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Tenure and academic freedom: Prospects and constraints

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2007

Stephen J. Ceci ,
Wendy M. Williams  and
Katrin Mueller-Johnson
Stephen J. Ceci*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 http://www.human.cornell.edu/che/Features/bio.cfm?netid=sjc9
Wendy M. Williams*
Affiliation:
Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 http://www.human.cornell.edu/che/Features/bio.cfm?netid=sjc9
Katrin Mueller-Johnson*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Law, Cambridge University, Cambridge CB3 9DT, United Kingdom http://www.human.cornell.edu/che/Features/bio.cfm?netid=wmw5
*
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
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Abstract

In our target article, we took the position that tenure conveys many important benefits but that its original justificationfostering academic freedomis not one of them. Here we respond to various criticisms of our study as well as to proposals to remedy the current state of affairs. Undoubtedly, more research is needed to confirm and extend our findings, but the most reasonable conclusion remains the one we offeredthat the original rationale for tenure is poorly served by the current system as practiced at top-ranked colleges and universities.

Type
Authors’ Response
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 29 , Issue 6 , December 2006 , pp. 586 - 594
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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