U. of Florida Must Reinstate Laid-Off Professor, Arbitrator Rules

An arbitrator has ruled that an assistant professor at the University of Florida who was laid off last year must be reinstated for another year because the university did not make a reasonable effort to find the professor another job, The Gainesville Sun reported. The arbitrator, Tom Young, found that while financial conditions justified the layoffs, the university had violated a contract provision regarding continuing-employment efforts. Mr. Young also found that the university should consider the faculty member, David Therriault, for tenure, saying the university had also violated the contract by not beginning the tenure-review process when Mr. Therriault requested it.