The Supreme Court decision to let stand a lower-court ruling that allows a government agency to inspect confidential documents in a faculty tenure case is discussed. An appeal by Franklin and Marshall College on a decision granting the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission access to tenure materials was declined. (MLW)

Personnel decisionmaking at colleges and universities is discussed, with consideration of ways to avoid legal problems. Two approaches are recommended for universities: develop procedures to minimize the risk of law suits by faculty members and school staff, and provide protection from lawsuits for faculty and staff. Institutional procedures that…

Faculty Title VII litigation, challenges to the faculty evaluation process, and possible jucidial responses to faculty claims are reviewed. A proposed model would temper judicial interference in faculty employment disputes by informed deferences while preserving the unique character of academic institutions. (Journal availbility: Boston Univ. Law…

The separate concepts of tenure and academic freedom and their relation to one form of accountability measure--systematic reviews of the performance of tenured faculty--are examined. It is contended that those reviews can be conducted without infringing upon either academic freedom or the institution of tenure. (LB)

Developed by the Criteria and Procedures for Tenure, Promotion and Salary Increases Review Committee of the University of Oklahoma Libraries, this document is the result of the committee's charge to review the current criteria for teaching, research, and service; consider strengthening the criteria; and recommend any changes that should be made.…

This report highlights recommendations to the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges for new minimum standards in the areas of instructional programs, faculty and facilities. Part I describes prior attempts to address the question of minimum standards in the community colleges and responds to the Educational Policy Committee's…

The texts of the Supreme Court's syllabus and unanimous opinion in the University of Pennsylvania vs. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is presented. The case involves release of peer-review records in a faculty sex discrimination suit. (MSE)

The extension of Title VII to college faculty provided a mechanism for relief in cases where faculty were denied reappointment, promotion, or tenure for reasons unrelated to their job performance. The standards of review in Title VII cases and the court's role in academic Title VII cases are discussed. (MLW)

Sweeney is the first higher education case in which a court overruled unanimous peer recommendation against promotion and tenure. The possible implications for the peer review or collegial model of making faculty promotion and tenure decisions are examined, and more thorough and objective decision methods are recommended. (MSE)

As more women and people of color hold academic jobs, the incidence of illegal employment discrimination in reappointment, tenure, and promotion decisions also increases. This book addresses how individual faculty members can defend themselves against unfair practices and how universities and colleges can protect themselves from being named in…

Proposed is a "direct detrimental effect standard" that provides a framework for evaluating substantive grounds for dismissal of tenured faculty. It can be applied for immorality, incompetence, insubordination, financial exigency, and reduction in force. (AVAIL: Fred B. Rothman & Co., 10368 W. Centennial Rd., Littleton, CO 80123, $4.50) (MSE)

One university presently has an accord with the Department of Labor that helps greatly in satisfying confidentiality needs. However, each university is still forced to undergo litigation independently for treatment of its records. In the meantime, the peer review system may be eroding until underlying legal issues are settled. (MSE)

The text of the court order following litigation to release faculty peer review evaluations at the University of California Berkeley is presented. The order applies to all university campuses and covers the release, maintenance, and return of relevant university documents. (MSE)

Argues that judicial deference to a university's denial of tenure based on an allegedly unclear accent may be unjust. Discusses: (1) the usual tenure process; (2) Title VII action and academic deference; (3) evidence that inherent bias against accents in the classroom hurts non-white instructors; and (4) proposed action for courts and…

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…