By Rick Howlett
Louisville, KY – The Board of Regents that oversees Kentucky's 16 community and technical colleges has approved a controversial policy that eliminates tenure for new faculty. Effective July first, new faculty members hired into the system will be under contract rather than on a tenure track. Board Chairman Richard Bean says it will give schools more flexibility in making curriculum and personnel changes, but denies the move is a response to the state budget crisis.
"I'd like to think that it isn't. this was really a conversation that was started long before the economy was in the position that it's in."
The shift has drawn complaints from some KCTCS faculty, who say it will compromise educational quality and discourage non-tenured instructors from speaking out on administrative issues.