Summarizes conflicting charges of plagiarism and data theft against sociology-department faculty at Texas A&M University over the past four years that have resulted in three dismissed lawsuits and investigations by the university, American Sociological Association, and the National Science Foundation. The accused have neither been found guilty…

A popular legal strategy for college faculty who sue after being denied tenure is to turn the spotlight on the credentials of colleagues, particularly in sex discrimination cases. Colleagues caught in the crossfire often suffer personal humiliation and professional discredit. (MSE)

Increasingly, college presidents and boards are likely to address some financial issues such as contracts, severance arrangements, and award of tenure status at the time of hiring. Early specification of terms increases presidents' job security, clarifies expectations, and reduces financial risk for institutions. (MSE)

A Harvard University (Massachusetts) law school faculty member denied tenure charged the institution with sex discrimination. A $260,000 court settlement will go to Northeastern University (Massachusetts), where she is now a tenured faculty member, to support and expand her domestic-violence advocacy project. (MSE)

The Howard University (District of Columbia) policy on tenure, as defined in the new faculty handbook, allows the board of trustees exceptional power in removing faculty. At a time when Howard University faculty are enjoying greater participation than ever in governance, this and other policy issues are creating faculty dissatisfaction. (MSE)

Reports on a tenure controversy within the Indiana University department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures that has involved possible death threats, a hunger strike, and controversy over the department's continued existence. For now the professor, an expert on Islamic philosophy, remains at the institution, other faculty have left, and…

Increasing use of non-tenure-track, full-time college professors, which some thought a temporary solution to institutional budgeting, has become common policy, according to a study of existing data for 88 four-year institutions. While administrators find flexibility and savings in the practice, faculty accuse institutions of exploiting Ph.D.s and…

Faculty at nonprofit colleges and universities are concerned about the quality of faculty at the for-profit University of Phoenix, and about the personnel policies that support them. This institution's faculty lacks tenure, and most teach part time. Ninety percent are fully employed elsewhere. The fast-paced courses and regimented curriculum are…

The reservations of many young faculty members about the tenure system are gaining increasing attention among older scholars, in part because they feel it must be discussed. Some call for a complete overhaul of the system. Even many tenure supporters feel more options are needed in the current environment of higher education. (MSE)

Conflicts in many states between administrators and disgruntled college employees have led to a surge of labor activism in academe, including strikes and protests, votes to unionize, disputes over evaluation and compensation, and court litigation. Conflicts involve teaching assistants, adjunct faculty, and tenured faculty alike. (MSE)

An annual survey of 2,423 college presidents resulted in a profile of administrator characteristics, including gender, age, race, marital status, religious affiliation, tenure, faculty status, educational background, and employment history. Results suggest that progress in diversifying higher education's leadership is slow. Survey data are…