Chapter 13: Humanizing the Tenure Process: Toward a Pedagogy of the Heart

There are times in our lives that we look back upon as pivotal because they led us to particular paths or insights. The tenure process for me has been thus. This infamous process can potentially rob assistant professors of our right to speak, our sense of worth, our confidence, and our time with family. We are put on display for colleagues and administrators to examine our scholarship, teaching, and service—our purposes, what we value and believe, and how and with whom we engage to accomplish our work. In many ways, it is an evaluation of who we are as human beings. Receiving tenure presumably offers job security and academic freedom. As this is a privilege that is not available to most people in other professions, I recognize that it should not be an easy process. I believe fully that it should be challenging and push us to the limits of our potential. I don’t believe, however, that it should have the power to break us.