Inside Higher Ed
Septmeber 24th, 2015
Faculty members at the State College of Florida don’t have tenure, but many longtime professors were satisfied with the due process guarantees included in their rolling contracts. But that all changed this week when, seemingly out of the blue, the college’s Board of Trustees -- over opposition from faculty members and administrators alike -- voted to end the continuous contract system and initiate one-year contracts for all newly hired faculty members.
“The reaction has run the gamut -- though it’s been all negative -- from, ‘Let’s start a union,’ to ‘This is such a shame,’ to ‘Well, now the college is just going to be a training ground for people who are willing to come stay here a short time until they move on to a job that does offer a longer contract,’” said Robyn Bell, an instructor of music and president of the Faculty Senate. State College is one of numerous institutions in Florida that has transitioned from a community college to a four-year institution.