter to campus that the university would continue to “walk the walk” on academic freedom and the tenure process.

On Friday, Purdue trustees locked that statement into university policy, delegating tenure reviews called for in the law to a provost-led process that’s similar to the tenure process used by the university now.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

Provost Patrick Wolfe said the move would help ensure that “there can be no concern that a board of trustees would become involved in individual tenure case evaluation.”