Students come to Penn first and foremost to receive a world-class education by excellent professors. It is no wonder then, that students care about the problems their professors face.
For example, after History professor Ronald Granieri was recently denied tenure, a number of students and alumni have organized an effort to learn why their beloved, award-winning teacher is losing his job. The faculty appointment and promotion process is confidential, though, so the exact reason for Granieri’s denial may never come to light.
We don’t have enough information to take a stance on whether or not Granieri deserves tenure. And we understand that some matters are sensitive and need to take place behind closed doors.
But we do think there is room for greater transparency in the tenure-approval process.
If students had a greater knowledge of what went into the move to grant or deny a professor tenure, they would be able to understand the rationale behind decisions that on the surface may seem puzzling. Students would also have a better sense of how they might be able to influence the process.
While we’re not sure how much information professors have about the tenure process, we believe increased transparency could benefit faculty as well. This is especially critical for professors who have not yet received tenure. Greater openness could allow new faculty to learn more about what is required of them to be tenured and be more successful in receiving tenure when they apply as a result.
