Tenure is a sensitive, serious subject around any college campus.

It can be a significant factor in the life and career of an academic.

Get it, and you’re practically in for life.

Otherwise, it may be time to review your choice of career.

Though a long-standing institution in academic life, some believe that it needs to be changed.

Faculty members of the College of Arts and Sciences are hired as either tenure track or non-tenure track.

Non-tenure track or extraordinary faculty includes visiting professors, artists-in-residence, part-time and full-time instructors.

It is unlikely that these faculty members will see a promotion.

“People know the deal when they get here,” a faculty member who wished not to be named said. “There’s nothing misleading about it.”

Though extraordinary faculty members might not gain rank in the university, they do gain experience teaching multiple course sections.

This experience will help them further their careers.

“If I went for a tenure track job, I would be ahead of the competition,” assistant professor of history David Lily said.

“You can read all of the teaching theory you want, but until you’re in the classroom, you just don’t know.”

According to the university’s faculty handbook, tenure “means that the faculty member has become a full and permanent member of the academic body of the university.”

Usually, tenure-track professors in the College of Arts and Sciences have a seven year period to show that they have sufficient publication, teaching performance, contribution to the community, and collegiality.

Philosophy professor Gary Herbert, a former member of the College Rank and Tenure Committee, described collegiality as more or less signifying that “a group of people has to be able to work together for the department to maintain professionalism.”

This seven year period can be extremely difficult for marriages in which both members are going for tenure.

If one spouse gets a position at a university away from where the other spouse is teaching, the couple may chose to live apart while waiting for either partner to get tenure.

This is a very difficult, but sometimes necessary, part of attaining tenure.

After four years at the university, those who may be candidates for tenure go under review.

According to Arts and Sciences Dean Frank Scully, this gives candidates “very clear feedback” about their progress at Loyola and their chances at tenure.

“This gives (tenure candidates) time to find a new position elsewhere if they don’t feel comfortable about their chances of getting tenure,” Scully said.

A tenure-track faculty member must apply for tenure as soon as they are eligible. In the College of Arts and Sciences, a tenure candidate goes under the review of the College Rank and Tenure Committee, who make its recommendation to the dean, provost and vice president of academic affairs.

If all parties agree, the faculty member receives tenure.

If there is dissention, the case goes to the University Rank and Tenure Committee, which makes its recommendation to the university president, who may then grant or deny tenure.

While granting tenure can mean job security for faculty members, those denied tenure are out of the university and, sometimes, out of academia.

“Tenure votes are real and serious,” Herbert said. “Denial of tenure means that you’re out of here.”

This can make the issue of tenure a very stressful one for those applying for it. While on the College Rank and Tenure Committee, Herbert said that he’s seen “a personality change” in faculty members before and after they receive tenure.

“At a university, there are a lot of high-minded opinions,” Herbert said. “If a faculty member isn’t tenured, it can be much more dangerous to express those opinions.”

Some argue that there are faults with tenure.

Also, the requirements for tenure are not entirely clear-cut.

The publication requirement, for example, does not specify how much publication is necessary. Some may argue that vagueness allows the university more room for explaining a denial of tenure.

Mark Rubinfeld, former assistant professor of sociology at Loyola and current chair of the sociology department at Westminster College, agreed.

“The granting of tenure is typically based on merit,” he said. “The denial of tenure, too often, comes down to personalities or politics. Rub someone the wrong way and you can be, metaphorically, rubbed out.”

Another potential inadequacy of the tenure system is the possibility that a tenured professor might become stagnant or mediocre.

Currently, there is a movement around the country to evaluate the practice of tenure.

According to a 2000 Harvard study, 48 percent of private higher education institutions now have post-tenure review to assure that tenured faculty do not fall behind in their academic responsibilities during the fall and spring semesters..

In the College of Arts and Sciences, there is no post-tenure review, but a tenured faculty member can be terminated if there is cause to do so.

Dean Scully currently assures that “We hire at the front end” for tenure-track positions.

“Tenure is a large investment … we coach and encourage our tenure-track faculty to do well,” Scully said.