Broad legal constraints upon legislative authority over faculty tenure rights and the particular application of those constraints to the State of Washington are discussed. After defining tenure and tracing the creation of tenure rights, legislative authority over statutorily created tenure is discussed. Methods of legislative modification of…

An analysis of higher education collective bargaining agreements reveals that the question of faculty productivity is addressed almost exclusively in terms of workload, with the emphasis on efforts that are quantifiable. These workloads are defined in terms of minimums and maximums. Typically each agreement defines in specific terms what the…

The political influences on three decisions of importance to University of Maryland faculty are examined. They are the dismissal of Edgar Beall, a physics teacher; the rejection of Marxist Bertell Ollman to head the government and politics department; and the rehiring, under threat of a budget cut, of the governor's sister, an English instructor.…

Legal experts doubt that special contract clauses will be able to protect institutions in negligence cases. (MSE)

The dismissal of six faculty members (all of whom had served beyond the seven-year maximum probationary period) are examined by AAUP's Committee A in terms of tenure, academic due process, adequacy of notice, and conditions for academic freedom. Wingate's president termed the action a decision not to renew one-year contracts. (AF)

Resolution processes as provided for in complaint, grievance, and arbitration procedures found in collective bargaining agreements in four-year colleges and universities are reviewed. There is a variance in collective bargaining agreement definitions of a grievance and of a complaint. A common definition of a grievance and a complaint and some…

The Supreme Court has ruled that Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which protects disabled people from discrimination, covers persons with contagious diseases. This decision is seen as strengthening the rights of people suffering from AIDS as well as other diseases. (MSE)

An appellate court found that a college faculty member's use of offensive language in class was unprofessional, interfered with instruction, and not protected by principles of free speech and academic freedom. (MSE)

The termination of appointments of two University of Texas professors because of financial exigency raised questions by the AAUP of faculty involvement in determining financial exigency, due process, and adequacy of termination notices. A third termination of an outspoken professor raised the issue of violation of academic freedom. (AF)

AAUP staff members, on behalf of the Committee A on Academic Freedom and Tenure, communicate with administrations under censure. Reported is the Associate General Secretary's appraisal of developments at the 33 listed institutions for the year preceding March 31, 1979. (AF)

The dismissal of tenured faculty member Willie Mae Gillis due to problematic relationships with students and colleagues is detailed by AAUP's Committee A. Issues discussed include validity of grounds for dismissal, dismissal procedures, governing standards, and discrimination on the basis of sex. Despite extensive procedural violations, dismissal…

Proposed federal legislation is aimed at improving pre-college science and mathematics instruction, discovering factors important in shaping perceptions of science/mathematics in pre-school children (particularly television), and federal/university financial support for new science/engineering faculty members, and allowing government labs to…

The University of Maryland's decision not to appoint Professor Ollman, a Marxist, is analyzed by AAUP's Committee A in terms of procedural concerns of administrative decision-making and academic freedom. The dismissed case of Edgar F. Beall is appended. (AF)