A new report by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada predicts that Canadian universities may soon be fighting over Ph.D.‘s, Karen Birchard reports today on The Chronicle’s Web site. Yes, you read that right. According to her report, the second in a series called Trends in Higher Education, Canadian universities are in for a double-whammy because they’ve not only been growing at a rapid clip but they can expect to have to replace 50 percent of their faculties because of retirements over the next decade, Birchard writes:
That means Canadian universities will need 21,000 new faculty members to replace the retirees, plus 3,600 to 13,600 new professors by 2016 to keep up with projected increases in student enrollment.
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7 Responses to Faculty Shortage Looming in Canada?
willynilly - May 12, 2011 at 9:48 am
Please don’t define the pursuit of tenure as “the administrative requirements for tenure”. If you would really look, you would see that they are “The publics requirements for tenure”. Apparently you have not noticed that the general public has grown quite disenchanted with tenure and is demanding reform in the system. College and University administrators are attempting to respond to this external discontent. But as usual you are reflecting the historic faculty stance – ignore the outside world, change never occurs in our world.
ellenschrecker - May 12, 2011 at 9:56 am
When some 90% (give or take a few percentage points) of all tenure-track academics receive tenure, it is an enormous waste of time, energy, and emotional well-being to focus so narrowly on the specific requirements administrations lay down. If a department is conscientious in hiring junior faculty members, it should operate (as the administration should as well) on the assumption that unless the tenure candidate messes up, that person will receive tenure. If that doesn’t happen, it is time to review the hiring process as well as the individual faculty member. Think how much more work could get done if the reign of terror with regard to tenure deescalated.
12080243 - May 12, 2011 at 10:02 am
No member of my department had ever published in a top journal, practical or academic, except me. When I went up for tenure, the vote was five against and none for. (BTW, I also had among the best teaching evaluations in the department.) The dean needed my research for accreditation or I would not have received tenure and promotions. Later, I was mobbed by the entire business college and am now being paid full salary and benefits ($120K per year) until I’m 66 to sit at home–no teaching, research, or service duties.
By the way, I’m not complaining.
wagamama - May 12, 2011 at 10:09 am
Nice work if you can get it, I guess :-).
camgray - May 12, 2011 at 11:25 am
Granting tenure is like getting married. You’re stuck with that person everyday for a LONG time. Actually, it’s easier to get rid of a spouse! The tenure system needs overhauling, but I’m not sure you’re looking at the right end.
jefffager - May 12, 2011 at 11:31 am
I am sorry to read that there are institutions where “the administration” creates tenure requirements. At all three colleges with which I have been associated (all private, liberal arts colleges), the faculty determined criteria for tenure and promotion, and the faculty carried out the process. I have always considered the hiring, review, retention, and promostion of faculty to be the purview of the faculty. As a dean, my role is to ensure that we adhere to the policy and to contribute (as a member of the faculty) to the discussion–but with no greater weight than other members of the apporpriate committee.
I believe the professoriate should guard its prerogatives carefully, and I would suggest that the “big four” are admissions standards, graduation requirements, the curriculum, and self-governance. Perhaps I am lucky to have served institutions where they were protected and respected, but I want folks to know that such places do exist.
edwoof - May 12, 2011 at 12:10 pm
The problem with the numbers racket is that it turns scholarly study into an academic popularity contest. In law schools and liberal arts departments, it especially has become important to write articles that are cited by other articles, so many assistant professors write about common topics that quite frankly do not add much to the conversation. Personally, I have a lot more admiration for scholars who feel compelled to shine a bit of light in a dark place. Their work is more likely to be of future benefit than work that is simply popular.