The Sconi

The number of tenured faculty in the University of Wisconsin System has fallen roughly in line with the decrease in student enrollment since 2015. This decline was sparked by a legislative decision to remove tenure guarantees from state statute, leading to backlash from professors who described the move as "destructive" and "remarkably chilling," akin to "a death in the family."

According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the number of tenured professors in the UW System decreased by approximately 8% between the 2016-17 and 2021-22 school years, correlating with a 9% drop in student enrollment over the same period. Despite initial concerns, it appears that the changes in tenure protection implemented in 2015 and 2016 have had minimal impact in the years since then.

The shift in tenure policy, which allowed for layoffs when programs are cut and provided chancellors with more authority, has been utilized sparingly. UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone recently justified closure of branch campuses and layoffs of some tenured faculty citing enrollment declines and financial challenges, emphasizing that the current situation is "no longer sustainable."

While the new policy has been used only once since its implementation, it has granted chancellors greater flexibility in managing enrollment fluctuations and financial constraints. The ability to reduce tenured staff when necessary aligns with the dynamic nature of academic programs, which often undergo changes.

The Badger Institute, in a paper from 2016, highlighted the need for further flexibility in tenure regulations to allow for layoffs based on significant program modifications, not just discontinuance. The recommendation to grant chancellors more latitude in such decisions remains valid, considering the evolving landscape of higher education.

As the number of tenured faculty continues to decrease, the focus now shifts to ensuring that the remaining educators meet the evolving needs of students and academic programs. The analysis suggests that the concerns and hysteria surrounding tenure changes may have been unwarranted, with the modifications ultimately providing necessary adaptability within the UW System.

Mike Nichols, President of the Badger Institute, and Mark Lisheron, its Managing Editor, contributed to this analysis. Permission to reprint this information is granted as long as the authors and Badger Institute are properly cited.